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SEATTLE — Kareem Hunt would’ve loved a chance to put the Seahawks game away Sunday like he did in last week’s 39-38 victory over the Colts, when he scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard plunge with 15 seconds left.
This time, when the game was on the line on a third and 3 with 2:04 remaining and the Browns clinging to their 20-17 lead, Hunt was on the sideline wondering why he was persona non grata in the fourth quarter, and why the Browns didn’t run the ball on that play.
Instead, P.J. Walker fired a pass to the right for Amari Cooper and it was soccer-headed by Seattle’s Jamal Adams high into the air, and picked off by Julian Love at the Seahawks 43.
The Seahawks cashed in on Walker’s third turnover, with Geno Smith firing the 9-yard game-winning TD pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 38 seconds left to beat the Browns 24-20.
After the game, Hunt, who rushed for 55 yards on 14 carries (3.9 average) and a 1-yard TD through the first three quarters, was visibly upset that he wasn’t called on in the final period.
When a reporter told him people would’ve like to have seen the ball in his hands on that third-and-3 play, Hunt said, “I mean, yeah, me too.”
Did he hear any of sideline discussion about options on the play that Kevin Stefanski referenced?
“Nope. I ain’t hear nothing,” he said.
How frustrating was it for him to churn out the tough yards — and score in the second quarter to pull the Browns within 17-14 — only to get overlooked in the clutch?
“I didn’t get a chance to whole fourth quarter, so it’s cool,” he said. “I don’t know. I just go and play my role. That’s what I do.”
He was asked if he was he surprised the Browns threw in that situation. They were averaging 5.1 yards in the fourth quarter, including 4.2 on that drive.
“I mean, I guess,” he said. “I don’t know. It’s up to (Kevin Stefanski). He makes the calls.”
He didn’t try to hide his dismay.
“It is what it is,” he said. “I feel like could’ve helped the win.”
Were the Browns trying to keep Jerome Ford fresh for fourth-quarter duty since he was gutting it out on a high ankle sprain? Ford (9 for 37, 4.1 average) carried the ball seven times for 35 yards in the fourth quarter after only two carries in the first three quarters.
“I don’t know,” Hunt said. “When my number’s called, I go out there.”
He acknowledged that the loss stung. The Browns nearly won their third straight game to remain close to the now 6-2 Ravens. Instead, they slipped to 4-3.
“It’s very tough,” he said. “It was won, I thought. All we had to do is do our job.
“… It’s a long season to go,” he said. “We’ve got to bounce back, learn from the mistakes and come ready to play.”
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