CLEVELAND — As I was leaving FirstEnergy Stadium following the Browns 34-20 win Sunday afternoon, I wanted to run directly to the Terminal Tower observation deck and scream at the top of my lungs, “THE CLEVELAND BROWNS ARE A WINNING FOOTBALL TEAM!”
Let’s face it, it’s been a while since we could say that. In fact, it’s been 2,115 days since the Browns last had a winning record, but who’s counting? Who am I kidding? I’ve been counting. It’s just one of the many self-tortuous exercises I put myself through on the regular.
Dec. 13, 2014: The Browns were 7-6. Mike Pettine was the head coach. Remember Johnny Manziel? That was the last time we put our heads on the pillows as fans of a winning football team. The next day the Browns would lose to the Cincinnati Bengals 30-0 falling to 7-7. Since that loss the Browns are 19-67-1 and actually went five complete seasons without having a winning record at any point. Mind numbing. So our excitement is understandable. 2-1. Hey, it’s a start, but somehow my enthusiasm is loaded with labels. Warning! Proceed with caution! Objects may not be as they appear!
Usually, I'd chalk up my pessimism to more than a half century of rooting for Cleveland sports teams. I’m 6 feet tall and 200 pounds of nothing but scar tissue. But this time it’s my eyes and not my scarred heart that are leading my brain down this trail of lower expectations. As much as I want to celebrate this momentous occasion with a slow drive down E. 9th laying on my horn, I just can’t buy in. Not yet. Sure, the Browns have put up 30 plus points for the first time in back to back games in 10 years. But the Bengals and the Football Team defensive units are as about as generic as they sound. The Bengals are winless in three games allowing 25 points a game. The Football Team is 1-2 giving up 27 per contest. Washington was even without their sensational rookie pass rusher Chase Young for the second half as he watched in street clothes after suffering a groin injury.
The Browns won this football game because of three Dwayne Haskins interceptions, which were turned into 21 points. Those three touchdown drives covered a grand total of 87 yards. The defense made key plays. The offense capitalized on the Washington mistakes. It’s that simple. That’s what good teams do. The team stats were remarkably similar. Each team had 19 1st downs. Both teams ran 62 plays. Washington had 309 yards to the Browns 300. As is so often the case, the story of the game was the turnovers. The Browns forced five takeaways while not committing a single turnover. While they absolutely deserve credit for that, it’s unrealistic to think it will be a regular occurrence. Baker Mayfield needs to continue his improvement. Having an interception free game is a nice start but it needs to become the norm. Why did the game plan inexplicably abandon the roll out? It worked so well against Cincinnati and was just gone against Washington. It’s becoming more and more obvious Baker struggles with the straight drops. Whether it’s too difficult for him to see the entire field at his height or the mental clock just isn’t ticking fast enough, he is clearly better when he is on the move by design. Baker is a piece, he’s just not been “THE” piece. At least not yet. His accuracy the last two games is very encouraging. Perhaps Stefanski and Mayfield is the winning combination. The early results are promising. Like any weapon, proper usage is essential.
As for the defense, they made big plays at key moments and the offense took advantage of the short field all three times. Myles Garrett continues to re-shape games with not just big plays, but defining plays in critical spots. It’s almost as if he’s picking and choosing his spots. Gee, this would be a great spot for a strip sack fumble recovery. And boom! He rolls snake eyes when the team needs it most. Making big plays on defense is only half of the equation. If the offense doesn’t capitalize on the takeaway it’s a wasted opportunity. They did that yesterday. A glance at their scoring drives after turnovers vs Washington is impressive. Pick, 3 plays, 28 yds., TD. Pick, 3 plays, 24 yds, TD. Pick, 3 plays, 35 yds., TD. Fumble, 10 plays, 29 yds., FG. 24 points off turnovers and that was the difference. That’s progress, because this team has failed to take advantage of gifts many times in the past. You learn to win by winning. And so far Stefanski’s crew is doing that. What scares me is what happens when the competition gets tougher, and it will. Next up is at the Cowboys. A 1-2 team allowing 32 points a game. It will definitely be a stiffer test than they’ve had the last two weeks. But if they bring the smoke and the mirrors, they could turn Jerry’s World into a funhouse too.
BROWNS BITS
EASTSIDERS REJOICE: I’m not sure I’ve ever seen this before, but Sunday’s game may have settled the ongoing debate Clevelanders have long engaged in about Westside vs Eastside. All 54 points were scored in the east endzone. It was likely because of the strong win coming out of the west. It was a tough watch for fans in the Dawg Pound.
CLEANED UP: Through three games last season, Freddie Kitchens’ Browns had been penalized 35 times for whopping 324 yards. Through three games this season, Stefanski's Browns have been penalized just 22 times for 206 yards. That’s more than four fewer penalties and 39 fewer penalty yards per games. Every little bit helps.
WAIT, WHAT?!? I had to check these numbers twice, but the Browns success against Washington is rather surprising. The Browns are a dominating 34-12-1 against Washington while winning 18 of 25 games played in Cleveland. Their .734 winning percentage against Washington is by far the best against any opponent with at least 15 meetings.
CHUBB-HUB: Nick delivers. Nick Chubb has gone more than 100 yards and scored two TD’s in each of the last two games. The last time a Browns player did that, Leroy Kelly in 1967. Chubb’s 26 carries of at least 20 yards since the start of the 2018 season is the most by any player in the NFL over that span.
DYNAMIC DUO DUO: Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. both had at least two receptions once again. Landry has had at least two catches in 98 straight games while OBJ has caught at least two balls in 78 straight games. Those are the longest and second longest active streaks of at least two catches in a game in the NFL.