It’s Victory Monday and the Browns are 10-4. They still hold the fifth playoff seed. That was a business like, professional football team win. I can’t even remember the last time I said that about a Browns team. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has these players believing in themselves and in their head coach. QB Baker Mayfield is playing like a Pro Bowl quarterback. He has the fifth best QBR (76.6) in the NFL and had the highest QBR in week fifteen at 98.3. Mayfield was 27 for 32, 297 yards and two touchdowns. His 84.3% completion rate was the highest by any Browns quarterback. Mayfield broke the record held by Kelly Holcomb who had a completion rate of 82.9% in 2003. On to the other positives.
On offense, the Browns did whatever they wanted. Two 95 yard drives for touchdowns. The second 95 yard drive was ten plays and took 4:55 off the clock. More importantly, after the touchdown, there was 21 seconds left in the first half. Impressive and business like. Stefanski’s play calling is pure genius. On the touchdown pass to TE Austin Hooper, the Browns lined up in their goal line “jumbo” package, three tight ends and two running backs and threw the ball. Considering the Giants had a top five red zone defense, it was a work of art. On another play, the Browns lined up with three tight ends and one wide receiver. Stefanski had the tight ends bunch up on one side of the field and the wide receiver on the other side. Wow. Speaking of wide receivers, Donovan Peoples-Jones has been fantastic. When he’s targeted, Mayfield has a perfect quarterback rating. Not bad for a sixth round pick. Another rookie who did a great job was G/C Nick Harris. He stepped in for Chris Hubbard and held his own. He did allow a sack, but that was the only sack allowed by the offensive line.
On defense, everyone contributed. Safety Karl Joseph has strung together a couple of good games. He had two passes defended and a team high ten tackles. On the defensive line, Myles Garret, Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson were pressuring Giants QB Colt McCoy all night. In the absence of LB Mack Wilson, who was a healthy scratch, Rookie Jacob Phillips had his best game of the season. However the biggest defensive difference maker was CB Denzel Ward. A defense can do so much more, when you have a shut down corner playing. The secondary is much better when CB Kevin Johnson is play the nickel.
As for the negatives, the not-so-special teams. First they allow a big return on the opening kickoff. Luckily for the Browns, former Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens was calling plays and the Browns escaped an opening drive Giants score. By the way, a fake field goal where the punter attempts to throw a touchdowns pass to the center? Never change Freddie, never change. Kicker Cody Parkey has now missed three kicks in two games. I’m going to wait and see what he does verses the Jets before I start to worry. Can the Browns get any good NFL referees to work their games? One reason Parkey missed the extra point was because WR Jarvis Landry had a penalty call against him after the touchdown and Parkey had to kick a 48 yarder. Bad officiating. The Giants defensive player should have had the penalty called on him.
As for injuries, RG Chris Hubbard is having season ending knee surgery this week on his knee. Harris will start at right guard moving forward with Michael Dunn as the back up. Coach Stefanski in his news conference today said DT Sheldon Richardson (neck) should be okay, but we’ll have to see if he practices this week. Safety Ronnie Harrison can come off the IR, but he’s also a wait and see for this week. Safety Andrew Sendejo is still in Concussion protocol and RG Wyatt Teller is week to week.
Finally for the Browns to clinch a playoff spot next weekend, the Browns have to beat the Jets and then one of three things have to happen. The Colts lose to the Steelers, Miami losses to or ties the Raiders or Baltimore losses to or ties the Giants. Two of those three scenarios are possible. I would love to see all three happen. As for the Browns next opponent, the Jets, I was very happy to see them get their first win. Nothing is scarier than playing a team who hasn’t won a game this late in the season. Just ask the Rams. One interesting stat concerning the Jets, they’ve scored on their first possession in seven straight games. So next week, the Browns get the ball first, score and keep the Jets from scoring on their first possession. Game over. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.