Victory Monday and after a week like that, it was a well deserved win. Apparently having an all-pro wide receiver on your team running whatever routes he wants is a problem. Not only for the offense, but also for the defense. Let’s look at the positives and the negatives.
Positives. Quarterback Baker Mayfield. He was 14 of 21 (67%) for 218 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a QBR of 132.6. Under pressure, Mayfield had a QBR grade of 94.3. He is now 6-1 versus the Bengals. Other Pro Football Focus grades for the offense, RG Wyatt Teller 93.8, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones 91.8, QB Baker Mayfield 89.9, TE Harrison Bryant 80.7, TE David Njoku 78.9, RB Nick Chubb 75.5, LG Joel Bitonio 72.1, LT Jedrick Wills 71.1 and C J.C. Tretter 70.4. The Browns Sunday became the first NFL team since 2012 to have a defensive touchdown of 60 yards or more, a touchdown pass for 60 yards or more and a touchdown run for 60 yards or more. On defense the highest graded players according to PFF were, CB Denzel Ward 93.1, John Johnson, III 85.8, LB Anthony Walker 77.5,Myles Garrett 75.7, LB Elijah Lee 74.3, DT Sheldon Day 73.6 and Ronnie Harrison 70.6. The Browns defense showed what they could do when they finally have a healthy secondary. CB Greg Newsome, Ward, Johnson and CB Troy Hill balled out. Imagine this defense when they get LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah back from injury. The Browns defense have held two teams to 15 and 16 points in back-to-back weeks and in the second half, gave up only 99 yards in total offense. Outstanding job by defensive coordinator Joe Woods on the game plan.
Negatives. Ten freaking penalties. Gentlemen don’t line up offsides, please. The coaching staff needs to put an end to this crap this week, inexcusable. I’m not the conspiracy theory type a guy, but you’re letting someone at the home office call a roughing the passer play? Really? Then you don’t call a helmet-to-helmet penalty, but still tell the wide receiver who got hit to go to the sidelines to get checked for a concussion? The NFL referees have it in for the Cleveland Browns. If the only other negative is your kicker missed a field goal, that’s a pretty positive performance.
Injuries and IR. CB Greedy Williams (shoulder) and DE Takk McKinley (groin) are both day to day. RT Jack Conklin was placed on IR Saturday with an elbow injury. RB Kareem Hunt and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are eligible to come off the IR this week, but head coach Kevin Stefanski told the local media today he’ll have more information on both Wednesday.
It was a great team win Sunday. The defense is finally playing up to its talent and the offense played like it was 2020. Great game plans on both side of the ball. Next up, the Patriots. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.