In a must-win contest, this Cleveland team didn’t fall short in any regard. The Browns defense shut out the Cardinals as Watson fixed some of the offensive inefficiencies. Standing at 5-3, this win was crucial for the Browns’ playoff aspirations. Here is how they were able to live up to the role of the favorite!
Offense
Watson is Actually Back
After his failed comeback against the Colts, this time Watson looked a lot more like his pre-injury self. This outing differed from the past four games for two main reasons. Firstly, Watson took great care of the ball, only taking what the defense gave him and ensuring Cleveland ended the game without turnovers. This was a notable improvement, considering the Browns had racked up 10 turnovers in their previous four contests. Watson mostly avoided risky passes, preferring either the checkdown or picking up yards with his feet. While he threw some deep passes to Goodwin and Cooper, he was taking calculated risks that didn’t jeopardize possession. Nevertheless, Watson got lucky on a tipped throw that didn’t get intercepted but instead was caught for a touchdown. A similar play cost P.J. Walker and the Browns the game just last week.
Secondly, Watson reignited the Browns’ deep passing game, a dynamic sorely missing in his absence. On the final touchdown drive, he launched an incredibly precise deep pass to Cooper. Despite tight double coverage, Amari was able to create just enough separation for the completion. Earlier, Watson had also connected with Cooper on a long throw and delivered two catchable balls to Goodwin. Yet, beyond these deep shots, Watson’s accuracy on shorter throws was less than stellar, with passes often being short or slightly off target. His footwork, particularly on quick dropbacks, appeared sloppy, affecting his precision on said short passes. Despite generally sound decision-making, Watson occasionally bailed from a clean pocket too soon. Him choosing to scramble rather than trust his offensive line prevented some route concepts from developing.
The Weaponry
Amari Cooper’s productivity as a receiver convinces me to be somewhat independent of the quarterback. Yet, witnessing the building trust and chemistry between Watson and Cooper was great. Cooper has been one of the more underrated number one receivers in the NFL. Right now, he is really working himself back into the top 10-15 conversation. However, I would have liked to see Watson spread the ball more among his receivers. Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman only combined for a mere three targets. This could also stem from the Cardinals’ inability to counter the Watson-Cooper connection, leading to few throws into tight coverage. Furthermore, in a game where the Browns’ defense shut out the Cardinals, Cleveland wasn’t required to rely heavily on the passing game either. Nevertheless, at some point Watson’s trust must extend beyond Cooper and Njoku to the other talented receivers in the lineup.
Run Run Run
Watson delivered a respectable performance, yet the Browns’ offense continued to revolve around the running game. The team mainly featured Kareem Hunt and Jerome Ford, who possess very different running styles. Hunt consistently runs through defenders, minimizing negative plays and excelling in short-yardage and goal-line scenarios. In contrast, Ford’s explosive speed makes him more of a big play threat. He tends to hesitate behind the line, seeking a major opening to exploit. When the path is clear, he poses a threat for chunk plays, but this hesitation can also result in him being tackled behind the line of scrimmage. These negative plays, particularly on first downs, really limit the offensive play calling. Additionally, Ford’s agility in open spaces makes him a great target for Watson on checkdowns and screens. However, Ford is struggling with drops, as he already caused four this season with one coming in this game.
I greatly appreciate the versatility and creativity Stefanski brings to the run game, as displayed in this contest. His knack for executing various “trick” plays from identical formations or looks, like the two fake reverses to Goodwin, stands out. Although these plays didn’t result in significant gains, they create an opportunity for future games where Stefanski could run different plays out of the same looks. We’ve seen him do it with the tight end-sneak formation that Stefanski transformed into a 16-yard touchdown run against the 49ers, with Harrison Bryant pitching to Hunt.
LT Outlook
Wills had his struggles at left tackle, yet his absence due to injury could be more impactful than anticipated. While Hudson held his own at right tackle against Seattle, replacing Jones, he couldn’t replicate that performance on the opposite side last week. He had some ugly losses in pass protection and could pose a significant weakness until Wills is able to return. However, assessing Hudson based on only one game in which he didn’t even expect to play seems a little unfair. Nevertheless, he faces an even taller task against the Ravens this Sunday.
Defense
Stopping the Run
The defense once again flexed its muscles as the Browns shut out the Cardinals. They overcame previous struggles with defending the run, holding Arizona, who averaged 137.8 rushing yards per game before Sunday, to just 41. The deployment of more 3-linebacker sets, sometimes coupled with an extra safety in the box, made it really hard for Arizona to run the ball effectively (if they even managed to get past the defensive line). Delpit and JOK, in particular, demonstrated their skill at penetrating the offensive backfield to make tackles for loss. Stopping the run was a comprehensive team effort, with players from every defensive level swarming to the ball carrier. Moreover, the defense’s ability to secure tackles, which has been a problem on big plays in previous games, was a key factor in their success.
Standout Performances
In my previous review post, I noted the weekly emergence of standout individual performances, and I’d like to spotlight a few here. Cameron Mitchell, stepping in for the injured Greg Newsome, turned in one of the best performances of any cornerback in Cleveland this season. He ticked all the boxes for a modern slot corner, matching up seamlessly with any receiver in the slot and maintaining nearly flawless zone coverage. Additionally, his run support and sure tackling were an upgrade over Newsome’s recent efforts. While I’m not suggesting Mitchell is a better player than Newsome, especially considering this was just one game against a rookie quarterback making his first start, the game did offer a promising outlook of Mitchell’s potential value to the Browns. Unfortunately, he has been placed on injured reserve with a late-game shoulder injury and will be sidelined for at least four weeks.
While Myles Garrett continues his defensive player of the year campaign, the defensive tackle unit deserves its share of the spotlight as well. All four guys consistently come up with big plays, as evidenced by their contribution of 4.5 sacks to the Browns’ total of seven in this game. Dalvin Tomlinson, in particular, delivered an exceptional performance, accounting for 2.5 sacks. When the Browns signed him, I thought he was going to be someone who’s helping others to produce rather than putting up big numbers himself. Yet, Tomlinson has exceeded expectations as a pass rusher, posting impressive numbers already. Another standout was Shelby Harris, whose strip sack early in the third quarter directly set up a Cleveland touchdown.
Lockdown Coverage
The secondary also played a pivotal role in boosting the defense’s sack production and the Browns being able to shut out the Cardinals. Clayton Tune wasn’t simply missing open receivers due to indecision; the Browns’ coverage was leaving him with no options. This lockdown coverage enabled the front 7 to aggressively force negative plays, setting up long third downs and creating chances for turnovers, aligning with one of my three keys to the game. This defensive performance truly was a team effort, with each unit complementing the others and making significant contributions. Looking ahead, I hope the defense can feed off this momentum as they prepare to face the NFL’s top rushing offense this Sunday.
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