For as storied as these two franchises are, the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns have only faced each other 24 times all time, with the Browns winning their first meeting on November 26, 1972. Since then, these two teams have tried to make a name for themselves in the NFL.

This important NFL Week Sixteen matchup between the Bills and Browns has big playoff implications for Buffalo, while Cleveland is trying to salvage what has turned into a disappointing season.

The unofficial battle for Lake Erie got started slow for Buffalo as Cleveland was able to take the first drive of the game and march down the field for the first points of the game when Shedeur Sanders tossed a pass to tight end Harold Fannin Jr.While the Browns scored the first points of the game, Buffalo’s James Cook and Ty Johnson made sure the Bills wouldn’t be behind for very long.

Buffalo’s first points of the opening quarter came after James Cook scampered 44 yards to take the ball into the end zone. Ty Johnson added his first score of the game early in the second quarter after a 2-yard run landed him in the end zone.

That first-quarter touchdown by James Cook wouldn’t be his only score of the first half, as he added a score after a quick 3-yard run right up the middle for his second rushing touchdown. Not only did that score give Cook his 11th touchdown of the season, but it also gave him his 9th game this season with 100 yards or more rushing this year.

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The second half saw the Browns execute some good offensive and defensive plays as they were able to close the gap on the score and bring the Browns within three points.

Deep in the fourth quarter, the Bills got the ball and started to drive downfield, but couldn’t put it into the end zone and turned it over on downs. With less than three minutes on the clock, the Browns had some hope that they could drive down to tie the game, or take the lead, but the Bills’ defense had other plans as they forced a big sack and then got an intentional grounding penalty with essentially ended the Browns’ drive.

In the end, the Bills came in and were able to hold on and grab the victory against the Browns. The Bills, which snatched a win in Cleveland 23-20, mark the team’s 11th victory of the year.

Now the Bills look forward to NFL Week 17 when they head home to Orchard Park to host the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium.

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