The Browns trailed the Kansas City Chiefs 17-3 at halftime Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs seized command out of the gate with an 11-play, 65-yard scoring drive, which took 7 minutes, 8 seconds off the clock. Quarterback Alex Smith threaded the needle through a crowd of Browns defenders, free safety Tashaun Gipson, strong safety Donte Whitner and inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, with an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jeremy Maclin on a slant route to the back of the end zone. The allowed the Chiefs to capture a 7-0 lead with 7:52 left in the opening quarter.
The Browns failed to immediately fire back, going three-and-out as quarterback Johnny Manziel got off to a rough start. On second-and-5 at Cleveland's 13, Manziel overthrew tight end Gary Barnidge, who was wide open near about 20 yards downfield. Then on third-and-5, free safety Eric Berry nearly intercepted Manziel's incomplete pass over the middle intended for rookie running back Duke Johnson.
After Andy Lee punted to the Kansas City's 40, the Chiefs produced a nine-play, 39-yard drive finished by Cairo Santos making a 40-yard field goal to put the Browns in a 10-0 hole with 2:19 left in the first quarter. The Chiefs faced fourth-and-4 at the Browns' 32 but converted when Smith scrambled up the middle for a 9-yard gain. Four plays later, Santos kicked his first field goal.
Then the teams traded possessions.
When the Browns got the ball back following a three-and-out by the Chiefs, they trimmed their deficit to 10-3 as Travis Coons made a 47-yard field goal with 8:58 remaining in the second quarter. They had an 11-yard gain called back during the previous play because the Chiefs won a challenge. On third-and-4 at the Chiefs' 23, Manziel ran and attempted a lateral to Johnson, who advanced to the 12. But following a replay review, the officials determined Manziel made an illegal forward pass. As a result, the Browns lost 5 yards and summoned Coons.
Smith threw an interception during the next series, and Manziel did the same two plays later. Browns rookie outside linebacker Nate Orchard picked off Smith after he and inside linebacker Craig Robertson bobbled the ball between each other as if they were playing hot potato. Chiefs rookie cornerback Marcus Peters recorded his eighth interception of the season by picking off Manziel's pass intended for tight end Gary Barnidge.
Neither team scored off those turnovers.
The Browns got the ball back with 2:05 left in the second quarter and went three-and-out. The Chiefs took control at their 44 with 1:34 left, and on first down, Smith ran for 29 yards after he shrugged off outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo on an attempted sack. Four plays later, Smith connected with tight end Travis Kelce for a 13-yard touchdown, which elevated the Chiefs to a 17-3 lead with 32 seconds left in the first half. Free safety Tashaun Gipson went berserk immediately after Kelce scored, suggesting the Browns' defensive backs weren't on the same page and blew the coverage.
Thanks to a 23-yard run by Manziel, the Browns had a chance to trim their deficit before halftime. However, Coons' 51-yard field goal attempt was blocked by the Chiefs as time expired in the second quarter. The Browns have had four field goals blocked in their past five games.