Browns vs. Cardinals score: Arizona remains undefeated as injuries pile up for Cleveland

Sunday produces more questions than answers for AFC's Browns

The Cleveland Browns had a glimmer of hope just before halftime when Baker Mayfield converted a Hail Mary to wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. It was the only moment of joy for Browns fans Sunday evening. Arizona clobbered Cleveland 37-14 to remain undefeated. 

The game ended with Case Keenum at quarterback, D'Ernest Johnson at running back, Blake Hance at left tackle and James Hudson III at right tackle for the Browns. Mayfield aggravated a left shoulder injury and running back Kareem Hunt left with a potentially serious lower leg injury. Kevin Stefanski's team quit in the fourth quarter.

Arizona remains the league's only undefeated team. 

Why the Cardinals won

Arizona took advantage of Cleveland's mistakes and needed to do little more. The Browns committed three turnovers and nine penalties worth 88 yards lost. Absent starting center Rodney Hudson, the Cardinals did fumble four times but recovered every single one. With Kliff Kingsbury at home, the offense converted 8 of 15 third downs and its lone fourth-down attempt. 

Kyler Murray was efficient completing 67 percent of his passes with four touchdowns. A.J. Green, Christian Kirk and DeAndre Hopkins were making big plays down the field for their quarterback. 

Why the Browns lost

Where does one begin to answer this question? Was it the drops by David Njoku, Odell Beckham Jr. and others? Was it Mayfield's reckless play resulting in two lost fumbles and an interception? Was it injuries to Nick Chubb, Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin? Was it because the secondary failed to properly communicate for the second consecutive game leading to multiple coverage busts? Was it the lack of effort in the fourth quarter? Was it the nine penalties or aggravated injuries to Hunt, Mayfield and Beckham?

Yeah, all of those are valid points. 

Play of the game

The Browns were down to their final play before halftime when Mayfield found wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones for a 57-yard Hail Mary conversion. The score brought the Browns within single digits after being down 20-0. According to Next Gen Stats, the pass had a 15.4 percent chance of being completed. The ball traveled 66.4 yards in the air, which is the longest completed pass in the Next Gen Stats era (sine 2016) by 2 yards.  

Peoples-Jones finished with four receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

Stat of the game

With a sack against the Cardinals in his 57th career game, Myles Garrett is the third fastest player in NFL history (sacks became official in 1982) to reach 50 career sacks behind Reggie White (40 games) and Derrick Thomas (54 games). It was also Garrett's eighth sack of the season, which is the most among all NFL players.

What's next?

Cleveland has some soul-searching to do because there is a quick turnaround at home on "Thursday Night Football" against the 3-3 Broncos. Believe it or not, the Browns have yet to play an AFC North game but that changes drastically soon. Six of the final 11 games come against divisional foes, including the Steelers and Bengals immediately following Denver.

Arizona returns home for its next two games against the Texans and Packers. Houston has been frisky but the Cardinals should have a sizeable skill advantage. Despite a 5-1 start, Green Bay has hardly inspired fear through its play in 2021. 

[Oct 17, 2021 at 7:05 pm ET · Josh Edwards]

Thank you for tuning into today's coverage of Browns-Cardinals!

[Oct 17, 2021 at 6:49 pm ET · Josh Edwards]

I'm not sure he's wrong...

[Oct 17, 2021 at 6:26 pm ET · Josh Edwards]

Arizona is outscoring opponents 20-13 in the fourth quarter this season. Cleveland is being outscored 45-46. 

[Oct 17, 2021 at 6:25 pm ET · Josh Edwards]

One thing that Baker Mayfield does better than any NFL quarterback is sell fakes. 

[Oct 17, 2021 at 6:20 pm ET · Josh Edwards]

Arizona is outscoring opponents 55-27 in the third quarter this season. The Browns are being outscored 20-28. It is difficult to imagine them coming back from a 16-point deficit with an injured Baker Mayfield and no Nick Chubb or either of their starting offensive tackles.