Dawgs By Nature
Cleveland fans got the return of Chubb and a change at quarterback, but it didn’t matter.
It was an eventful game in the Battle of Ohio, with Nick Chubb returning, Deshaun Watson likely tearing his Achilles, but then more mistakes in all areas, as the Browns lost 21-14. Let’s get to the full game recap.
With everyone excited for the return of Nick Chubb, the Browns deferred the opening kickoff to try to let the defense start hot. Instead, the special teams unit for Cincinnati broke a wide open 100-yard kick return for a touchdown to immediately give them a 7-0 handicap.
On offense, the Browns ran a playaction fake on first down, and then QB Deshaun Watson threw high for Chubb and incomplete. A pass to WR Cedric Tillman then set up a 3rd-and-3, and then Chubb got the Shotgun handoff on third down. It looked like he had a hole, but he was tripped by his own offensive lineman after a gain of 2 yards, which forced a punt.
Cincinnati took over at the 21 yard line for their first offensive series. The Browns’ defense forced a three-and-out, and Cleveland took back over at the 37 yard line after the punt. Cleveland was able to pick up a couple of first downs, but then on a 2nd-and-3 situation, head coach Kevin Stefanski tried calling a trick play that didn’t pan out. Chubb was given another handoff on third down that was stuffed for no gain, and then K Dustin Hopkins came on for a 49-yard field goal attempt. Hopkins missed it wide left, keeping it a 7-0 game with 6:28 to go in the first quarter.
Cincinnati drove the ball to past midfield, but a holding penalty then set them in a 1st-and-16 situation. They worked it down to a 4th-and-3, but instead of attempting a 55-yard field goal, they decided to go for it. DT Shelby Harris got to QB Joe Burrow for the sack and a loss of 4 yards, allowing the Browns’ offense to take over at their own 42 yard line.
After getting a 6-yard gain on first down, RB D’Onta Foreman was stuffed for no gain on second down, and then Watson was sacked on third down by DE Trey Hendrickson for a loss of 6 yards, leading to another punt, down to the 10 yard line. Cincinnati utilized a jet sweep to WR Ja’Marr Chase to pick up 11 yards on the first play. That was followed by a 21-yard strike to WR Tee Higgins heading into the second quarter near midfield.
The Bengals didn’t convert a 3rd-and-2 at the 50 yard line, but then Bengals head coach Zac Taylor sent the offense right back out there to go for it. Instead, they took the delay of game and punted it away, with WR Jaelon Darden calling for a fair catch back at the 9 yard line. After one first down pass to Chubb, Watson took...
