Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns were in an awkward spot at this juncture of the schedule. With a 2-6-0 record, they are either looking at what it will take to get a playoff berth (a lot), or where in the Top-10 will they be slotted in next year’s college draft.
The New York Jets are in a similar situation to the Browns, as their season is already lost with just a single win coming into Week 10.
Could Cleveland get a victory? Both teams sport great defenses with an offensive group that can’t score or finish drives. The Jets have gone a step further by shipping off several blue-chip players right before the trade deadline. They are now stocked full of high draft picks, which does not help their season this year whatsoever.
Nothing wrong with a rebuild or planning for the future. Unless you are a Jets season ticket holder. Or Cleveland, for that matter.
In the end, the Browns allowed two special teams touchdowns that killed them and lost to a one-win club 27-17.
So who played well for the Browns? Who didn’t?
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Defense – All game long, the defense kept the Browns in this game. At one time, it was 14-7, and yet the Jets offense hadn’t scored or come close to the Red Zone. New York’s initial first down was with 9:41 left in the second quarter. For the entire game, the Jets had 12 first downs and were 3-11 on first-down conversions. Only 47 plays for the home team, and they had the ball for over nine minutes less. 169 total yards, and yet the Browns lost? Don’t look at the defense. Three sacks, one interception, 54 total passing yards allowed, zero rushing touchdowns, eight QB hits, 10 tackles for loss, five batted passes, and only one touchdown? Not it.
(Editor’s note: Not everyone believes the defense is elite anymore.)
WR Malachi Corley – Every time he touched the ball, it went for double-digit numbers. Two rushes for 16 yards each and a duo of first downs. One kickoff return for 22 yards. Yet, he was only targeted once all game on a poor throw, and had just the two rushing attempts. Perhaps this kid needs more touches.
K Andre Szmyt – Nailed both field goal attempts, converted both PATs, and his kickoffs all landed between the five and two-yard line. Scored eight points. Just doing what he is supposed to do.
Browns offense first half – The play calling was grand in the first half. Cleveland was able to drive down the field with nice plays designed for short passes and off-tackle runs. A nice nine-play drive in the first quarter netted seven points as QB Dillon Gabriel found TE David Njoku, who fell into the end zone. That drive began at the five-yard line. After the Ronnie Hickman interception, new play-caller Tommy Rees wasted no time and called a 22-yard pass into the end zone on first...
