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SPORTS Monday 7 deceMber 2020
Mayfield throws 4 TDs in 1st half, Browns beat Titans 41-35

By TERESA M. WALKER Otto Graham in 1951. May-
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — field, who threw four of his
Baker Mayfield and the five TDs in the second half
Cleveland Browns can do of a win against Cincinnati
more than just run the ball, on Oct. 25, had only two
and the NFL's longest ac- touchdown passes over
tive playoff drought is mov- the past four games com-
ing closer to an end after bined.
18 seasons. Nobody else in the NFL has
They just need to finish what thrown four TD passes in a
they start a bit better. half this season, and May-
Mayfield threw for a sea- field had 290 yards by half-
son-high 334 yards with time, just off his season high
all four of his touchdown of 297 yards.
passes in the first half, and This time, Mayfield complet-
the Browns scored the first ed passes to eight receiv-
17 points before holding on ers with a TD pass apiece
to win their fourth straight, to Jarvis Landry; backup
41-35 over the Tennessee tackle Kendall Lamm, who
Titans on Sunday. became the first Browns
With both chasing AFC lineman to catch a TD pass
playoff berths, the Browns since 2001; a 75-yarder to
looked like the team lead- Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) passes to tight end David Njoku (85) as May- Donovan Peoples-Jones;
ing a division — they are field is pressured by Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jack Crawford (94) in the first half of an NFL and a 17-yarder to Rashard
second in the AFC North football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Higgins.
behind the unbeaten Pitts- Associated Press "Baker was on fire," said
burgh Steelers — as they Chubb, who also had a
improved to 9-3 for the first Tennessee still has the bet- game showdown against Ryan Tannehill hit Cam Bat- 1-yard TD run. "That's the
time since 1994. Cleveland ter division record. The Ti- the Titans and Henry. The son for an 8-yard TD pass guy that I know. That's the
has only won nine games in tans fell apart after a bad Browns had their best-scor- with 28 seconds to go, but guy that the Cleveland
a season three times in its fourth-down spot on their ing half ever, leading 38-7 Andy Janovich recovered Browns know who he is.
expansion era, which be- opening drive. NFL rushing at halftime, topping the 35 the onside kick to seal the He came out, had a great
gan in 1999. leader Derrick Henry lost his points scored in the second victory. game and led us to a vic-
"I think people know we are first fumble this season on half at Cincinnati in 2004. "Obviously if I hold onto the tory."
a good team now when we the next drive. The Titans made it inter- damn football, it's not going The Browns stopped Hen-
play well, and that's what "Things kind of snowballed," esting late, outscoring the to be close — or as close as ry ran on fourth-and-1 on
we did today," Browns run- Titans coach Mike Vrabel Browns 28-3 in the second it should have been," May- the Titans' opening drive.
ning back Nick Chubb said. said. half. field said. He appeared to pick up
The Titans (8-4) came in Mayfield kept the Browns Kenny Vaccaro picked up Mayfield became the first the first down, but officials
leading the AFC South and from needing the NFL's top a fumble by Mayfield on Browns quarterback to marked him short of the
left tied after the Colts beat rushing offense in what had fourth-and-1 and ran it 53 throw four TDs in the first marker. Vrabel unsuccess-
Houston 26-20, though been expected to be a run- yards with 48 seconds left. half since Hall of Famer fully challenged the spot.q

Tua throws for 296 yards as Dolphins beat Bengals 19-7

By PAUL GEREFFI Both benches emptied in Tagovailoa improved to 4-1
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) fourth quarter after Cin- as a rookie starter with sev-
— Tua Tagovailoa returned cinnati's Mike Thomas was en touchdown passes and
from a thumb injury that flagged for a foul covering still no interceptions. He
forced him to miss one a punt. There was pushing played with the thumb on
game, throwing for a sea- and shoving, and Bengals his throwing hand taped,
son-high 296 yards and a safety Shawn Williams and and warmed up as the
score to help the Miami Dol- Miami receivers DeVante game wore on. He threw
phins rally past the Cincin- Parker and Mack Hollins for 167 yards in the pivotal
nati Bengals 19-7 Sunday in were ejected. third quarter, when the Dol-
a game that included five Tyler Boyd turned a short phins rallied from a 7-6 half-
ejections and a benches- pass into a 72-yard touch- time deficit to mount three
clearing confrontation. down to give the Bengals scoring drives.
The Dolphins lost their best a 7-0 lead, but he was later Cincinnati's Brandon Allen,
defender when NFL in- ejected following a tussle making his second start
terception leader Xavien with Howard. after a knee injury ended Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks to pass
Howard was thrown out The Dolphins (8-4) won for rookie Joe Burrow's season, the football during the first half of an NFL football game against
the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Miami Gardens,
late in the first half, but they the seventh time in eight went 11 for 19 for 153 yards Fla.
limited Cincinnati to 25 games to achieve their before being sidelined late Associated Press
yards after halftime and fin- best 12-game record since in the game with a chest
ished with six sacks. Miami 2003. The Bengals (2-9-1) injury. kicked four field goals and up no sacks. Myles Gas-
ranks second in the NFL in lost their fourth game in a The Dolphins won even is 28 for 29 this year. kin, back after missing four
scoring defense and has al- row and are assured of at though they didn't convert Miami started three rookie games due to a knee injury,
lowed 10 points in the past least nine defeats for the a third down until the fi- offensive linemen for the had 90 yards rushing and
two weeks. fifth consecutive year. nal minute. Jason Sanders first time this year and gave 51 receiving.q