The Cleveland Browns have given the Buffalo Bills about all they can handle in the first half of their Week 16 contest. For Cleveland, rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has played well, leading two scoring drives with his lone turnover not being entirely his fault.
Unfortunately for the Browns, Sanders left the game late in the second quarter due to an apparent injury to his pinky finger on his throwing hand. Sanders only missed one play, and by the time he was back on the field, Cleveland was down 10 with a bit over two minutes remaining in the first half.
Sanders, who had connected with rookie running back Quinshon Judkins on a handful of first-half passes, looked his way on a swing pass that Bills linebacker Matt Milano thwarted. In the process, Judkins suffered a right leg injury that resulted in him being carted off the field with an air cast on his right leg. The CBS broadcast opted not to replay the play on which Judkins was injured.
Buffalo Bills press advantage with Cleveland Browns offense overwhelmed by injuries
While Judkins had just 22 yards on eight carries in the first half, he also had five catches for 29 yards. Judkins was a big part of the Browns’ plan of attack, and without him in the lineup and Sanders having an injury that impacts his ability to throw the ball, Cleveland will likely be hard-pressed to find the budding consistency their offense enjoyed in the first half.
With Judkins out of the game, the Browns are down to Raheim Sanders as their top running back. Sanders, an undrafted rookie, came into the game with three carries for three yards and a score, which came back in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
On the other side, the Bills’ offense will likely look to build on their own rushing attack to grind the game out. James Cook finished the first half with 100 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries as the Bills took a 20-10 lead into the half.
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The Bills started much stronger than they had in previous weeks, but the Browns were playing competitively. But after the string of injuries that impacted Cleveland’s offense so heavily, Buffalo will look to play cleanly to wrap up a road win and hopefully clinch their spot in the postseason in the process.