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Saints narrowly prolong Browns' winless streak 21-18

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints needed less than 10 minutes to obliterate what looked like a milestone victory for the seemingly cursed Cleveland Browns.

Wil Lutz kicked a 44-yard field goal with 21 seconds left, Cleveland kicker Zane Gonzalez pushed the second of his two missed field goals wide right in the final seconds, and the Saints held on for a 21-18 victory that extended the Browns' winless streak to 19 games.

"These are games that we find we find our identity a little bit," Brees said, alluding to New Orleans' inability to score more than three points until the first of Michael Thomas' two touchdown catches with 8:41 to go. "These are games that, hey, you didn't have your best stuff, but you found a way."

With the help of another Cleveland collapse.

Gonzalez also missed two extra points, one week after his potential winning field goal was blocked in a season-opening tie with Pittsburgh. His final miss came from 52 yards.

"It snowballed," Gonzalez said, acknowledging the psychological effect of earlier misses that he hooked left before pushing his final kick the other way. "I was overcompensating. I get paid to make those kicks and I have to make them."

Gonzalez's tough day represented only a portion of Cleveland's implosion. Defensive back Derrick Kindred's illegal contact penalty on what would have been a third-down sack extended New Orleans' first touchdown drive, which ended with Thomas' 2-yard catch and cut Cleveland's lead to 12-10.

With just less than five minutes left, Saints safety Marcus Williams intercepted Tyrod Taylor in Cleveland territory on a pass Taylor threw back over the middle as he was rolling to his right.

"You never want to throw late down the middle," Taylor said. "That's something I need to be better at. That play was not good for us. You can't put your team in that situation."

The turnover led to New Orleans' second TD on a 5-yard fade to Thomas, who said he was determined to make up for his fumble earlier in the game. Thomas outjumped two defenders to make the catch.

"Enough was enough," Thomas said. "I needed to respond and help my teammates, and that's what I did. And I still owe them."

Brees finished 28 for 35 for 243 yards and two TDs for New Orleans (1-1). Thomas caught 12 passes for 89 yards.

Taylor was 22 of 30 for 246 yards, one TD and one interception. Jarvis Landry had five catches for 69 yards, and Carlos Hyde scored on a 1-yard TD run.

It wasn't enough for the Browns (0-1-1), who were very close to starting 2-0.

"It's tough, but we got a lot of football left to play," Landry said.

GOOD KAMARA

Alvin Kamara, the 2017 offensive rookie of the year, continued to be a bright spot in a largely frustrating day for New Orleans' offense. His seemingly slippery running style continued to produce yards after contact and he wound up with 99 yards from scrimmage, including 53 on six catches.

His run for a late 2-point conversion gave the Saints an 18-12 lead and made a difference after Taylor found rookie receiver Antonio Callaway for a 47-yard, all-or-nothing TD heave on fourth-and-5 with 1:16 to go.

Gonzalez missed a point-after kick for the second time, and Brees' 42-yard completion to Ted Ginn Jr. set up Lutz' go-ahead kick.

TURNOVERS

The Browns, who forced six turnovers against Pittsburgh in Week 1, recovered two more fumbles when Thomas and Ginn were both stripped after receptions.

Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi sacked Brees twice and would have had a third if not for Kindred's penalty.

Overall, it was a strong showing for the unit coached by coordinator Gregg Williams, who held the same job in New Orleans when the Saints won their only Super Bowl.

INJURIES

Browns: Safety Damarious Randall received treatment on the field after being in on a tackle in the second quarter.

Saints: Tommylee Lewis received treatment for what the club described as a knee injury after a big hit during a punt return in the second quarter. He was listed as questionable to return to the game. ... Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins left in the fourth quarter after taking a hit to the head. He said after the game his face mask was pushed into his nose but that he did not have a concussion.

UP NEXT

Browns: Host the New York Jets on Thursday night.

Saints: Visit Atlanta on Sunday.

___

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Cleveland Browns kicker Zane Gonzalez reacts after missing an extra point during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, in New Orleans Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) The Associated Press
New Orleans Saints linebacker Craig Robertson (52) celebrates after Cleveland Browns kicker Zane Gonzalez, right, missed a field goal during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. The Saints won 21-18. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) The Associated Press
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor, left, meets with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees after an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. The Saints won 21-18. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) The Associated Press
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) The Associated Press
New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz (3) is congratulated by tight end Josh Hill after kicking the game winning field goal during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. The Saints won 21-18. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) The Associated Press
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) hands off the football during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) The Associated Press
New Orleans Saints defensive back Marcus Williams (43) intercepts a pass intended for Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. The Saints won 21-18. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) The Associated Press
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) The Associated Press
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) catches a pass as Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward defends during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) The Associated Press
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway, left, prepares to catch the ball for a touchdown over New Orleans Saints cornerback Ken Crawley during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Bill Feig) The Associated Press
Cleveland Browns defensive back Damarious Randall (23) breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints' Ted Ginn, right, during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) The Associated Press
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