CLEVELAND — Having otherwise been stagnant for much of the game, the Cleveland Browns' passing attack came alive at the right time vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. Facing a fourth-and-five from the Raiders' six-yard line, Browns quarterback Nick Mullens found tight end Harrison Bryant for a six-yard touchdown pass to give Cleveland a 14-13 lead with 3:45 remaining in the contest.
Mullens' touchdown pass to Bryant came in the midst of a game in which the Browns are missing several players -- including quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum -- due to COVID-19. Mullens had entered the week on Cleveland's practice squad, but found himself the Browns' starter after Mayfield and Keenum were each placed on the COVID-19 list.
Mullens' touchdown pass capped a 14-play, 80-yard drive that lasted eight minutes and 22 seconds. Earlier in the drive, Mullens converted a third-and-eight from the Raiders' 22-yard line with an 11-yard completion to wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones.
In a game that was pushed back from Saturday to Monday due to Cleveland's COVID-19 outbreak, the Browns found themselves missing the following players, as well as head coach Kevin Stefanski, who also tested positive for COVID-19:
- QB Baker Mayfield
- QB Case Keenum
- RB Kareem Hunt
- WR Jarvis Landry
- TE Austin Hooper
- OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
- OT James Hudson III
- DE Jadeveon Clowney
- DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- DT Malik McDowell
- LB Mack Wilson Sr.
- LB Tony Fields II
- LB Jacob Phillips
- CB A.J. Green
- CB Troy Hill
- S Grant Delpit
- S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
- P Jamie Gillan
With the Browns entering Monday at 7-6 and the Raiders at 6-7, their Week 15 matchup could have significant implications in the AFC playoff picture. For all the latest from FirstEnergy Stadium on Monday night, follow our live blog.