The Cleveland Browns escape and come up with a win against the Tampa Bay Bucs. The Bucs came in with only having one win on the season played better than expected. They gave the Browns a hard fought game. Despite having some key injuries the Bucs played better than expected. They almost came away with a win but a costly penalty ended up being the difference. The Bucs played with a purpose and made some nice plays. The temperature was a factor and Lovie Smith wasn't sure how the team would play in the cold temperatures.
After being named the starter, Mike Glennon started this game in Cleveland as a six and a half point underdog against a very good Browns team. The Browns hadn't beaten the Bucs since 1995. A streak that would be snapped today. The talk coming in was Mike Evans playing on the opposite team against Johnny Manziel. Mike Evans had a career day and after each touchdown did Manziel's signature celebration the money sign.
At the end of the first half, the Buccaneers lead 10 to nine. Three field goals by Billy Cundiff would be all the Browns would get. Mike Evans got the first touchdown of the game and Patrick Murray had a field goal. Mike Glennon however, would throw two picks. Brian Hoyer would throw a pick too. Bobby Rainey would run for 80 yards in the half. Doug Martin missed the game so Rainey was the starter.
The second half, the Browns would score two touchdowns. One of them was the difference maker. The Browns would attempt a two point conversion. However, the Bucs came up with a stop on that try. That would have been a key play in this game. Mike Glennon would throw another touchdown to Mike Evans. His second on the day. Overall, he had seven receptions for 124 yards which are both career highs. The Bucs were down on a fourth and one from the Bucs 40 yard line. Mike Evans was called for an offensive pass interference call with about two minutes left. The Bucs couldn't convert. Vincent Jackson dropped a key drop in third and one. He finished with six receptions for 84 yards.
Lovie Smith on abandoning the run on that play and final game thoughts, "There’s no doubt we’re headed in the right direction, but you say that about four games ago. We have to find a way to win a game is what we have to do. And that’s what we haven’t been able to figure out. And we’re running out of time. We’re at the halfway point in our season now. It’s about November football - playing your best ball right now, and we haven’t. But eventually we’ll get this figured out.’’