The Bills beat the Browns 31-23 after snow moved the game to Motor City

DETROIT (AP) — Josh Allen threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs late in the first half and Buffalo beat the Cleveland Browns 31-23 on Sunday after the NFL moved the game to home of the Bills in Detroit due to several feet of snow covering western New York.

The Bills (7-3) avoided losing a third straight halftime lead by scoring on all five possessions in the second half and doing a better job of protecting the ball.

Cleveland (3-7) rallied on eight points, setting up an onside kick in the dying seconds that Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis failed to catch and running back Taiwan Jones put out of scope.

Many supporters from both fanbases were in attendance, chanting “Let’s Go Buffalo!” and bark like dogs.

Buffalo lost its raucous on-field advantage, but the team did its best to bring some of the familiar sights and sounds to Highmark Stadium, like a blaring train horn and calls for Bills Mafia to get it done. hear at key moments.

Buffalo, who will return to Detroit to face the Lions at Thanksgiving, got off to a slow start after a week disrupted by a winter storm.

Allen found a rhythm on an 11-play, 78-yard drive that took just a minute and 40 seconds and ended with Allen’s first pass to Diggs.

The Bills scored a second-half touchdown for the first time in four games on Devin Singletary’s 5-yard run. They also stopped Jacoby Brissett’s stealth shot on the Buffalo 27’s fourth-and-first and blocked a field goal in the third quarter while building a 22-10 lead.

The Browns missed many opportunities to keep their playoff hopes from fading completely with quarterback Deshaun Watson nearing the end of his 11-game NFL suspension.

Brissett lost passes through tight ends Harrison Bryant and Pharaoh Brown on back-to-back throws that cost Cleveland a touchdown and forced them to a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter.

Brissett finished 28 of 41 for 324 yards — two shy of his career high — and three touchdowns, a season high. He threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper on the first drive, a 7-yard touchdown pass to Cooper with 4:11 left that pulled the Browns within 12 points and a 2-point touchdown pass. yards to Donovan Peoples Jones in the last minute.

The Bills got a needed break when Brissett fumbled midfield in the second quarter. By then, Buffalo was without a first down, losing 181 yards to 12 and trailing 10-3.

Allen was 18 of 27 for 197 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers. He threw six of his NFL-high 10 interceptions in the previous three games and fumbled a snap in the end zone in last week’s slump against Minnesota.

Bills running backs Singletary and James Cook each ran 86 yards, relieving Allen to make plays in the air.

injuries

Browns: C starter Ethan Pocic (knee) came out early in the game and was replaced by Hjalte Froholdt.

Bills: DE AJ Epenesa (ankle) was injured during the match.

Next

Browns: hosts Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Bills: Return to Ford Field to face the Lions at Thanksgiving.