Did... Did we win? We didn't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory? About time! They needed some extra football to finish the job, but the Cleveland Browns got it done today, as they knocked off Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime at home!
I know it likely doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things (playoffs, contending for anything, etc), but after a losing skid like we've had? Any win is sweet! The Browns hadn't won since Halloween night against the Bengals. It's like we've been walking through a desert of losses. Six out of the last seven games were all losses. Ouch! But it looks like we've finally found a drink of water!
How'd the Browns find their way back into the win column? Let's take a look at the Keys to Victory!
Run, run and run some more!
Finally! The Browns took advantage of one of Tampa Bay's biggest weaknesses and exploited it to power their way to victory! As a team, Cleveland ran the ball 34 times for 189 yards and two touchdowns. They ran over, around, and through the Bucs run defense, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. A thing of beauty! And what pleased me the most was that Nick Chubb finally got the 25+ carries he needs to get to successfully power this offense. As long as Nick Chubb is here, the Browns at their absolute best, are a run-first, balanced, smashmouth football team! I don't know why Kevin Stefanski often seems so hellbent on going against what works. But at least for today, he let the guys put their hardhats on and go to work playing football. Cleveland-style!
Give Jacoby Brissett a chance to let it rip!
Can I just say how much I appreciate Jacoby Brissett? The dude is a gritty competitor, and he will absolutely never quit. THAT is Cleveland right there. The mindset he has is what the Browns should have as a team. If everyone fought as hard as he does? They'd be running away with the Division right now. Guaranteed.
But no matter what he does next in his career, Jacoby just endeared himself to the entire fanbase this season in Cleveland. His numbers weren't eye-popping today (23-37, 210 yards, TD, INT). But he made the plays when the Browns absolutely had to have them, limited his mistakes, and took the shot when it was there. That 45-yard bomb to Amari Cooper to set up the game-winning touchdown had me dumbstruck. I didn't really react right away. Mostly because that's the most wide open a Browns receiver has been all season. But also because I didn't expect the offense to execute a play that well. Tampa was completely fooled, and I think one of their defensive backs fell down too. But when you have a solid quarterback, they make the plays Jacoby did today! Thank you, #7!
Get after Tom Brady early and often
I'm not sure the Browns succeeded on the "early" part of things. But they got after Tom Brady and brought him down just often enough to make an impact, and help lead the team to victory!
Coming into today, Tampa Bay had only allowed 14 sacks on the season, which was tied for fewest in the league. But Cleveland tallied three sacks, with Myles Garrett leading the charge at a sack and a half. He's now racked up at least one sack in five of his last six games. If he keeps this up for the final six games of the season? The Browns may be in most of these games down the stretch. A solid pass rush is key if Cleveland wants to compete for a few more victories and finish the season on a strong note. Like I said earlier today, the playoffs are probably out the window, even though the Browns are technically one of those teams still in the hunt at 4-7. But I hate tanking. Besides, we don't have any of our top draft picks for the next three years. What do we have to lose? Go get as many W's as you can. And if you go down? Go down swinging, and make the opposition hurt in the morning after they win!
We gave up those draft picks for the guy taking snaps under center next week, to the team we're going to play next Sunday. Deshaun Watson makes his Cleveland Browns debut December 4th on the road at Houston, against his former team in the Texans. I was never a fan of this trade. I still feel the Browns gave up WAY too much for an unknown. Yes, when he's on, Watson is one of the league's most talented quarterbacks. But by the time he takes his first snap wearing Brown and Orange, it'll be exactly 700 days since he'd last played a full game in the NFL. For the Browns' sake, I hope he lights it up. But I expect him to be rusty.
For now though, Cleveland gets their fourth win of the season, and they did it their way: With mental and physical toughness, and pounding away like a sledgehammer until the job was finished. It sure is a lot more fun writing these postgame articles after seeing wins like that! GO BROWNS!
Stat leaders
Jacoby Brissett: 23-37, 210 yards, TD, INT
Nick Chubb: 26 carries, 116 yards, TD
Amari Cooper: 7 receptions, 94 yards
Sources: ESPN, nfl.com
Picture Credit: statspros.com
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