Happy victory Monday Browns fans. The team is 7-3 and a half of a game behind the Baltimore Ravens. They are 3-2 in the AFC North with one game remaining against the Bengals. Is this a playoff team? Yes, but they need to stabilize the quarterback position. They’ve signed Joe Flacco to the practice squad and after he worked out on Friday, they gave him a playbook to start studying over the weekend. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has already announced DTR will start against Denver. It’s unbelievable the Browns have won games with three different quarterbacks. They are 4-0 in games decided by three points or less and this was their fifth victory with a game winning score coming in the final two minutes of regulation. Just as the Baltimore game was improbable, the final drive for the score was the same. DTR was four for four for forty yards. Amazing for a rookie quarterback going against the Steelers. Pittsburg has now lost to two rookie quarterbacks in the same season.
It was obvious the Browns decided to have the rookie stick to the short passing game. They wanted him to get the ball out of hand quickly, so he didn’t go through a lot of progressions. He threw to the first and sometimes the second receiver. The Browns didn’t run the ball very well, but Stefanski didn’t stop trying to run. If you look at DTR’s stat line, it doesn’t look that good, however he had seven dropped passes. The Browns even turned the ball over, but the defense stopped the Steelers from doing what they’ve done all season, score after an opponent turnover. Hidden underneath all the talk of this game is penalties. The Browns only had one penalty.
If the Browns can get the quarterback position figured out, they have one of the best defenses in the NFL to lean on. Sure, they’ll occasionally give up a big play, but opposing teams just can’t sustain drives. Through 11 weeks, the teams who have allowed the fewest first downs: 2023 Browns (10 games) 125, 1993 Steelers (9 games) 126 and 1999 Buccaneers (10 games) 128. Defensive end Myles Garrett not only has to be the front runner for defensive player of the year, but also needs to be mentioned in the MVP race. GM Andrew Berry fixed this defense in one off season. Amazing.
Pro Football Focus rankings. Offense, RG Wyatt Teller, 80.9, TE Harrison Bryant, 75.3, RT Dawand Jones, 68.9, C Ethan Pocic, 66.7 and WR Elijah Moore, 61.6. Defense, DE Myles Garrett, 90.2, CB Martin Emerson, Jr. 77.0, CB Denzel Ward, 76.8, DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, 70.8 and CB Greg Newsome, II, 68.7.
Finally, the team has lost safety Rodney McLeod for the season with a bicep’s injury. A very valuable piece of this defense. Hopefully Juan Thornhill will be able to play against Denver. If not, next man up. Stay safe and Go Browns.