Going into the game as the underdog, the Browns were able to show resilience, pulling off the upset in Baltimore. The biggest takeaway from this game, however, was Watson’s season-ending injury, just as he started to click within the offense. Despite the setback, this Browns team, especially its defense, is just too good to count out. Let’s dive into this impressive team win and take a look at which aspects might be valuable going forward.
Watson’s injury
Today’s news revealed Deshaun Watson will need season-ending surgery for a fractured throwing shoulder. His toughness is undoubted, as he completed 14 out of 14 passes in the second half, while playing through the shoulder injury and a sprained ankle. Yet, it’s hard not to wish he would have avoided some of the extra hits, which likely aggravated his injury, by sliding. These news are especially tough given they follow a signature win for Cleveland and Deshaun Watson. It’s brutal to see his season cut short just as the offense began to find its rhythm. Moving forward, the Browns will need to show resilience, finding ways to win without their starting quarterback.
Pass Catchers Stepping Up
With Watson sidelined, it’s crucial for Cleveland’s supporting cast to step up going forward. In the game against the Ravens, we witnessed some impressive performances by skill players and a more balanced target share. David Njoku especially stood out to me with his exceptional ability to create after the catch, almost being Derrick Henry-esque. Once Njoku hit his stride, no defender could bring him down in a one-on-one situation. I’m optimistic the Browns will tap into that with DTR, using screens or flats for easy completions and building up confidence. Despite a rare concentration drop in Sunday’s game, Njoku typically is a great safety blanket with reliable hands.
The Browns enhanced Elijah Moore’s role in their gameplan, highlighted by his first touchdown of the season. He caught five passes on seven targets and was able to consistently create separation with his sharp route running. He could have added at least two more catches if not for an inaccurate pass and a missed read. While Tillman hasn’t significantly impacted the receiving game yet, he drew two major penalties, positioning the Browns in scoring distance. Additionally, he was a capable blocker in the run game, landing a big hit on Kyle Van Noy. I anticipate an increase in Tillman’s target rate with DTR at the helm. Having played together in high school and being long-time friends, they should have an advantage in terms of on-field chemistry.
Statement Drives
In the second half, the offense orchestrated two long, time-consuming drives, one of them resulting in the game-winning field goal. These drives strongly reminded me of the 2020 Browns, as they were dominated by short passes and runs. While Watson’s shoulder injury probably influenced this approach, the execution was impeccable. On these drives, only three plays resulted in negative or no yardage, leaving Cleveland with full access to their playsheet. They converted five third downs and one fourth down, with just one of those requiring more than 4 yards. Such drives not only physically and mentally drain defenses but also allow the Browns to dictate the game’s tempo.
The running game was a key contributor to the offense’s success. Ford, who had challenges gaining positive yards consistently, showed more decisiveness, getting tackled for a loss only once. The offensive line’s performance played a significant part in this improvement as well. Runs to the right side, often featuring a pulling Bitonio, were particularly successful. Wyatt Teller’s performance, not just in run blocking, included a lot of exciting vintage Wyatt Teller moments, as he was regularly pancaking defenders.
Finally, I’d like to spotlight Geron Christian, who joined Cleveland just about two weeks before the game. He protected Watson’s blind side pretty well, barring the strip sack that almost ended the game late in the fourth quarter. I was surprised to see the Browns show this type of resilience, especially in terms of communication on the line. If he keeps up this level of play, he might even be an upgrade over Wills. Building on this performance from the whole offensive line will be crucial for the team’s offensive production in future games.
Defensive Penalties
This defensive performance was an emotional roller coaster. Before getting into the unit’s big plays, let’s address the critical errors in terms of penalties. The Browns’ secondary is known for its physical man coverage, which is generally a positive trait in my opinion. However, in this case it led to four illegal contact and defensive holding penalties on third and fourth downs that nearly cost Cleveland the win. The sequence following the muffed punt was particularly frustrating. The Browns successfully stopped the Ravens on third downs in the red zone twice(!), only for penalties to negate these efforts. Adding to the frustration, these were penalties that erased big defensive plays. One penalty nullified an interception by the Browns, while the other resulted from a mistimed jump on a route.
As I noted earlier, physical man coverage forms a crucial part of this team’s defensive identity. Accepting the occasional big play is a natural consequence of this approach, but it’s important to avoid desperation fouls. However, the defense should know when to be aggressive and when not. In situations like third downs in the red zone, it’s more important to focus on preventing the opponent from scoring than taking risks that could lead to poor positioning. Especially behind a defensive front like the Browns’, which has consistently been able to pressure quarterbacks using just four linemen.
The acceleration and top-end speed of the Ravens’ receivers, particularly OBJ and Zay Flowers, present a challenge for any defensive back. However, it was apparent that Emerson found these matchups particularly tough, as he doesn’t match their quickness. This isn’t a criticism of his overall abilities, as speed has never been his strength. Nevertheless, moving forward, it might be wise to either avoid these matchups or provide him with help over the top, allowing him to play more aggressively.
Containing the Run and Defensive Big Plays
Besides Keaton Mitchell’s 39-yard rushing touchdown, the Browns effectively contained Baltimore’s run game, limiting them to just 106 total rushing yards. Schwartz notably increased the use of 3-linebacker sets to counter Baltimore’s dynamic running attack. In almost every man coverage situation, one of these linebackers was assigned to spy on Lamar Jackson, ensuring he couldn’t escape the pocket easily. While I may sound repetitive praising JOK each week, his performance on this defense continues to impress me. By simplifying his reads and responsibilities, Schwartz allows him to fully benefit from his physical tools. He was living in the Ravens’ backfield, as he recorded 2 TFLs and half a sack. Per ESPN, he leads the league’s linebackers with 12 TFLs, a number that could be even higher if not for a few missed tackles
Schwartz’s defensive adjustments, particularly his use of blitzes, stood out in this game. He not only utilized them often but also in creative ways, involving slot corners or safeties, and even having defensive tackles drop into coverage. While the Browns’ defensive line is capable of generating pressure without blitzes, the variety of looks they presented to Lamar seemed to notably affect his processing.
Let’s end the defensive breakdown on a positive note, highlighting Greg Newsome’s first career interception which could not have come at a better time. Ogbo did a great job of batting the ball in the air on the line of scrimmage, allowing Newsome to navigate under the ball and take it to the house. The Browns were able to show resilience once again and gave themselves a chance to win here. Late game defense has been a problem in some of the recent games for Cleveland, but it definitely wasn’t in this one!
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