Cleveland Browns vs. Green Bay Packers: 2021 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-12-25, the Green Bay Packers took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 24–22 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -1.25 total EPA, and -6.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Adams (Green Bay Packers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.56 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-26.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (:50) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short middle intended for 11-D.Peoples-Jones INTERCEPTED by 29-R.Douglas at GB 40. 29-R.Douglas to GB 46 for 6 yards.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 D. Adams · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +9.56 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Higgins · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +6.40 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Rodgers · Green Bay Packers · Passing · +5.04 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
4. 4 N. Chubb · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +4.89 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.22 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Johnson · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +4.44 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
6. 6 N. Chubb · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +4.43 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Jones · Green Bay Packers · Rushing · +3.73 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Lazard · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +2.03 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Cleveland Browns — N. Chubb (Q1 57:27)
• Green Bay Packers — A. Lazard (A. Rodgers pass) (Q1 50:19)
• Green Bay Packers — D. Adams (A. Rodgers pass) (Q2 40:50)
• Cleveland Browns — H. Bryant (B. Mayfield pass) (Q2 37:08)
• Green Bay Packers — D. Adams (A. Rodgers pass) (Q2 30:16)
• Cleveland Browns — A. Schwartz (B. Mayfield pass) (Q4 4:36)

Field goals

• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q3 24:16)
• Cleveland Browns — C. Naggar (Q3 16:11)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 7–6. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the GB 1 (Q1 57:27) — (12:27) 24-N.Chubb left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the CLE 11 (Q1 50:19) — (5:19) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short right to 13-A.Lazard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q1 50:13) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-46-S.Wirtel, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez..

The second quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 14–6. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the CLE 9 (Q2 40:50) — (10:50) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short middle to 17-D.Adams for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN [44-S.Takitaki].; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 40:47) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-46-S.Wirtel, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the GB 1 (Q2 37:08) — (7:08) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right to 88-H.Bryant for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q2 30:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short left to 17-D.Adams for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on CLE-21-D.Ward, Defensive Offside, declined.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 30:12) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-46-S.Wirtel, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the CLE 14 (Q3 24:16) — (9:16) 2-M.Crosby 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-S.Wirtel, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the GB 19 (Q3 16:11) — (1:11) 8-C.Naggar 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–0. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the GB 5 (Q4 4:36) — (4:36) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 10-A.Schwartz for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q4 4:31) — 8-C.Naggar extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Cleveland Browns (Q4 0:50) — (:50) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short middle intended for 11-D.Peoples-Jones INTERCEPTED by 29-R.Douglas at GB 40. 29-R.Douglas to GB 46 for 6 yards. [WPA -26.1% · EPA -2.95]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 45:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right intended for 80-J.Landry INTERCEPTED by 39-C.Sullivan at GB 9. 39-C.Sullivan to GB 22 for 13 yards (10-A.Schwartz). [WPA -16.0% · EPA -3.57]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep left intended for 80-J.Landry INTERCEPTED by 29-R.Douglas at GB 40. 29-R.Douglas to CLE 49 for 11 yards (53-N.Harris). [WPA -15.4% · EPA -3.88]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 59:20) — (14:20) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right to 24-N.Chubb to GB 28 for 40 yards (31-A.Amos). PENALTY on GB-26-D.Savage, Low Block, 14 yards, enforced at GB 28. [WPA +13.5% · EPA +3.72]
• Green Bay Packers (Q4 2:14) — (2:14) 7-C.Bojorquez punts 41 yards to CLE 17, Center-46-S.Wirtel. 11-D.Peoples-Jones ran ob at CLE 25 for 8 yards (41-H.Black). [WPA -13.5% · EPA -0.78]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cleveland Browns (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep left intended for 80-J.Landry INTERCEPTED by 29-R.Douglas at GB 40. 29-R.Douglas to CLE 49 for 11 yards (53-N.Harris). [WPA -15.4% · EPA -3.88]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 59:20) — (14:20) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right to 24-N.Chubb to GB 28 for 40 yards (31-A.Amos). PENALTY on GB-26-D.Savage, Low Block, 14 yards, enforced at GB 28. [WPA +13.5% · EPA +3.72]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 45:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right intended for 80-J.Landry INTERCEPTED by 39-C.Sullivan at GB 9. 39-C.Sullivan to GB 22 for 13 yards (10-A.Schwartz). [WPA -16.0% · EPA -3.57]
• Green Bay Packers (Q2 40:50) — (10:50) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short middle to 17-D.Adams for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN [44-S.Takitaki]. [WPA +7.4% · EPA +3.23]

Quarterback report card

B.Mayfield led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) · 44 dropbacks · 47.7% completion · -6.9% CPOE · -0.03 EPA/play · -1.25 total EPA
• A.Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) · 35 dropbacks · 68.6% completion · +3.8% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +5.04 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Cleveland Browns +0.08, Green Bay Packers +0.09) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Cleveland Browns: 10 drives, +6.12 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Green Bay Packers: 10 drives, +6.83 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Green Bay Packers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. Adams (Green Bay Packers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Mayfield (CLE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• A. Rodgers (GB) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 57:27 · GB 1 · Score 6-0
   (12:27) 24-N.Chubb left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q1 50:19 · CLE 11 · Score 6-6
   (5:19) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short right to 13-A.Lazard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q1 50:13 · CLE 15 · Score 6-7
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-46-S.Wirtel, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.
4. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q2 40:50 · CLE 9 · Score 6-13
   (10:50) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short middle to 17-D.Adams for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN [44-S.Takitaki].
5. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q2 40:47 · CLE 15 · Score 6-14
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-46-S.Wirtel, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.
6. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 37:08 · GB 1 · Score 12-14
   (7:08) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right to 88-H.Bryant for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q2 30:16 · CLE 1 · Score 12-20
   (:16) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short left to 17-D.Adams for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on CLE-21-D.Ward, Defensive Offside, declined.
8. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q2 30:12 · CLE 15 · Score 12-21
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-46-S.Wirtel, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.
9. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q3 24:16 · CLE 14 · Score 12-24
   (9:16) 2-M.Crosby 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-S.Wirtel, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.
10. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q3 16:11 · GB 19 · Score 15-24
    (1:11) 8-C.Naggar 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
11. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 4:36 · GB 5 · Score 21-24
    (4:36) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 10-A.Schwartz for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 4:31 · GB 15 · Score 22-24
    8-C.Naggar extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.