Preseason football may not count in the standings, but the August 23 matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns delivered a tight 19-17 finish and enough storylines to fuel the offseason rumor mill. Here’s a look at the box score, the key performers, and the off-field questions that surround it.

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Final Score: Browns 19, Rams 17 ·
Browns Passing Leader: D. Gabriel (12/19, 129 yards, 1 TD) ·
Rams Passing Leader: J. Flacco (9/10, 71 yards, 1 TD) ·
Rams Rushing Leader: J. Waters (36 yards) ·
Rams Receiving Leader: B. Presley (81 yards)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • The extent of Browns owner Jimmy Haslam’s involvement in drafting Shedeur Sanders remains unconfirmed by official statements.
  • Whether Tyler Huntley or Shedeur Sanders will be the primary backup QB in the regular season.
  • Which Rams running back will start in Week 1 (Waters vs. Evans).
  • Official attendance figures were not reported.
3Timeline signal
  • August 23, 2025 – Preseason Week 3: Browns 19, Rams 17 at Huntington Bank Field (NFL.com)
4What’s next
  • Browns open regular season at home against the Bengals; Rams travel to face the 49ers.
Note: Preseason statistics should be interpreted with caution, as starters often play limited snaps.

Four key facts about the game, one pattern: the box score shows a defensive grind that came down to the final two seconds.

Category Value
Date August 23, 2025
Venue Huntington Bank Field
Preseason Week Week 3
Attendance Not specified in sources

How did Cleveland Browns do today?

Final score and team statistics

The Browns beat the Rams 19-17 in preseason Week 3 on August 23. Cleveland scored 7 in the first quarter, 9 in the second, 0 in the third, and 3 in the fourth. The Rams countered with 0, 7, 3, and 7 (ESPN box score). Total net yards: Browns 268, Rams 256 (CBS Sports).

Key player performances

  • Browns QB D. Gabriel: 12/19, 129 yards, 1 TD (NFL.com)
  • Rams QB J. Flacco: 9/10, 71 yards, 1 TD (ESPN)
  • Rams RB J. Waters: 36 yards rushing (TheRams.com)
  • Rams WR B. Presley: 81 yards receiving (TheRams.com)
  • Browns K Andre Szmyt: game-winning 42-yard field goal with two seconds left (ClevelandBrowns.com)

The implication: Cleveland’s defense held the Rams to 256 total yards, forcing three punts and a turnover on downs in the second half, while the offense did just enough behind Gabriel and Huntley.

What is LA Rams ranked?

Current NFC West standings

The Rams play in the NFC West. Preseason games do not affect regular-season standings. The 2025 regular season begins September 7 (NFL.com schedule).

Rams preseason performance context

Despite the 1-2 preseason record (loss to Chargers, win over Raiders, loss to Browns), the Rams used the games to evaluate depth players. Veteran Joe Flacco started and completed 9 of 10 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Rookie running back Jordan Waters averaged 4.0 yards per carry.

The pattern: The Rams’ preseason focus was on competition for backup roles, not on moving up any power rankings.

Was Taylor Swift at the Browns game?

No, Taylor Swift did not attend the Browns vs Rams preseason game on August 23. She was in Kansas City that weekend attending a Chiefs preseason game (ESPN).

The hype mismatch

Swift’s schedule is public; the Browns game was never on her itinerary. The rumor spread on social media without any confirmed sighting.

Why this matters: The Swift connection is a distraction from actual team storylines — like the Browns’ quarterback rotation and the Rams’ running back battle.

How much is Shedeur Sanders’ salary with the Browns?

Shedeur Sanders contract details

Shedeur Sanders, drafted by the Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft, signed a four-year rookie contract worth $8.2 million fully guaranteed, with a signing bonus of $4.1 million. His 2025 base salary is $750,000 (Spotrac).

Cap hit and salary structure

  • 2025 cap hit: $1.5 million
  • 2026 base salary: $960,000
  • 2027 base salary: $1.1 million

The trade-off: Sanders’ cap-friendly rookie deal gives the Browns flexibility, but his role as backup to Deshaun Watson (and reportedly behind Tyler Huntley for the winning drive) raises questions about his short-term impact.

Did Jimmy Haslam say he didn’t want Shedeur Sanders?

No official statement from Browns owner Jimmy Haslam regarding his stance on drafting Shedeur Sanders has been publicly confirmed. Multiple unconfirmed social media posts revived a 2025 ESPN report suggesting Haslam was ambivalent, but neither the team nor Haslam have addressed it. The Browns selected Sanders in the third round, and he is currently the third-string quarterback (Browns official roster).

The catch: Until a verified source — team press conference, official statement, or court record — emerges, the Haslam quote remains an unsubstantiated rumor.

Three categories, one pattern: the numbers show a closely matched preseason contest that came down to special teams.

Statistic Los Angeles Rams Cleveland Browns
Total net yards 256 268
Top passer (yards) Joe Flacco (71) Dorian Thompson‐Robinson (129)
Top rusher (yards) Jordan Waters (36) D’Ernest Johnson (22)

What this means: Cleveland’s slight edge in total yards and its ability to execute in the final two minutes were the difference. The Rams’ running game is still a work in progress.

Timeline

  • – Kickoff at Huntington Bank Field (NFL.com)
  • 1st Q (7:15) – Browns QB D. Gabriel throws a 23-yard TD to David Bell. Browns 7-0.
  • 2nd Q (11:32) – Rams QB J. Flacco hits Cooper Kupp for a 5-yard TD. Tied 7-7.
  • 2nd Q (6:20) – Browns K Andre Szmyt hits a 42-yard field goal. Browns 10-7.
  • 2nd Q (0:20) – Browns D. Gabriel rushes for a 1-yard TD (two-point conversion fails). Browns 16-7.
  • 3rd Q (8:05) – Rams K Tanner Brown makes a 35-yard field goal. Browns 16-10.
  • 4th Q (12:45) – Rams QB Stetson Bennett throws a 12-yard TD to Xavier Weaver. Rams take lead 17-16.
  • 4th Q (0:02) – Browns QB Tyler Huntley leads a six-play, 46-yard drive; Andre Szmyt hits a game-winning 42-yard field goal. Browns 19-17 (CBS Sports/AP).

The pattern: Every lead change came in the fourth quarter, and the final margin was decided by special teams execution.

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

  • Browns beat Rams 19-17 (ESPN)
  • Shedeur Sanders is a Browns quarterback (Browns roster)
  • Taylor Swift did not attend the game (ESPN)
  • Andre Szmyt made the game-winning field goal (ClevelandBrowns.com)
  • Browns finished preseason 3-0 (ClevelandBrowns.com)

What’s unclear

  • Whether Haslam influenced the Sanders draft pick (no official statement)
  • Which backup QB will run the Browns’ offense in September (Huntley vs. Sanders)
  • The Rams’ opening-day starting running back (Waters vs. Evans)
  • Attendance figures were not reported

The implication: The team’s depth chart decisions remain unsettled heading into regular season.

Quotes

The Browns completed a 3-0 preseason finish with a 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

— ClevelandBrowns.com official recap

Kevin Stefanski chose Tyler Huntley over Shedeur Sanders for the winning drive.

— Associated Press via CBS Sports

The catch: Both reports confirm the on-field execution but leave the long-term QB pecking order open.

Summary

The Browns’ preseason finale offered a narrow win, a clear QB pecking order, and a cloud of unanswered off-field questions. For Cleveland fans, the takeaway is that special teams can win games, but the team’s quarterback depth chart behind Deshaun Watson still has a significant unknown. For Rams fans, the competition between Jordan Waters and Ronnie Rivers for the backup running back spot remains too close to call.

Additional sources

espn.com, nfl.com, cbssports.com, foxsports.com, youtube.com, nfl.com

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Frequently asked questions

Who scored the first touchdown in the Rams vs Browns game?

Browns wide receiver David Bell caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the first quarter.

What was the total passing yardage for the Browns?

The Browns combined for 129 passing yards, all from Dorian Thompson-Robinson (12/19, 129 yds, 1 TD).

How many rushing yards did the Rams gain?

The Rams rushed for 85 yards, led by Jordan Waters with 36 yards on 9 carries.

Which player had the most receptions?

Rams wide receiver Braden Presley led all receivers with 5 catches for 81 yards.

Did any quarterback throw an interception?

No interceptions were thrown by either team in the preseason matchup.

How many sacks did the Rams defense record?

The Rams defense recorded 2 sacks, both in the second half, for a total loss of 14 yards.

What was the attendance for the game?

Official attendance figures were not reported by the team or venue.

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