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Browns rally past Falcons at the gun, despite Brian Hoyer meltdown

Brian Hoyer nearly cost the Browns the win, but he ended up leading them down the field for the game-winning score to beat the Falcons.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Cleveland Browns entered Week 12 with a chance to finish in a tie for first place by week's end, but they had to beat the Atlanta Falcons first.

That was easier said than done, as the rejuvenated Falcons  entered the week atop the NFC South, despite their 4-6 record. This was also the first game in which Browns All-Pro receiver Josh Gordon played this year after serving a 10-game suspension.

Cleveland took control of the game early in the first half forcing two Matt Ryan turnovers, but settled for just a field goal after each one, leaving them with only a 13-7 lead late in the second quarter. That is until the Falcons went on a long drive that ended with a Jacquizz Rodgers 8-yard pass from Ryan for the score to give Atlanta a 14-13 lead at halftime.

The Browns would retake control though in the second half. After a field goal gave them a 16-14 lead, and on their next drive, Isaiah Crowell ran for a 26-yard score to give the Browns a 23-14 lead.

However, after a Falcons touchdown cut the lead to just 23-21, Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer threw two costly interceptions, one in the red zone and the latter backed up in Cleveland territory.

The last pick led to a Falcons field goal with just under a minute left, by Hoyer led the Browns offense down to the Falcons 20-yard line with three seconds left.

From there, Billy Cundiff kicked in the game-winning field goal to give the Browns a 26-24 win.