Cleveland Browns vs. New Orleans Saints NFL Week 9 Live Updates, Highlights and Analysis

Cleveland's bid to become the first team in NFL history to have their first six victories all be by four points or less comes up short--and so do the Browns.

That right tackle Tytus Howard was flagged for holding on the failed two-point attempt is fitting.

It's a disheartening loss to a two-win team. In games this close, teams can't keep making mistakes. Committing penalties. Blowing assignments in coverage. Struggling to run the ball or protect the quarterback.

There's a lot to work on ahead of next week's home tilt with the Houston Texans.

And given how Sanders played, Todd Monken is going to have questions to answer about the team's Week 10 starter under center.

Whether it's Sanders or Deshaun Watson against the Texans, we'll see you there.

Tight end Harold Fannin didn't have a catch in regulation.

He made up for it in overtime.

Browns going for two and the win.

So, um, maybe the Browns should have taken the ball when they won the overtime coin toss.

Saints moving the ball on the first drive of OT--mainly on the ground.

If the Browns lose this game, it won't be because of Shedeur Sanders.

Andre Szmyt cashes in from 51 yards out--and we're headed for overtime at 16 apiece.

Those mistakes we referenced gave the Saints a short field. Tyler Shough hit Chris Olave on a long pass. And Audric Estime cashed it in from two yards out.

Sigh.

Offensive holding.

The fifth sack of the game.

This is how teams lose.

Browns force a three-and-out.

4:17 to play.

Time to close this game out.

So, um, KC Concepcion's ankle appears to be OK.

The rookie's first career touchdown puts the Browns up 13-9.

Oh yeah.

After nearly jumping offside, nickel back Myles Harden logs his second sack of the game.

Saints connect on a long field goal though.

New Orleans 9, Cleveland 6--5:38 to go.

This play is called "The Remote Breaker."

In that respect, at least, it worked.

Concepcion is back, making a catch that's good for a first down that gets Cleveland across midfield.

The third quarter closes with a Myles Harden sack, and the Browns force a punt.

Three plays, -9 yards and another sack allowed.

Cleveland has to punt, and rookie wideout KC Concepcion had to be helped off the field.

New Orleans takes the ball 54 yards in 13 plays, but the Cleveland defense stiffens in the red-zone and forces a short field goal.

We're all tied up--and nodding off from boredom.

That's, um...not a great look for a defender.

The Browns spent big in free agency and the draft in an effort to rebuild the offensive line.

What's the return policy on something like that. Cleveland leads the league in sacks allowed and entered Week 9 averaging under 98 yards per game on the ground.

The good news is that the Browns are winning.

The bad news is they have been inside the Saints' five-yard line twice and have three points to show for it.

Now we're talking!

Part of the reason for Cleveland's offensive struggles Sunday is that Shedeur Sanders is pulling the ball down at the first sign of pressure.

We'll let him slide on this one.

Or dive. Whatever.

Tyler Shough tries to force the ball to Chris Olave, and slot corner Myles Harden nearly has Cleveland's third takeaway of the afternoon.

Three and out. Ball back to the Browns.

It has been over three decades, and this still makes me want to hurl obscenities at the TV.

As has been the case so often this season, Cleveland's defense is trying to keep the Browns in the game. But the offense has been offensive--just 80 total yards.

Cleveland has to run the ball more in the second half--or they are absolutely going to lose this game.

3-3 at the break.

That's twice the Browns have been cooked deep in this game.

Bad first-down playcall.

Bad fourth-down exchange.

Bad football.

No points.

First and goal. Having some success running right at the Saints.

So of course Todd Monken gets cute.

Cute gets you beat.

The next play? A 12-yard Quinshon Judkins run.

A special play on special teams gives the Browns an instant red zone possession.

The Browns entered Week 9 leading the league in forced fumbles, and there hasn't been a bigger one this season than the Carson Schwesinger punchout that ended the Saints' drive inside the Cleveland five-yard line.

Cleveland's coverage over the middle this season has been...bad.

It wasn't especially pretty, but Cleveland turned good field position after a missed field goal into a nine-play, 35 yard drive that culminated in an Andre Szmyt kick from 41 yards out.

Penalties have been an issue all season long--the Browns are the league's most-penalized team.

Cleveland picked up six more in the first quarter. Six.

Sloppy. Unprofessional. Undisciplined.

Unacceptable.

Still 3-0 after 15 minutes.

The Saints are blitzing the bejeezus out of Sanders.

You would think that the Browns might want to lean on the run game with a young quarterback making his first start of the season.

So of course Quinshon Judkins has one carry.

At least the Browns aren't on pace to commit 20 penalties in the game.

Oh wait. They totally are.

Atrocious run defense against a practice squad call-up (and former Brown) Audric Estime.

Abysmal tackling.

Back-to-back offsides penalties.

Cleveland's defense stiffened in the red zone, but the Saints are on the board first.

Tytus Howard gets his 137th false start of the season, Shedeur Sanders gets dropped on third down and Cleveland goes backward on their first drive.

We think they are hideous.

That's what we think.

Figure there's more than a little crossover between Browns nation and Buckeye Nation.

Plus I like to pander. Give the people what they want and all.

Shedeur Sanders' "comments" earlier this week have been played up as disrespectful. As bulletin board material.

Apparently it's a slow week. Because this is a nothingburger.

Won't lie.

This does not make me feel better about Sanders starting this week.