Dawgs By Nature
Heading into the game, I asked why I had a degree of blind confidence in the Cleveland Browns. I knew the Browns’ defense would be able to stop Justin Fields with ease, and I thought surely, they’d get enough offensive scores to win. What I didn’t go into the game thinking was, “Oh, what if the Browns allow two special teams touchdowns in the first quarter?” Even with that, it was tied at the half, and then in a blink, it just fell apart again, as the Browns lost by a score of 27-20. It’s time for a change at quarterback for the Browns too. Let’s get to the full game recap.
The Browns got the ball first to show off their ‘improved’ offense, but it was anything but that. RB Quinshon Judkins ran on first down for 15 yards, but a holding penalty brought it back. A short run was followed by two off target short passes by QB Dillon Gabriel, as the Browns went three-and-out and had to punt. The Jets got the ball near their own 40 yard line to begin their first drive. The Jets then went three-and-out with just as bad of a drive, as LB Carson Schwesinger was left unblocked and drilled QB Justin Fields basically as soon as he took a snap.
In a game where field position will play a factor, the Jets pinned the Browns down to the 5 yard line on their punt. A short run by Judkins was followed by a short completion to WR Jerry Jeudy, setting up 3rd-and-5. On third down, Gabriel launched a pass up the right sideline for WR Cedric Tillman. Tillman just missed a diving one-handed catch, but the defense was flagged for pass interference to get the ball to the 40 yard line. A jet sweep to WR Malachi Corley then went for a burst of 16 yards, the second week in a row it has worked. A bootleg pass to Jeudy then went for 13 yards on a crossing route. A few plays later, facing 3rd-and-4, Gabriel scrambled 8 yards for a first down, and 5 more yards were tacked on by a defensive hold. A few plays later, a playaction fake set up TE David Njoku catching a short pass and then rumbling into the end zone for a 9 yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Cleveland’s defense didn’t get a chance to capitalize. On the ensuing kickoff, Kene Nwangwu returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to even things up at 7-7.
The Browns then went three-and-out with three straight incompletions by Gabriel, as P Corey Bojorquez got off a punt with low trajectory, and Isaiah Williams returned it 74 yards for a touchdown. You can’t make this stuff up. Just like that, the Jets were winning 14-7 on two special teams touchdowns in the first quarter.
Cleveland avoided a three-and-out when Gabriel found Jeudy on a short out route on third down....
