The New Orleans Saints survived a dramatic overtime finish against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, November 8, 2026, winning 23–22 after Cleveland’s attempt to steal the game with a two-point conversion fell short.
What began as a defensive struggle turned into a wild finish. New Orleans built a 16–6 lead in the fourth quarter, but Cleveland fought back to force overtime. The Saints struck first in the extra period through Juwan Johnson, only for the Browns to answer with a spectacular catch-and-run touchdown from Harold Fannin Jr.
Rather than settle for another tie, Cleveland went for the win. The two-point attempt failed, allowing New Orleans to escape with a one-point victory.
First Quarter — Defenses Set the Tone
New Orleans opened the game with a promising drive behind quarterback Tyler Shough. Juwan Johnson contributed an early 19-yard reception, while Audric Estime helped move the football on the ground.
The Saints reached the Cleveland red zone, but a mishandled snap and a sack prevented them from reaching the end zone. Charlie Smyth converted a 30-yard field goal to give New Orleans a 3–0 lead.
Cleveland struggled to establish much offensive rhythm. The Saints defense pressured Shedeur Sanders and forced the Browns to punt on their opening possessions.
New Orleans had another opportunity to extend its lead, but Smyth missed a 52-yard field goal.
The first quarter ended with the Saints ahead 3–0.
Second Quarter — Missed Opportunities Keep It Close
Cleveland finally got on the scoreboard when Andre Szmyt connected from 41 yards, tying the game at 3–3.
New Orleans responded with one of its best offensive opportunities of the half. Shough connected with Barion Brown for a 52-yard gain, putting the Saints deep inside Cleveland territory.
However, the drive ended in disappointment when Jordyn Tyson fumbled near the goal line after making a reception. Cleveland recovered, preventing what looked like a promising scoring opportunity.
The Browns later marched deep into Saints territory themselves, reaching the 1-yard line with an opportunity to take the lead.
New Orleans delivered a massive defensive stop.
On fourth-and-goal, Quinshon Judkins was stopped for no gain, turning the ball over on downs.
Shough later connected with Chris Olave for 36 yards to help New Orleans escape poor field position, but the Saints couldn’t turn the possession into points.
The teams entered halftime tied 3–3.
Third Quarter — Field Goals Continue to Decide the Game
Cleveland opened the second half with a productive drive, moving 66 yards before settling for a 30-yard Szmyt field goal.
The Browns led 6–3, but New Orleans responded with a long possession of its own.
Shough helped keep the drive moving, and Smyth eventually converted a 27-yard field goal to tie the game at 6–6.
Both defenses continued to make life difficult for the opposing offenses, with neither team able to establish consistent scoring opportunities.
After three quarters, the game remained tied at 6–6.
Fourth Quarter — Saints Build a Lead, Browns Fight Back
The game finally opened up in the fourth quarter.
New Orleans found its offensive rhythm and built a 16–6 advantage, putting Cleveland in a difficult position after three quarters of struggles.
But the Browns refused to go away.
Cleveland began moving the football more effectively, finding the offensive production that had been missing for much of the afternoon.
The Browns eventually completed their comeback, forcing a 16–16 tie and sending the game into overtime.
After spending much of the afternoon struggling to score, Cleveland had given itself another chance to steal a road victory.
Overtime — Johnson Strikes First, Fannin Jr. Nearly Steals It
New Orleans received the football first in overtime and took advantage.
The Saints marched downfield before Tyler Shough found Juwan Johnson for the go-ahead touchdown. With the extra point, New Orleans moved ahead 23–16.
But Cleveland wasn’t finished.
The Browns answered with an impressive drive of their own, moving downfield with the game on the line.
Harold Fannin Jr. then delivered one of the afternoon’s best plays, making an outstanding catch before turning upfield for a spectacular catch-and-run touchdown.
Suddenly, the Browns were within one point, trailing 23–22.
Cleveland faced a decision: kick the extra point to tie the game or attempt a two-point conversion to win it.
The Browns chose to go for the victory.
But the Saints defense held firm, stopping the conversion attempt and securing a dramatic 23–22 win.
After everything Cleveland had done to fight back, the game came down to one final play.
EST Takeaways
1. Juwan Johnson Delivered in Overtime
Johnson made his presence felt early and came through with the biggest touchdown of the afternoon. His overtime score put Cleveland in a position where it needed to respond, and ultimately gave New Orleans enough points to win.
2. Harold Fannin Jr. Nearly Completed an Incredible Comeback
Fannin Jr.’s overtime catch-and-run touchdown was a tremendous individual effort. Cleveland had struggled offensively for much of the game, but his play brought the Browns within one point of a remarkable road victory.
3. Cleveland’s Two-Point Decision Will Be Debated
The Browns had momentum after matching New Orleans’ overtime touchdown. Going for two offered an immediate opportunity to win, but it also meant putting the entire game on one play.
Cleveland took the gamble and came up short.
4. The Saints Defense Made Critical Stops
New Orleans’ fourth-and-goal stand in the second quarter was one of the biggest defensive moments of the afternoon. The Saints also made the final stop on Cleveland’s two-point attempt, turning an otherwise difficult finish into a victory.
5. Both Teams Have Offensive Issues to Address
The 3–3 halftime score showed just how difficult moving the football had become. New Orleans struggled to finish promising drives, while Cleveland needed a late comeback to overcome its own offensive problems.
Neither team will be entirely satisfied with its performance, even if the Saints leave with the victory.
Final Thoughts
The Saints and Browns spent much of Sunday afternoon locked in a defensive battle, but the game eventually delivered a finish neither fan base will forget anytime soon.
New Orleans appeared to have taken control when Juwan Johnson scored on the opening possession of overtime.
Cleveland had other ideas.
The Browns marched downfield, and Harold Fannin Jr.’s spectacular touchdown gave them a chance to complete the comeback with one final play.
But the two-point attempt failed.
For Cleveland, it was a heartbreaking ending after showing tremendous determination to get back into the contest.
For New Orleans, it was a narrow escape and a victory secured by making the final defensive stop when it mattered most.
Final Score: New Orleans Saints 23, Cleveland Browns 22.
With the victory, the New Orleans Saints improve to 3–5, securing their first home win of the 2026 season. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns fall to 5–4, suffering a heartbreaking defeat after coming within one successful two-point conversion of victory.
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