It’s Victory Monday and I’m loving it. I had some confidence the Browns would win based on how horrific the Cowboy defense is playing, but 49 points? I did not see that coming. The Browns are now 3-1 for the first time since 2001. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has won three games in his first four. To put that in perspective, former HC Hue Jackson won his first three in 40 games. The Browns are currently first in these categories, -1st in rushing yards (818) -1st in yards per carry (5.9) -1st in rushing TDs (8) -1st in defensive takeaways (10) -1st in turnover differential (+6). The Browns redzone efficiency is 80%. What a difference a coaching staff makes.
First the positives. I love how this team commits to the running game and stays with it. The Browns rushed for 307 yards against the Cowboys. Even after RB Nick Chubb went down with MCL strain, D’Ernest Johnson comes in and runs for 95 yards on 13 carries. The offensive line is a well oiled machine right now. Even the wide receivers are blocking in the running game. I saw Donovan Peoples-Jones man handling the Cowboys secondary. Running the ball in the NFL is a mentality and right now the Browns have that mentality. For the second straight week, the Browns got WR Odell Beckham, Jr. into the flow of the games early. He had five catches, three went for first downs and two went for touchdowns. When Beckham and QB Baker Mayfield get into a rhythm, there’s no defense that can stop this team. Speaking of Mayfield, he was a lot smoother in this game. He was 19 of 30 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Second straight game without an interception.
On the defensive side of the ball, DE Myles Garrett is a beast. Two sacks, one a strip sack and a fumble, his third in three games. Garrett is playing like a game changer. The defensive line was again dominant. The Cowboys rushed for 85 yards. I saw better linebacker play this game. It was good to see both LB Mack Wilson and LB Jacob Phillips playing. The outside cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Terrence Mitchell had good games. After the Cowboys scored twice in the first quarter, the Browns confused Dallas for the second and third quarter.
Which leads me to the negatives. HC Kevin Stefanski needed to keep the offensive pressure on Dallas. The Browns could have scored 60 Sunday. The combination of taking the foot off the offensive gas pedal and the defense going into a prevent, allowed the Cowboys back in the game. Dallas has too many offensive weapons and they showed it by scoring 24 points in the fourth quarter. The safeties on this team are not very good. I know this is because the Browns lost S Grant Delpit to a season ending injury in training camp, but you can’t tell me S Ronnie Harrison isn’t better than S Andrew Sendejo. He only had eleven snaps and his Pro Football Focus rating was 91. Of course the worst news was the injury to RB Nick Chubb. He is going on injured reserve and will miss at least three games. The NFL Network is reporting he’ll probably miss six games, but HC Kevin Stefanski wouldn’t commit to that timeline. Chubb is known for quickly recovering from injuries. The Browns could promote RB John Kelly from the practice squad if needed. The good news on the injury front, TE David Njoku came off the injured reserve. Another weapon added back.
This weekend the Browns will host the 3-1 Colts. The Colts have the best defense in the NFL and have not allowed a 100 yard rusher after four games. On offense the Colts feature 107 year old Phillip Rivers and a very good offensive line. It will be strength verses strength on both sides of the ball. Like Mayfield, Rivers is still learning the Colts offense, so catching them now is good test. If Stefanski keeps calling games like he did in Dallas, then the Browns should win. I’m really impressed. The Browns have a plan, they are prepared and they implement the plan. Let me leave you with this stat, the last two teams to score 49+ points against the Cowboys in Dallas went on to reach the Super Bowl (2004 Eagles, 2013 Broncos). Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.