Living in Nashville, TN this one is much sweeter. All week, Browns fans here in the Music City heard the noise from the local sports experts pick the Titans to win because of the way the Browns played against the Steelers. Their reasoning was, the Titans finally won a game and stopped an eight-game losing streak. They felt their team turned the corner and because “Cleveland is Cleveland” and the Browns were in disarray after Monday night. They didn’t know, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is a great game planner on a short week. They also forgot the Browns were 17-9 at home under Stefanski. They didn’t consider just how great the Browns defense is. Surprise.
After three games the Browns defense has allowed 163.7 total yards a game (1st), 52 rushing yards (1st), 111.7 passing yards (1st), seven first downs (1st), third down conversion rate of 19.51% (1st) and 10.7 points allowed (1st). They’re allowing 3.2 yards per play and opponents are going three and out 61.5% of the time. Every position group on this defense has elite players. With this defense, all quarterback Deshaun Watson had to do was be average. He was better than average, he was really good. Watson, after watching the Steeler game three times, once with the team, once with Stefanski and once by himself, told the head coach, he needed to be in the shotgun with an empty set. Kudos to Kevin Stefanski for listening to his quarterback and not being stubborn. Watson threw some incredible passes. They didn’t all connect, but 81% of them did. I’ll take that any day of the week. Don’t get me wrong, the Titan run defense is legit, but their pass defense is atrocious. I was glad to see the offense attack the perimeters. That’s how the running game will work in future games. Finally, the Browns have a kicker.
Pro Football Focus grades: Offense, TE Harrison Bryant 75.1, QB Watson, 74.6, WR Amari Cooper 72.3, RT Dawand Jones 65.3 and C Ethan Pocic 64.3. Defense, DE Myles Garrett 93.3, DE Alex Wright 90.5, DT Maurise Hurst 89.6, LB JOK, 87.1, LB Anthony Walker 84.7 and DE Za’Darius Smith 70.7.
Next week the Browns host the Ravens and QB Lamar Jackson will be a challenge, but the Browns have played him well at home. Enjoy your victory Monday, stay safe and Go Browns.