Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns kept it close on Sunday, but in the end came up short against the Minnesota Vikings.
A late touchdown drive from the Vikings left the Browns on the wrong end of a 21-17 score, as Cleveland lost its second consecutive game to fall to 1-4 on the season.
There were some good things from the game for the Browns, but as always, there were just enough bad things to ruin the debut of quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
So with that in mind, let’s hand out some Brownies and some Frownies from the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
QB Dillon Gabriel: The rookie put up a solid game in his first NFL start, finishing 19-of-33 for 190 yards, two touchdowns, and a QB rating of 94.3. Most importantly, Gabriel did not turn the ball over, which is always a nice touch from a quarterback. He led the Browns on a pair of touchdown drives, culminating both with touchdown passes to Harold Fannin Jr. in the first quarter and David Njoku in the third quarter.
Even though the loss means the Browns are 0-17 since 1999 in a quarterback’s first start, the moment did not appear too big for Gabriel, and if he can build on it, the Browns may finally have some stability at the position.
RB Quinshon Judkins: It was another solid day from the rookie, who posted his first 100-yard rushing day in the NFL, carrying 23 times for 110 yards. Judkins had a 56-yard touchdown run nullified by a holding penalty, or else his day would have been even more impressive. He still managed to become the first player in franchise history to have at least 70 yards from scrimmage in each of his first four career games.
Defense taking it away: After a stretch of not forcing a turnover seemingly since Joe Flacco was in short pants, Cleveland’s defense recovered two fumbles on Sunday, their third game in a row with at least one forced turnover.
Getting it (mostly) done on third down: Cleveland held the Vikings to just 3-of-9 on third down. Unfortunately, one of those conversions came on Minnesota’s game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
TE David Njoku: The third-quarter touchdown catch by Njoku was the 31st of his career, leaving him one touchdown behind Reggie Rucker on the franchise’s all-time list for touchdown receptions.
RT Jack Conklin’s return: After missing all but one series in the first four games, starting right tackle Jack Conklin returned to the field and made it through the entire game in one piece.
Left tackle still an issue: Cleveland tried rotating KT Leveston and newcomer Cam Robinson at left tackle, and it did not go well. Leveston was called for a hold on the first offensive series of the day, one of his three penalties on the day, and Robinson had consecutive penalties to help stall a drive at the beginning of the second quarter. It is not going...
