Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns could conceivably win the AFC North Division this year before this game began. No, really. Going into this weekend’s game, it would take some help, well, make that a lot of help. But being just three games back in the division makes it realistic with eight games remaining.
It all started with defeating the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore has had lots of problems itself this season. But lately, they have re-found their groove and got back to winning. So, this being a divisional contest means the world to the Browns.
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And the Browns actually had the lead over Baltimore going into the fourth quarter, but just could not finish. In the end, the Ravens swept the series with a 23-16 victory.
Several things became very clear after this game: DE Myles Garrett should be the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, rookie LB Carson Schwesinger should be a lock for Rookie Defensive Player of the Year, QB Shedeur Sanders is not a hybrid Michael Vick/Tom Brady as some projected/assumed, and the oddsmakers should be laying down their over/under for Cleveland to get the top draft choice in next year’s NFL draft.
So who played well for the Browns? Who didn’t?
EDGE Myles Garrett – What a game for our Cleveland elite. With his four sacks, he got some help, but he still got credit for each one. Garrett was also dependable against the run and had several good stops. With his first sack with 5:40 left in the opening period, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson rolled right at the Browns’ 10-yard line, but every option was covered. Meanwhile, LT Ronnie Stanley blocked down, which left RB Derrick Henry one-on-one with Garrett, who slung the talented back aside. Still looking into the end zone for anyone open, Garrett then splattered Jackson, which forced a fourth down.
His second sack was the play before the Devin Bush pick-six, so Baltimore was in a deep hole and needed to start throwing. With 5:50 left before the half, Garrett stuffed Henry on a first-and-goal for a loss. On a second-and-10 with the time winding down, Garrett had beaten Stanley to the outside and as DT Shelby Harris had forced Jackson to move to his left into the waiting arms of Garrett. Early in the second half, facing a third-and-two, again Jackson rolled right as Bush blitzed, who forced Jackson to stop his trajectory, then DT Mason Graham had a shot, but more importantly, made Jackson start to go in the opposite direction as Garrett was standing right there. He set a new NFL record as he became the first player to have six consecutive seasons with 12+ sacks. Finished with five tackles, four sacks, five QB hits, and five tackles for loss.
LB Carson Schwesinger – This kid was everywhere. Look at the hustle and diving effort when TE Mark Andrews took the fourth-and-one attempt to the house to seal the win....
