The Packers scored first and never looked back in a 31-13 defeat of Cleveland on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.
With the Lions and Bears losing earlier in the day, the Packers (4-2) pulled a half-game ahead in the NFC North.
However, in victory, the Packers saw tight end Jermichael Finley depart with a neck injury, the third injury suffered by a key passing-game player in the last two games by Green Bay. Wide receiver James Jones (knee) was inactive for Sunday’s win, and Randall Cobb (leg) is on injured reserve/designated for return. Both were hurt in Green Bay’s Oct. 13 win at Baltimore.
Finley was removed from the field on a stretcher after Browns safety Tashaun Gipson’s shoulder collided with his helmet on a fourth-quarter play. During the telecast of the game, CBS’ Kevin Harlan said that Finley had “feeling in all of his extremities.”
Finley’s 10-yard TD reception opened the scoring for Green Bay, which would never trail.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers excelled in wet conditions and without his full complement of receivers, completing 25-of-36 passes for 260 yards and three scores. Reserve receiver Jarrett Boykin had a career day for Green Bay, catching eight passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. Running back Eddie Lacy again got the bulk of the carries for the Packers, racking up 82 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts.
Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden had a tough game, completing just 17-of-42 passes for 149 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Packers sacked him three times.
The loss drops the Browns (3-4) two games behind Cincinnati in the AFC North.