The Saints are still looking for their first win of the season.
Billy Cundiff’s 29-yard field goal with three seconds left gave the Browns a 26-24 victory over the visiting Saints on Sunday. The loss drops New Orleans, which hosts Minnesota next Sunday, to 0-2.
Cundiff’s field goal came one play after a 28-yard reception by Andrew Hawkins put Cleveland in comfortable field goal range. The Saints appeared to blow the coverage, seeming preoccupied with taking away a shorter route and leaving Hawkins wide open downfield.
The play capped a 14-play, 85-yard march out of Cleveland’s own end of the field. Also of note: early in the drive, Saints coach Sean Payton was seen yelling at defensive coordinator Rob Ryan for reasons unclear.
The Saints trailed 16-3 late in the second quarter but fought back on the strength of their offense, which eventually started to get the best of a Cleveland defense that played exceptionally well in the first half. Saints tight end Jimmy Graham stood out, racking up 10 catches for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 13 targets from quarterback Drew Brees. The latter settled down after a shaky start to finish with 27-of-40 passing for 237 yards and the two scores.
The Saints’ defense also had its moments, too, allowing a respectable 324 yards on the game. But the focus will be on what New Orleans couldn’t do — get that last stop against a team it was favored to beat.
The Browns (1-1) host rival Baltimore next Sunday.