The New Orleans Saints beat the Cleveland Browns 23-22 in overtime Sunday at the Caesars Superdome. Shedeur Sanders hit Harold Fannin Jr. for a 39-yard touchdown with 1:00 left in the extra period, and Cleveland's two-point pass for the win failed.

The Browns had more yards through the air and zero turnovers. They lost because New Orleans owned the line of scrimmage and finished drives when it got close.

New Orleans Won the Game on the Ground

The Saints' rushing attack was the steadiest thing on the field. New Orleans ran for 160 yards at 5.0 a carry, while Cleveland managed 95 at 2.8. That gap showed up in the chains: the Saints picked up 10 first downs on the ground to the Browns' 4.

It mattered because the Saints' passing game wasn't carrying them. Cleveland averaged 7.2 yards per pass to New Orleans' 5.9 and threw for more yards. The run game is why the Saints still finished with more total yards, 396 to 355.

The go-ahead score late in regulation came on the ground, too, on Audric Estime's 2-yard run with 58 seconds left. In overtime, Tyler Shough found Juwan Johnson for 15 yards to put the Saints ahead for good.

Rushing (NO): 32 ATT, 160 YDS, 5.0 per carry

Rushing (CLE): 34 ATT, 95 YDS, 2.8 per carry

Cleveland Moved the Ball but Couldn't Finish Close

The Browns never scored a touchdown from short range. Cleveland went 0-2 in the red zone and 0-2 on fourth down, and both of its touchdowns came on long throws: a 64-yarder from Sanders to KC Concepcion and the 39-yarder to Fannin.

Everything else came from Andre Szmyt, who hit from 41, 30 and 51 yards. The last kick, with 8 seconds left in regulation, forced overtime. That is clutch kicking, but an offense living on field goals and home runs leaves no room for error.

New Orleans was hardly sharp inside the 20 either, converting 2 of 5 trips. But the Saints' touchdowns came from in close, and in a game this tight, that was the difference.

Red zone: CLE 0-2, NO 2-5

Fourth down: CLE 0-2, NO 0-0

The Browns Protected the Ball and Still Lost

Cleveland didn't turn it over once. New Orleans lost 2 fumbles. In most weeks that kind of edge decides a game, and the Browns still went home with a loss.

Penalties cut the other way. Cleveland was flagged 10 times for 58 yards, the Saints 4 times for 25. For an offense already struggling to run the ball, giving back yardage is a tax it couldn't afford.

The passing game kept Cleveland alive anyway. The Browns completed 19 of 31 for 260 net yards with no interceptions, even with Sanders and company sacked 5 times. The Saints were sacked 5 times as well, so neither offensive line had the better day in protection.

Passing (CLE): 19-31, 260 YDS, 7.2 per pass, 0 INT

Passing (NO): 21-35, 236 YDS, 5.9 per pass, 0 INT

What It Means

The Saints are 3-5, and this win came in a building where they are now 1-4. Their 2-1 road record still says this team has played its best football away from New Orleans, but beating Cleveland at home is a step toward fixing that split.

Cleveland falls to 5-4. The Browns are 3-0 at home and 2-4 on the road, and this one fit the pattern. Unbeaten at home, Cleveland has now lost 4 times away from it, and the margin in New Orleans was a single failed conversion.