Dorian Thompson-Robinson throws two picks as the Browns fall to 3-12 with a 24-6 loss to the Bengals

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Dorian Thompson knew there was one thing he couldn’t do against the Bengals in his first start of the season for the Browns and his first since last season: throw interceptions.

But just like his predecessor on the bench, Jameis Winston, he couldn’t avoid the pesky picks.

Thompson-Robinson made two throws in Sunday’s 24-6 loss to the Bengals, including a costly throw that left the Browns trailing 17-6 with 8:20 left. The Browns fell to 3-12 this season, their worst record since 2017.

The Bengals, who would face playoff elimination if they lose, improved to 7-8 and must win to have a chance.

The Bengals, who also won 21-14 in Cleveland on October 20, won the series for the first time since 2017.

Thompson-Robinson’s two INTs were part of another three-turnover game for the Browns, who lost the turnover battle 3-1.

The first came into the end zone, and the second came on a ball from DJ Ivey and was deflected by Geno Stone on a pass intended for David Njoku with 8:20 to play.

The other red zone turnover was a fumble by D’Onta Foreman at the 1-yard line. This came after Jerome Ford (11 for 92, 1 TD) had a 66-yard run from scrimmage to the Bengals’ 7 on the opening play.

Thompson-Robinson went 20 of 34 for 157 yards with 0 TDs and 2 picks for a 45.8 rating. He was sacked five times and now has 1 TD to 9 INTs in his two-year career.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow went 23 of 30 for 252 yards with 3 TDs and 0 INTs for a rating of 134.3.

Winston, who was benched after last week’s 21-7 loss to the Chiefs with three INTs, was inactive during the game with a right shoulder injury and Bailey Zappe was the backup.

The Browns showed some life with 4:27 left when Isaiah McGuire Burrow retired and Jowon Briggs recovered to start the Browns on their 21st. Thompson-Robinson completed a 12-yard Houdini-style pass to Njoku on fourth-and-eight, but the drive ended a few plays later when Mike Woods left an incompletion with 1:54 left.

Burrow took the lead and fired a 15-yard TD pass to Ja’Marr Chase, his 16th pass in the league, to make the score 24-6.

Browns make it a play and then DTR’s first choice

The Browns, inept on offense for most of the first half, came out in full force in the second half and tied the game with a 4-yard run by Jerome Ford with 5:50 left brought the lead to 17:6 in the third quarter.

Kicker Dustin Hopkins, who was subbed out last week in favor of Riley Patterson, missed the extra point.

The drive included a crucial pass interference call by Jerry Jeudy on an incomplete third down and a 29-yard catch-and-run by Njoku to the 7 with a great block by center Ethan Pocic.

The defense forced a three-and-out and the Browns marched to the Cincy 12, but Thompson-Robinson’s 12-yard TD run was negated by a call against Jordan Akins.

He also almost had an interception on a throw to Jeudy, and then Jamari Thrash was flagged for holding. After a 14-yard scramble by Thompson-Robinson, he was picked off on an overthrown pass to Njoku on the left side of the end zone by safety Jordan Battle.

It was the Browns’ second turnover in the red zone after Foreman fumbled at the 1-yard line.

Myles Garrett reaches the 100-sack milestone

Myles Garrett, who said Friday that he might want to opt out after the season unless the Browns can show him a blueprint for winning now, reached his 100th career sack by sacking Joe Burrow, one of the quarterbacks , which he prefers to dismiss.

He accomplished this with an 8-yard sack late in the first half, his ninth on Burrow, for 100.5 for his career and 12.0 for the season.

Entering the game, Garrett Burrow had been sacked eight times in seven games, which was the most against of any quarterback in the NFL.

Garrett joined Bruce Smith and Lawrence Taylor as the fourth fastest player to reach this milestone in 115 games. They follow Reggie White (96), TJ Watt (109) and DeMarcus Ware (113).

“I’m going to get five and just take it easy on myself, but that’s the approach, get as many as possible every week,” Garrett said. “Dominate, disrupt, help the team win, and have fun doing it.” So it doesn’t matter that I’m half a sack away from 100 or some other milestone. I just want to go out and win.”

Highlights of the first half

The way the first half went for the Browns, it was only fitting that it ended with former Browns kicker Cade York kicking a 59-yard field goal through the uprights, giving the Bengals a lead at the end of the half 17:0 expanded.

The Bengals tied the club record, which they now share with Evan McPherson, who had to sit out the game with a groin injury.

York missed a 47-yarder with 1:17 left in the first quarter.

But given the Browns’ comedy of errors in the first half, the unlikely shoe summed things up perfectly.

The Bengals’ other points came on a 2-yard TD pass from Burrow to Tee Higgins while he was lying flat on his stomach midway through the first quarter and a 6-yard TD pass to receiver Andrei Losivas midway through the second quarter , which led to 14:0.

The only bright spot for the Browns in the first half was Myles Garrett reaching the coveted 100-yard sack milestone with an 8-yard takedown of Burrow with 52 seconds left in the half. The sack essentially killed the drive and forced the long York boot.

Garrett became the first player since 1982 to reach this milestone before his 29th birthday. He turns 29 on December 29th.

When a game starts with a 66-yard shot from Jerome Ford and there are no points to show for it, you know it’s going to be a long day. Ford made the long run to the Bengals’ 11 on the first play from scrimmage, but D’Onta Foreman fumbled the ball four plays later on a 1-yard run that was initially ruled a touchdown.

The Browns entered the game third in the NFL with 27 giveaways, and the goodwill continued.

After Burrow was red-hot from the start, the Browns were outscored 229-86 in the first half, with 66 of those coming from Ford. They also had 0 yards passing.

Thompson-Robinson went 3 of 6 for 15 yards with 0 TDs and 0 INTs for a 56.2 rating. He was fired twice. Burrow completed 16 of 21 for 149 yards with two TDs and 0 INTs for a rating of 126.9.

One mistake Thompson-Robinson made in the first half was that he didn’t target Jeudy enough. Jeudy wasn’t seen until 5:17 into the half when he caught a 5-yarder on second-and-long. It was his only goal of the half.

Next

The Browns host the Dolphins on Sunday at 4 p.m