Halftime in Cleveland: Chiefs lead Browns thanks to hometown heroics from Hunt, Kelce

The Chiefs lead the Browns 21-15 at the end of the first half. Some halftime observations:

Hometown Heroes

Fittingly, Kareem Hunt scored the first touchdown of the afternoon, catching a screen pass from Patrick Mahomes (10 for 12, 200 yards, 2 TD) and turning it into a 50-yard score in the first quarter. Hunt, who hails from nearby Willoughby, Ohio, then handed the ball to a Chiefs’ fan in the end zone. Hunt had a big contingent of fans Sunday afternoon, including 110 from his high school football team after he gifted them tickets to the game.

Then, Cleveland Heights native Travis Kelce scored the Chiefs’ second touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Mahomes.

Hunt added another touchdown late in the second, scoring on a one-yard run with less than three minutes to go until halftime.

At half, Hunt had three carries for 35 yards and a touchdown along with one catch for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Kelce, meanwhile, had two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.

Lucas comes up big

After limited playing time against the Broncos last week, Jordan Lucas got in the game early and made the most of his snaps. He had a big sack of Baker Mayfield on third down, pushing the Browns back nine yards. It set up for a 51-yard field goal, which Cleveland kicker Greg Joseph converted.

Injures factor in first half

Recovering from a serious bruise to his ribs suffered last week, linebacker Anthony Hitchens started Sunday’s game. But he didn’t last long. Hitchens went out in the first series, holding his chest. He went back to the locker room as UDFA rookie Ben Neimann took his place. Hitchens was announced as questionable to return, but he came back and played in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, the Browns lost defensive back E.J. Gaines, the former Mizzou star, to a concussion in the first quarter. And fellow defensive back Denzel Ward left with a hip injury. Both of those injuries were significant because the Browns were already without a handful of defensive backs entering the game.

Then, Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury.

Two failed two-point conversions

Rookie running back Nick Chubb scored the Browns first touchdown with 6:29 to go in the second quarter. Chubb’s touchdown pulled the Browns within five points, but rather than kick the extra point, the Browns elected to attempt a two-point conversion.

Mayfield’s pass, intended for Damion Ratley, was intercepted by Kendall Fuller in the end zone.

The Browns again tried to go for two just before the half. That attempt failed as well.

Going for it

Gregg Williams was bold in his first game as the Browns’ interim head coach. Cleveland went for it three times on fourth down, converting its first two attempts and getting the third, too, thanks to an encroachment call on D-lineman Derrick Nnadi..

On the second, Baker Mayfield hit Duke Johnson for a 23-yard gain thanks to a mismatch that resulted in linebacker Breeland Speaks on the speedy running back.