7 takeaways from the Buffalo Bills victory over the Cleveland Browns

Buffalo Bills (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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The Buffalo Bills get back in the win column with a 31-23 victory over the Cleveland Browns. These are the top takeaways from Week 11.

The Buffalo Bills were looking to turn their season around and end a two-game losing streak on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. However, they had to deal with one of the most unique week of preparation this season after being able to have only one real practice after missing a number of players on Wednesday due to illness and then canceling Friday’s practice due to a snowstorm.

That snowstorm also forced the game to be moved from Highmark Stadium to Ford Field which created even more logistic problems for the team as they had to figure out how to get everyone out of Buffalo and to Detroit.

In the end, it didn’t matter and after a slow start, the Buffalo Bills got back to playing the way they did before the bye week. The Bills would take a 13-10 lead into halftime with a touchdown by Stefon Diggs in the closing seconds.

From that point on, it was almost all Bills as they would extend their lead 28-10 and ultimately win 31-23 over the Browns. These are seven takeaways from today’s game.

Buffalo Bills
Jacoby Brissett, Cleveland Browns (Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports) /

Buffalo Bills defense gifts Cleveland Browns first touchdown with third down struggles

One of the big reasons that the Minnesota Vikings won last week against the Buffalo Bills was the defense’s inability to get off the field on third and fourth down. That once again was a problem on the opening drive for the defense as the Browns converted two third downs that were over 10 yards.

The Browns were able to capitalize on it with a touchdown when Jacoby Brissett found Amari Cooper for a 25-yard touchdown.

If the Buffalo Bills’ defense wants to return to being one of the best defenses in the league, they have to improve in a situation where they should have the advantage.