Why do I even bother trying to predict anything? Against the Niners, I was thinking the Browns would get embarrassed. Against the Colts, I thought we’d post a solid win. And now today, I was praying the Browns wouldn’t get blown out. And with how this game started, I was scared to death that they would get destroyed. But the common denominator in all three of those games? The Cleveland Browns found a way to win! They won all those games!
Let’s be honest: Cleveland got lucky to beat both the Colts and the Niners. But that’s what makes tonight’s win so much sweeter. The Browns truly earned this one! They made a ton of mistakes, and just about gave the game away. They probably should have lost it. But they fought through adversity. They didn’t quit. They refused to die. This was an ugly win. But it has a chance to be an ENORMOUS morale booster down the stretch!
How did the Browns get to the halfway point in style? Let’s check out the Keys to Victory!
Clutch Defense
I’m going to have to be more understanding with this defense. With the first five weeks of the season, they generated expectations. They were gangbusters early. They were so stingy. Through the first five weeks of the season, they gave up only 1,000 yards total. They were historically good. And I think I may have been foolish to think they could keep playing at that level all year.
There are way too many good teams in the NFL to think the Browns will dominate everyone on defense. But with today’s win, this was the first time I saw a defense that we may be able to count on to win the biggest games of the season.
Minus Watson’s pick six early, and the Ravens capitalizing on the special teams mistake from James Proche, the Browns defense held an extremely explosive offense to just 17 points. They were also held to 2-8 on third down. That kind of defense from the Browns will win huge games like this.
Myles Garrett and Co. also got after Lamar Jackson. The Dawgs sacked him three times, and hit him six times. Browns cornerback Greg Newsome also snagged a pick six and took it to the house.
Lamar actually looked human. He looked frustrated. The Browns were in his head. Unless I’m forgetting something, this is only his second loss to the Browns in his career. The first loss was in September 2019. Baker Mayfield was efficient, Nick Chubb ran wild, and the defense sacked Lamar at least four times in a 40-25 Cleveland victory.
Four years later, the Browns beat him in a much, much bigger game in his house. And they did it with a killer instinct. Something a Browns defense hasn’t had since the Super Bowl contending teams of the mid to late 1980s. This one wasn’t pretty. But when the Browns had to have a clutch stop, they got one. Over and over again. I loved it!
The running game
I am absolutely flabbergasted at how solid the running game still is, even without Nick Chubb. This is crazy! As soon as he went down against the Steelers, I was very, very worried about how that would affect our team. For the last 4-5 years, the Browns have built an identity as a blue-collar, run-first, smashmouth football team. It’s not flashy. It’s not sexy. But it works. It’s Cleveland Browns football. That’s how the city is too!
And for as much as I often am frustrated with Stefanski, I will give him credit. He and his staff have stayed committed to running the football in Chubb’s absence. That will take us a long way if he sticks to it.
Jerome Ford looked fantastic today as the lead running back. He carried the ball 17 times for 107 yards. As a team, the Browns ran the ball 36 times for 178 yards (4.9 yards per carry), and a touchdown.
I was watching the end of this game with my friend and next-door neighbor. We saw how the game against Seattle ended. We were both nervous that we’d see a repeat of two weeks ago. But Stefanski decided to keep it rolling on the ground in the most critical parts of the game. And Dustin Hopkins rewarded him and all of us, with one of the most clutch game-winning field goals we’ve seen in recent memory! KEEP RUNNING THE BALL, KEVIN! SEE? IT WORKS!
Deshaun Finally Shows Up
I have criticized Watson a lot since he’s arrived in Cleveland. As have many Browns fans. And I think most of that criticism is justified. He hasn’t lived up to expectations. Our team paid him a fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million. We were waiting for him to show up. Before today, we hadn’t seen the clutch quarterback who is a three-time Pro Bowler.
He finally showed up today. He led this team to his first big-time win as a Cleveland Brown. His stats weren’t eye-popping. Watson went 20-34 for 213 yards, a touchdown and an interception. But it’s what didn’t show up on the stat sheet that earned this victory.
His decision to continue playing after taking big hits from a nasty Ravens defense. Making the choice to run for the first down on several occasions instead of being intimidated by them. And making several big plays to extend drives or outsmart Baltimore.
His “stop and pop” touchdown to Elijah Moore was a thing of beauty! It’s not easy to have the situational awareness to stop, set your feet, and fire a dart to the corner of the endzone when the pocket is collapsing and the Ravens are closing in. But he stood and delivered a nice touchdown pass. We need more of that down the stretch!
And we need another big win too! Up next for the Browns is perhaps an even bigger game right around the corner, against none other than the Pittsburgh Steelers. This isn’t just a rivalry game. This one carries a lot of weight. Cleveland and Pittsburgh have both been very similar this season in that they’re both winning ugly. But they’re both finding ways to win, no matter what it takes. They’re getting it done.
But if the Browns can pull through next week, not only will they pull into second place in the AFC North ahead of the Steelers, they will also continue to climb the AFC Playoff ladder. Right now, Cleveland sits at 6-3, and at 6th in the AFC. If they win next week, they’d be no lower than 5th. And they’ll be hot on Baltimore’s heels for the Division lead! But none of that matters if Cleveland doesn’t beat Pittsburgh next weekend.
For now though, the Browns pick up their sixth win of this wacky, and entertaining season, and move one step closer to possibly capturing their second Playoff berth in four years. They have now beaten the supposedly best team in the NFL not once, but twice! Oh, how sweet it is, folks! Enjoy this one, and live it up, Dawg Pound!
GO BROWNS!
Statistical Leaders
Deshaun Watson: 20-34, 213 yards, TD, INT
Jerome Ford: 17 carries, 107 yards
Amari Cooper: 6 catches, 98 yards
Source: ESPN
Picture Credit: marylandsportsblog.com
