The 2022 season was the Cleveland Browns' 70th in the National Football League (NFL), their 74th overall, and their third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry. The Browns failed to improve upon their 8âÂÂ9 record from the previous season as they finished 7âÂÂ10. The Browns failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second straight season The Browns introduced a new midfield logo, with Brownie the Elf; this is their first season with a new midfield logo since 2016.
On March 18, the Browns acquired quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans in exchange for six draft selections including three first-round picks. Former starting quarterback Baker Mayfield was later dealt to the Carolina Panthers. Due to Watson's 11-game suspension levied as a result of several sexual assault accusations and lawsuits stemming from his time in Houston, the Browns started backup Jacoby Brissett for the games that Watson was forced to miss. The team posted a 4âÂÂ7 record under Brissett before Watson made his debut in Week 13.
The Browns made the following trades involving players during the 2022 offseason.
Draft trades
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
The Browns opened their season with a trip to Charlotte to play the Carolina Panthers, led by former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Browns jumped out to a 20âÂÂ7 lead, however Carolina scored two touchdowns and a field goal in the final frame to take a 24âÂÂ23 lead with 1:13 remaining in the game. The Browns, led by backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, drove to the Carolina 40-yard line, where rookie kicker Cade York hit a 58âÂÂyard field goal to give the Browns a 26âÂÂ24 win.
With the win, the Browns started the season 1âÂÂ0, the first season opening win since 2004, ending a 17-game winless streak in Week 1. York was named AFC Special Teams Player of the week. York connected on four field goals, including a 58âÂÂyard game-winner. This set the NFL record for the longest field goal by a rookie in his team's first game.
The Browns opened the home portion of their schedule against the New York Jets, looking for their first 2âÂÂ0 start since 1993. The Browns built a 30âÂÂ17 lead with just under 2:00 remaining in the game on the strength of three Nick Chubb touchdown runs. However, New York scored two quick touchdowns with a successful onside kick in between to take a surprising 31âÂÂ30 win.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 1âÂÂ1.
After a tough loss, the Browns stayed home to take on the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on a very windy Thursday night. Both teams scored two touchdowns in the first half, but a missed extra point by Cade York gave the Steelers a 14âÂÂ13 lead heading into halftime. The Browns took a 16âÂÂ14 lead on a York field goal in the third quarter and extended it to 23âÂÂ14 on a Nick Chubb touchdown run, but a Chris Boswell field goal cut the Browns' lead to six points with 1:48 remaining. Unable to run the clock out, the Browns punted the ball to the Pittsburgh 4-yard line with nine seconds remaining. However, an unsuccessful hook-and-latter play by was fumbled by Pittsburgh and recovered by Browns' CB Denzel Ward in the end zone to make the final score 29âÂÂ17.
With the win, the Browns improved to 2âÂÂ1.
The Browns traveled to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. Atlanta opened a 10âÂÂ0 lead in the first quarter on a Younghoe Koo field goal and a Cordarrelle Patterson touchdown run. However Cleveland answered with a Jacoby Brissett touchdown run and a Cade York field goal to tie the game 10âÂÂ10 at halftime. York added another field goal to give the Browns a 13âÂÂ10. The two teams traded touchdowns, giving the Browns a 20âÂÂ17 lead after three quarters. Koo booted a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter to give the Falcons a 23âÂÂ20 win.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 2âÂÂ2.
The Browns returned home to take on the Los Angeles Chargers after a tough loss in Atlanta. Cleveland took a 7âÂÂ0 lead five plays into the game when Nick Chubb broke numerous tackles on a 41-yard touchdown run, and doubled their lead on a Jacoby Brissett touchdown pass to Amari Cooper. However, Los Angeles scored the next 17 points on a Taylor Bertolet field goal and two touchdowns on a Joshua Kelley run and a Justin Herbert pass to Austin Ekeler. Cleveland retook the lead with Chubb's second touchdown run, making the score 21âÂÂ17 at halftime.
On the opening drive of the second half, Herbert and Williams connected for 21 yards to convert a 3rd and 12, leading to an Ekeler touchdown run as the Chargers retook the lead at 24âÂÂ21. Soon afterwards, Cleveland went for it on 4th and 1 from their own 34, but Kareem Hunt was tackled for a loss, setting up another Bertolet field goal. Hunt scored on Cleveland's next drive, putting Cleveland up 28âÂÂ27 late in the 3rd quarter. Runs of 16 yards by Ekeler and 17 yards by Kelley then helped the Chargers drive inside Cleveland's 10, where they had to settle for their third short field goal of the game to take a 30âÂÂ28 lead.
Late in the game, the Chargers went for 4th and 2 with 1:14 remaining. A conversion would have allowed Los Angeles to run out the clock. However, Herbert's pass was broken up and the Browns took over at the Los Angeles 45. Brissett managed a 10-yard completion, but could move the ball no closer, and York's 54-yard kick missed narrowly to the right with 11 seconds to play.
With the loss the Browns fell to 2âÂÂ3.
The Browns stayed home to take on the New England Patriots. New England was led by rookie backup quarterback Bailey Zappe due to an injury to starter Mac Jones. After the teams traded field goals in the first quarter, New England scored the game's first touchdown on a Rhamondre Stevenson 31-yard run. Cade York added his second field goal of the game late in the second quarter, giving New England a 10âÂÂ6 halftime lead.
New England broke away with two Zappe touchdown passes in the third quarter to build their lead to 24âÂÂ6. Cleveland then closed New England's lead to 24âÂÂ15 with a York field goal and Jacoby Brissett touchdown pass to Amari Cooper with just over six minutes remaining. However, a failed onside kick and a Brissett interception led to two New England touchdowns, making the final score 38âÂÂ15.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 2âÂÂ4. During the game, DE Myles Garrett set the franchise record for most career sacks with 62.5, breaking the mark of 62 previously held by Clay Matthews.
The Browns traveled to Baltimore for their first meeting with the division rival Baltimore Ravens, looking to avoid a fourth straight loss. The Browns opened the scoring with a Nick Chubb touchdown run. After the two teams swapped field goals, the Browns held a 10âÂÂ3 lead after one quarter. However, Baltimore scored the next 17 points on a Justin Tucker field goal and a pair of Gus Edwards touchdown runs to build a 20âÂÂ10 lead.
The teams again traded field goals and Kareem Hunt added a touchdown run to close the Ravens' lead to 23âÂÂ20 with nine minutes remaining. Just before the two-minute warning, York attempted a potential game-tying 60-yard field goal, but it was blocked. The Browns got the ball back with 16 seconds remaining, but a failed hook-and-ladder ended the game.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 2âÂÂ5. This marked the Browns' first four-game losing streak since 2019.
The Browns returned home to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of this season's Battle of Ohio.
After a scoreless first quarter, Nick Chubb got the Browns on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run (and successful two-point conversion). A Cade York 55-yard field goal closed out an otherwise quiet first half with the Browns holding an 11âÂÂ0 lead. The Browns expanded their lead to 25âÂÂ0 in the third quarter on a Jacoby Brissett touchdown run and a Brissett touchdown pass to Amari Cooper. Cincinnati finally got on the board in the fourth quarter with a pair of Joe Burrow touchdown passes sandwiching Chubb's second touchdown run, but the Browns were able to win comfortably, 32âÂÂ13.
With the win, the Browns entered their bye week at 3âÂÂ5. This marked the Browns' fifth straight win over the Bengals, their longest winning streak in the series since a seven-game winning streak from 1992âÂÂ1995.
The Browns returned from their bye week with an away game against the Miami Dolphins, marking the return of quarterback Jacoby Brissett to Miami, where he played for the Dolphins the previous season.
The Browns scored on their opening drive with a Brissett touchdown pass to Harrison Bryant to take a 7âÂÂ0 lead. However, Miami would score the next 24 points of the game on a pair of Tua Tagovailoa touchdown passes, a Raheem Mostert touchdown run, and a Jason Sanders field goal, taking a 24âÂÂ7 lead early in the third quarter. The Browns moved the score to 30âÂÂ17 on a Cade York field goal and a Nick Chubb 33-yard touchdown run sandwiching Tagovailoa's third touchdown pass of the day, however Miami put the game away in the fourth quarter with another field foal and a Jeff Wilson touchdown run, making the final score 39âÂÂ17.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 3âÂÂ6.
Deshaun Watson made his first start for the Browns against his former team in the Texans, returning after completing his suspension. Despite a lackluster performance from Watson and the offense as a whole, the Browns still won handily 27âÂÂ14 thanks to two defensive touchdowns and a punt return touchdown.
With the win, the Browns improved to 6âÂÂ8. This marked the Browns' 500th win as a member of the NFL.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 6âÂÂ9 and were eliminated from playoff contention. The Browns finished 4âÂÂ4 at home.
Coming off a tough loss and playoff elimination, the Browns visited the Washington Commanders. Cleveland opened the scoring on a Cade York 37-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Washington went on a 21-play, 96-yard drive culminating in a Carson Wentz touchdown run. The Browns took control in the third quarter as Deshaun Watson threw touchdown passes to Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones to take a 17âÂÂ7 lead. A Joey Slye field goal for Washington cut the lead to 17âÂÂ10, but Cleveland responded with another touchdown pass from Watson to Cooper to extend their lead to 24âÂÂ10, which would be the final score.
With the win, the Browns improved to 7âÂÂ9. Punter Corey Bojorquez was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after making four punts for 187 yards (46.8 avg.), including two punts downed within the Washington 5-yard line.
The Browns finished the season with a trip to Pittsburgh, hoping to sweep the Steelers for the first time since . The Steelers entered the game with distant playoff hopes, but would need a win and multiple other teams in the playoff hunt to lose their games.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Browns struck first when Deshaun Watson found David Njoku on a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 7âÂÂ0. However, Pittsburgh would score the next 20 points in the game on a Kenny Pickett touchdown pass to George Pickens, a pair of Chris Boswell field goals, and a Najee Harris touchdown run to take a 20âÂÂ7 lead. The Browns closed the gap to one score at 20âÂÂ14 on a Watson touchdown pass to Nick Chubb, but could not come any closer. A late Pittsburgh touchdown made the final score 28âÂÂ14.
With the loss, the Browns finished the season 7âÂÂ10. This marked the Browns' 19th straight regular-season loss in Pittsburgh. The Browns finished 3âÂÂ6 in away games.