It was not overly pretty, but at the end of the day, a team like the Cleveland Browns did exactly what they should have done to a team like the Arizona Cardinals. Jim Schwartz and his unit overwhelmed Clayton Tune in his NFL debut, and quarterback Deshaun Watson showed flashes of his former self as the Browns routed the Cardinals by a score of 27-0.
They fell a missed kick short of dropping a 30-burger in this game.
All of Amari Cooper, David Njoku, and Kareem Hunt found the endzone. On the other side of the ball, they created three turnovers against Tune and the Cardinals. Cornerback Denzel Ward and linebacker Sione Takitaki both had interceptions, while defensive tackle Shelby Harris added a strip sack. It was a dominating and convincing win for a now 5-3 Browns team.
As we do every week, it’s time for another edition of 4 Downs. And boy do they go down smoother after a Browns win.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland offense take baby steps but another step is still needed
Welcome back to the starting lineup, Deshaun.
After missing the last six weeks (we are not counting the Indianapolis game), Watson returned to the starting lineup against the Cardinals. And while there was meat still left on the bone, Watson used this opportunity against the Cardinals as a chance to get his footing back underneath him before taking on the Baltimore Ravens next week.
He finished the game 19-of-30 for 219 yards and two touchdowns on the day, adding another 22 yards on the ground. This included a big 3rd-and-11 scramble in the third quarter to extend the drive.
This was a necessary step, but another leap is still needed as the Browns enter the meat of their schedule. Watson missed a third down throw to Elijah Moore, was sporadic with his accuracy on some check-downs, and looked over-eager to leave structure at times.
This is not to take away from his performance, but there is still work to be done.
Getting right on the ground would be a huge help as well as the Browns regressed in this phase of the game. Combined, the Cleveland running backs combined for less than three yards per carry.
Baby steps. But there is room to continue to get better. And a lot better.
2nd Down: Jim Schwartz's defensive line once again dominates
What a day for Jim Schwartz and his defensive line. While it was a quiet day for Defensive Player of the Year candidate Myles Garrett, it was finally a game that showed a strong interior would benefit from a lot of pressure off the edge.
Garrett finished with a sack on the day, but five of the seven sacks from the defensive line came from the interior. Dalvin Tomlinson racked up three, Jordan Elliott got the party started with the first sack, and Shelby Harris converted a strip sack to give the Browns a big takeaway on the day as well. Za’Darius Smith added another sack in garbage time.
While an immobile rookie was the man across from them this week, and the offensive line of the Cardinals are not world-beaters, the Browns defensive line took care of business. Next week, they have the opportunity to make a statement against the Ravens, who have been a buzzsaw as of late.
If the Browns want to be competitors, and the defense wants to prove they are elite, next week is the week to do it.
3rd Down: How many CBs are playing better football than Denzel Ward?
Cornerback Denzel Ward, coming off the worst year of his career, has returned to Pro Bowl form. And that might be putting it lightly. Point blank: there may not be three cornerbacks playing better football than Ward through nine weeks in 2023.
Now sitting at two interceptions and a forced fumble on the season, the turnover production is just the start. He is one of the best tackling cornerbacks I’ve ever seen, is not afraid to initiate contact, and has been an absolute menace in man coverage.
If Ward is lined up in press-man coverage, it has been a wrap from the snap all season. The Browns have their lockdown cornerback back, and his contract now looks like a bargain.
As they enter a stretch of games against tough matchups, they will need to lean on Ward and the rest of the secondary to continue to give the defensive front time to get home.
4th Down: What will the Browns do along their offensive line?
While left tackle Jedrick Wills was not playing up to his potential, replacing him will not be an easy task. Wills was carted off in the third quarter of this game in an air cast as his prognosis did not look promising in the moment.
Not to mention right tackle Dawand Jones has been dealing with ailments the last two weeks as well. This is with reserve guard Michael Dunn already on Injured Reserve.
The likely option is that James Hudson III will enter the starting lineup at left tackle, but the Browns must keep their options open. They just signed Leroy Watson, a converted tight end, off of the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad, but there is no chance he is ready to start.
What other options do they have?
41-year-old Jason Peters is still on the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad, so the Browns could go out and sign him. Another option is to promote another first round pick from their practice squad to see if he has developed into the player he was expected to be when the Las Vegas Raiders selected him in 2021 in Alex Leatherwood.
Unfortunately, the trade deadline has come and gone. Looking outside the building will provide very limited options. A ton of trust will be placed on Hudson, but they will likely have a roster spot to fill regardless.
Extra Point: Browns are tough to beat if they don't beat themselves
The three weeks before we got to Week 9 showed us one thing: the Browns will be tough to beat if they do not beat themselves. Last week against Seattle, the Browns beat themselves.
This week, they played turnover-free football on their way to a 27-0 blowout win. Next week? They will need another turnover-free outing against the red-hot Baltimore Ravens and their top-notch defense.
Sitting at 5-3, the Browns still have everything ahead of them that they have sought after since the offseason. There are still steps to take, but this is perhaps the best Browns team we have seen in quite some time.
Better than 2002, better than 2020.
They are as good as they let themselves be.
