It’s Victory Monday again and the Browns are 7-3. Because of the loss by the Ravens, the Browns are now in second place in the AFC North. Also with the Dolphins, Ravens and the Raiders losing, the Browns went from eighth in the playoff race to sixth. The Browns are now 20-20 in the last 40 games that QB Baker Mayfield has played. That might not seem like much, but in the previous 40 games the Browns were 2-37-1. The team is tied for the fourth best record in the NFL behind Pittsburg, Kansas City and New Orleans. Have times changed. Lets start with the positives.
On offense, even though the Eagles were determined to stop the run, head coach Kevin Stefanski never stop trying to run the ball. I’m so impressed with Stefanski. He has a plan and he sticks to it, no matter what. The players believe in his plan and he puts the players in the best position to win. What a concept. While Mayfield was only 12 of 22 for 204 yards, he again had no interceptions. He did fumble and it led to the Eagles first touchdown, but Eagles DE London Fletcher put an incredible bull rush on Browns RG Wyatt Teller. We all know the connection between Mayfield and WR Rashard Higgins is special, it seems Mayfield also has a connection with WR KhaDarel Hodge. Top Pro Football Focus ratings for the offense were Higgins (78.9), Hodge (77.7), Mayfield (71.5) and Teller (71.0). On the touchdown leap by RB Kareem Hunt, Teller blocked one guy out of the way and then did his Andre “the giant” imitation by putting both arms out and blocked two defenders. RB Nick Chubb had another big game. He now leads all NFL running backs with seven 20+ yard runs. I guess Eagles DE Joe Ostman now knows to get out of his way.
On defense, the top PFF grades went to Sione Takitaki (90.4), Jordan Elliott (90.4), Olivier Vernon (86.9), Denzel Ward (80.2), Adrian Clayborn (75.0) and B.J. Goodson (73.3). Vernon and Clayborn needed to step up with the loss of DE Myles Garrett and boy did they. Vernon had three sacks and a safety and Clayborn added one and a half sacks. I thought S Karl Joseph had a good game and CB Denzel Ward is in Pro Bowl form. But LB Sione Takitaki was the star of the defense. Because of a Ward hit on Eagles QB Wentz, Takitaki timed his jump perfectly and boom, pick 6. On special teams, Parkey was 2 for 3 on field goals and Punter Jamie Gillam’s perfect punt to the Eagles two, set up the Vernon sack and safety.
As for the negatives, the play calling on the first series was kind of head scratching, a three and out. If you’re going to start the game with a pass to the tight end, try Harrison Bryant or Austin Hooper, not David Njoku. Speaking of tight ends, Mayfield had two open and missed both for a touchdown. LT Jedrick Wills had a rough game, but the Eagles front four played a very physical game. I guess Special Teams coach Mike Priefer has seen enough of Donovan Peoples-Jones as a Kicker Returner, he was replaced by RB D’Ernest Johnson. DPJ did return one punt for 30 yards. The one Parkey miss was a blocked field goal. I’m still waiting for the special teams to be special.
As for injuries and Covid, DE Myles Garrett will sit out one more game and Chris Hubbard and Andy Janovich should be back for the Jags game. S Ronnie Harrison has a bone contusion and is day to day. CB Denzel Ward is awaiting a MRI for a calf injury and S Sheldon Redwine has a knee injury. Hopefully Harrison and Ward will be ready for Sunday, but if there’s any doubt, hold them out for a game. I would rather have them both back for the matchup with the Titans week 12.
Moving forward, the only team that didn’t lose that the Browns needed to lose was the Colts, but the Browns have the tie breaker on them. It’s a good thing that the Dolphins and the Raiders lost this weekend, because both have winnable games this Sunday. The Raiders play Atlanta and Miami plays the Jets. As for the Titans and the Colts, they play each other Sunday. Like I said before, I would really like for the Titans to take control of the AFC South and keep the Colts in the wildcard race because of the Browns tie breaker over Indy. The Ravens play the Steelers Thanksgiving night, maybe. The Ravens are dealing with a Covid outbreak and closed their facilities today. The game is still scheduled but might have to be pushed back to Sunday. However it’s too late for the NFL to move a new game to Thursday night, so the Ravens may have to play short handed.
The playoff push continues with this Sundays game against Jacksonville. It has already been announced that the Jags will be without their best pass rusher DE Josh Allen and starting guard Andrew Norwell. Plus three of their four starters in the secondary are dinged up. Enjoy Victory Monday Browns fans. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.