How Browns got a glimpse at future of pass-catching group in OT loss

NEW ORLEANS ― It was exactly what the Browns hope it would look like. All three of Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion and Harold Fannin Jr. making huge plays for an explosive offense.

There were only two big problems. The first was that it didn't fully coalesce until there was almost no time remaining in their game at the New Orleans Saints .

The second, and bigger, issue? It happened in a 23-22 overtime loss to the Saints .

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Boston and Concepcion were just in their ninth game of their first season in the league, while it's just the second season for Fannin. Yet, they combined 12 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.

"I think, you know, we have a great passing attack over here with the Cleveland Browns ," Boston said. :You know, I think definitely something to look forward to. At the same time, I don't think we should use that as an excuse for not being able to win games. I think that we got to go out and play our very best every single game that we play. It's a week-to-week league, and us being young shouldn't reflect on our record. I think we're all grown men, so we go out there and play the game at our highest level."

All three were on the receiving end of a new quarterback, at least for this week. Second-year pro Shedeur Sanders started in place of Deshaun Watson, sidelined due to being in concussion protocol during the week, and completed 19-of-31 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns.

However, it was when Sanders shined the most, especially in the final 5:30 of regulation and all of overtime, that the three young pass catchers seemed to glow the brightest. Concepcion had a 64-yard touchdown with 521 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Browns a 13-9 lead.

It was Concepcion's first NFL touchdown. It also came after he limited off the field and into the medical tent with a right ankle injury, which he returned from to start the fourth quarter on a punt return.

"Like I said before, I play with so much passion," Concepcion said after catching four passes for 85 yards in the game. "I play with so much grit. I play with so much dawg. So as soon as it happened, I went to the blue tent. I got taped up good and tight. I was ready to go."

That was one of two 60-plus-yard completions for Sanders in the second half. The other was 61-yard catch-and-run that Boston made a terrific adjustment on the ball while it was in the air to get it over Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Boston was also central to what could've been the winning play, the two-point conversion in overtime. He tried to do the scramble drill with Sanders, who was flushed out of the pocket by New Orleans' Carl Granderson, but couldn't come up with the football.

A holding penalty on right tackle Tytus Howard would've negated the try even if Boston would've caught it.

"It was close," Boston said after catching six passes for 98 yards. "I think it just became a scramble drill play and we weren't able to get it done. Even if we did hit it, we still had a holding call in play, so it would have been canceled and negated anyways, which sucks. But, you know, we're just trying to fight every single down that we play and try to put our best foot forward."

The two-point conversion play came after Fannin had entered the group chat, so to speak. The tight end didn't get so much as a target through four quarters, but had two receptions on two targets in overtime for 41 yards.

Those 41 yards included a 39-yard catch and run where Fannin ran a crossing route, stiff-armed two Saints defenders before turning and stumbling his way up field all the way into the end zone for a touchdown. It was the ultimate quality over quantity day for him.

"Yeah, I mean, I was just really going out there, not doing any thinking, just reacting," Fannin said. "I just told them, like, it was like a flash. Like, I don't know. I didn't even realize what I was doing until after the play was over, you know? But, yeah, just had to make a play for my teammates and things like that. It was a good play."

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