It’s Victory Monday again and the Browns are 8-3. Yes it was an ugly win, but last time I checked it still counts as a win. The Browns are currently fifth in the playoff standings and are the number one wildcard team. The Browns will be playing meaningful football games in December. No waiting for the team to fire the GM and/or the head coach. No constantly checking mock drafts. Meaningful December football games. Nice change of pace, right? The Browns are 7-0 when they beat a team they favored to beat by three points. Considering all the starters not playing, that’s a major accomplishment. Unfortunately the Browns have to beat the referees as well as their opponent. I guess some things never change. On to the positives.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Nick Chubb is a beast. He’s the offensive MVP for this team. In the four games without Chubb, the Browns were 2-2 averaging 95.5 rushing yards a game for a 3.9 yards a carry with no rushing touchdowns. With Chubb, the Browns are 6-1 averaging 199 yards a game for a 5.5 yards a carry and 11 rushing touchdowns. In his three games back, Chubb has averaged 128 yards a game for a 6.6 yards per carry. He leads the NFL in 20+ runs with nine. Yesterday he had 144 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. The Browns are undefeated when either Chubb or Kareem Hunt score a rushing touchdown. WR Jarvis Landry had one hell of a birthday. He had eight catches for 143 yards and his first touchdown catch of the season. The highest Pro Football Focus ratings for the offense were Landry (94.5), Chubb (88.2), Hodge (79.8), Mayfield (78.9) and Joel Bitonio (78.8). Baker Mayfield was 19 for 29, 258 yards and two touchdowns. Over the last 123 offensive snaps spanning five games, Mayfield has thrown seven touchdowns, zero interceptions for a QB rating of 106.9. The Browns are 4-1 over that span.
As for the defense, the highest PFF ratings were Vernon (82.6), Sendejo (71.1) and Malcolm Smith (63.1). Going into the game the Browns were without their two best defensive players, Garrett and Ward. Then they lose their third best player real early in the game when Ronnie Harrison hurt his shoulder. The Browns defense didn’t get a sack or a turnover, but did pressure Jags QB Mike Glennon all day. Players came up big when they had to. B.J. Goodson had a good game as did Andrew Sendejo. Next man up. Last week I was asking for the special teams to do something special and on the first kickoff return, D’Ernest Johnson breaks off a big return setting up great field position for the Browns first touchdown drive.
As for the negatives, I’m still confused by head coach Kevin Stefanski’s first drive play calling. The only thing I can figure out is he’s not scripting plays, but rather seeing how the defense lines up at the beginning of the game. Again this week Baker Mayfield missed an easy touchdown pass when he overthrew Rashard Higgins in the end zone. Watching the game, it was apparent early that the Browns rushing attack was missing a fullback. Why the Browns didn’t have Johnny Stanton active is a head scratcher. TE Harrison Bryant has a fumbling problem. On defense, the defensive line has to do a better job of maintaining their rushing lanes. I know James Robinson is a great running back, but 128 yards on 22 carries is ridiculous. The linebackers as a group took a step back in this game. On special teams, Donovan Peoples-Jones is an adventure returning punts. The Browns in the past would have lost this game in some frustrating fashion. Players stepped up and they won. That’s a testament to the coaching staff.
Currently the Browns are awaiting an MRI on Ronnie Harrison’s shoulder. CB Denzel Ward is week to week with his calf injury and S Sheldon Redwine is day to day with his knee injury. As for the players on the Covid list, FB Andy Janovich is due back Wednesday and DE Myles Garrett is on pace to be back the same day. Head coach Kevin Stefanski told the media today that the team should know later in the week on the status of DE Porter Gustin, DE Joe Jackson and LB Sione Takitaki. Getting Janovich and Garrett back for the Titans game would be big.
As I mentioned earlier, the Browns are the fifth seed right now and have a one game lead over the Colts and Dolphins, a one and a half game lead over the Ravens and a two game lead over the Raiders. The Steelers and the Ravens will finally play tomorrow night, maybe. With the Ravens having 20 plus players on the Covid list and the Steelers mad about having another game postponed, I really can’t see Baltimore winning. Next Sunday the Raiders play the Jets, the Dolphins play the Bengals and the Colts play the Texans. The Browns head here to Nashville and play the Titans. After watching James Robinson and Josh Jacobs run all over the Browns defense, stopping Derrick Henry will be a major problem. But I really can’t see the Titans stopping Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Sunday the Colts offense was moving the ball verses the Titans until they lost their starting left tackle on their third offensive series. The Browns offensive line will be the best the Titans have seen in a while and they need to play physical from the start. If the Browns play their game, they should win. This should be a heavyweight fight. On to the next game. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.