Will the real Cleveland Browns please stand up? Goodness! What a ballgame! The Dawgs morphed into a bunch of bloodthirsty werewolves for an absolutely DOMINANT win over the Bengals on Halloween night!
The Browns defensive front made Joe Burrow look average, the running game was fantastic, and the defense showed up to play and had their most complete game of the entire season. I don't know how to feel about this one. On one hand, I'm ecstatic for the win. It was desperately needed. On the other hand, I'm frustrated because the Browns just showed they can play really well against a good team, and it's like, "Why in the world do you guys wait until the eleventh hour to step up? Let's go! Play like this the rest of the season and we might have a chance!"
But regardless of how I feel about tonight, the Browns got a sorely, sorely needed victory when they absolutely had to have it. How'd they get it? Let's take a look at the Keys to Victory!
Run the ball!
FINALLY! I don't know whether he finally realized how desperately he needed to win, if there was grumbling in the front office, or if he finally heard the fans. But Kevin Stefanski actually did the common sense thing and ran the football. A lot. Nick Chubb led the charge on the ground with 101 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns, and as a team the Browns ran the ball 44 times for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Jacoby Brissett and D'Ernest Johnson all got touches tonight, which is exactly what we needed and desperately wanted to see. It's been a long while since I've praised him, but I'll say it here: Good job, Coach Stefanski. Thank you. Now do every Browns fan a favor: Keep running the football like this for the rest of the season!
Get after Joe Burrow
Myles Garrett came into the stadium wearing a jacket over his costume showing all the different quarterbacks he's sacked since coming into the league. But I'd say he and the rest of the Browns defensive line was just about ready to bury Joe Burrow alive. I have no clue why Joe Burrow performs so badly against Cleveland. Other than playing against the Browns, he's a great quarterback. But for some reason the Browns just have his number.
Joe Burrow did go 25-35 for 232 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. But the Bengals offensive line was in trouble all night long against a ferocious Cleveland pass rush. They had no answer, and the Browns registered five sacks and forced a pair of turnovers. I've been harping on the defensive linemen not really having an explosive pass rush, and not finishing plays all season. I was waiting for the game when they'd finally put it all together, and dominate the trenches. Tonight was that night. I was jumping for joy every time I saw a swarm of Browns players get through the Bengals' pass protection scheme and bring Joe Burrow down. A dominant defensive line is truly a thing of beauty! Browns defensive line coach Chris Kiffin had one heck of a game plan for Joe Burrow tonight!
Attention Kevin Stefanski: Don't overthink it
I will admit, I was a little worried early on. Stefanski looked like he was up to his old tricks (what in the world was that reverse called for?!). And it certainly seemed to take him a little while to get the running game fired up and rolling. But as soon as the running game got going, it opened up a whole set of other plays and possibilities with the play action passing game. Amari Cooper had his best game as a Brown, and Donovan Peoples-Jones joined the party too. The two of them had a combined 212 yards receiving between them, with Cooper snagging an absolutely beautiful touchdown pass from Jacoby Brissett, and dragging his feet to make sure he stayed in bounds.
With everything working in the running game, play action passing game, and the defense playing absolutely out of their minds, all that was left for Stefanski to do was manage the game, and guide us to victory. Minus a couple questionable play calls, he did exactly what he was supposed to do. He stuck to the team's strengths, made play calls that largely made sense, and didn't try to prove that he was smarter than everyone in the stadium. Good job, Coach. See what happens when you don't actively try to prove you're the genius in the building? You win more often than not.
The Browns have a bye week this upcoming week. Then they will hit the road to face the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa at Hard Rock Stadium. This win against the Bengals couldn't have come at a better time for Cleveland. The Browns get a desperately needed victory to stay somewhat alive in the divisional and playoff chases. They get a massive morale booster from finally finishing a game when they have the opportunity. And they get time to rest and see if they can get some guys healthy and back before a big road trip to the Sunshine State. It's still an uphill battle for the Browns to truly get back into the thick of things. But I am ecstatic that I don't have to write this season off as a loss. At least not for right now. It's certainly a lot more fun writing these postgame recap articles after wins like this. I just hope the Browns get on a roll so I can do this on a more consistent basis as the season goes on! But for now, enjoy a Victory Tuesday, Dawg Pound. This one's pretty sweet since we've had to wait a while for it. Party it up! GO BROWNS!
Other Notes and Trends
The Bengals now lead the Battle of Ohio 51-47. The Browns have closed the gap a little bit, since they now own a five-game winning streak in the rivalry.
Joe Burrow has still not beaten the Browns since coming into the NFL. He's 0-4 against them.
Kevin Stefanski becomes the first Browns head coach in five decades to win his first five games in a row against Cincinnati since Nick Skorich did it from 1971-1973.
Nick Chubb is the first Cleveland Browns running back to have 10 or more rushing touchdowns in the first eight games of a season since Jim Brown did it in 1959.
Statistical Leaders
Jacoby Brissett: 17-22, 278 yds., TD
Nick Chubb: 23 car., 101 yds., 2 TDs
Amari Cooper: 5 rec., 131 yds., TD
Source: ESPN
Picture Credit: clutchpoints.com
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