I still do not know what to make of the Cleveland Browns. They have won two games in blowouts, but have lost one game in an ugly offensive performance. In this 27-3 win against the Tennessee Titans, however, quarterback Deshaun Watson and the offense found sustained success and signs of life to build upon. The defense, led by Myles Garrett again, continued their absolutely stunning start to the 2023 season, giving up just 18 points on the season.
Watson finished this game with a passing line of 27-of-33 for 289 yards and two touchdowns. This was a massive uptick in production from the first two weeks, and easily his best performance as a member of the Browns.
Buy Browns TicketsIn their first game without running back Nick Chubb, the Browns struggled to find anything on the ground against Tennessee’s dominant defensive interior. Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt combined for just 31 yards on 15 carries on the day. Both, however, made plays through the air as receivers, including a receiving touchdown to Ford.
1st Down: This is a 12-win team with this level of QB play
This is the best Watson has ever looked in a Browns uniform. Cleveland is a Super Bowl contender if this is the type of quarterback play they can get out of the quarterback they gave up so much to get.
He was accurate, and more importantly safe, with the football all day, landing multiple deep shots down the field with touch along the boundary. Decisive with the football, Watson kept the offense ahead of the chains and on schedule for four quarters. He and play-caller Kevin Stefanski were on the same page and in their bag all game.
This roster is loaded. This defense might be the best in the NFL. With even average quarterback play, and Watson was well above average today, the Browns will be a force to win the AFC North. If they can get play like Watson gave them today consistently, the Browns are serious contenders.
This was a great step in the right direction for Stefanski, Watson, and the Cleveland offense.
2nd Down: Death to the outside zone
For three years under Stefanski, outside zone has been the heartbeat of their offense as there is not a running back with better vision than Chubb. However, Chubb is gone and now two predominantly one-cut backs are in. The Browns still fell back onto outside zone again today but were unsuccessful.
They even rain run action and bootleg off of it prevelantly again today and the jig is up in the NFL. Backside defensive ends are crashing the quarterback as no bite remains on what was a dominant concept two or three years ago.
With these tackles, with this quarterback, and with these backs, the Browns must work inside zone at a more consistent clip.
Off of inside zone, Cleveland can still use run action without the quarterback turning his back to the defense. With inside zone, you can incorporate a higher rate of read-option, which was successful today for the Browns. With inside zone, you can allow for Ford and Hunt to put their foot in the ground and get upfield.
Another reason is that the offensive tackles are not equipped to get wide the way Jack Conklin could. The Browns must use it sparingly instead of as a staple.
3rd Down: This is Myles Garrett's world and we're just living in it
What more can we say for the guy? Consistently at the top of the charts in pass rush win rate and pressure data, Myles Garrett looks to have his sights set on Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
And his resume sharpened against the Titans’ abysmal offensive line as he racked up a massive 3.5 sacks in this game. From the first series on, Garrett was unblockable in this one. He ended the first quarter with a pressure, a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, and a strip sack of quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
The offensive line of the Baltimore Ravens has been banged up, so Garrett has an opportunity to continue to stack games for the Browns next week as the Browns look to take sole possession of the AFC North.
Appreciate him, Cleveland. You have a first-ballot Hall of Famer and perennial superstar playing for your franchise.
4th Down: Denzel Ward is all the way back
Denzel Ward looks like one of the premier lockdown cornerbacks in the NFL under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The Browns are just asking him to line up facemask-to-facemask with the man across from him and lock them up. And he has done it for three straight weeks now.
Even with Greg Newsome out in this one, and even with Martin Emerson Jr. getting picked on a bit, Ward provided the clamps for 60 minutes. This is reminiscent of the 2021 campaign that got him paid like a top cornerback in the league, to begin with.
Despite a concussion in the last week of the preseason, Ward is back. And now he might get a chance to go toe-to-toe with his former teammate in Odell Beckham Jr. next week.
Extra Point: Browns/Ravens next week will be cinema
The Browns have a chance to do something they failed to do in Week 2: Go out and claim sole ownership of the AFC North this early in the season.
The Ravens enter this Week 4 matchup 1-0 in the division as the Browns enter 1-1. They come to Cleveland off the heels of an overtime loss against the Indianapolis Colts, a team starting their backup quarterback in Gardner Minshew.
They also had multiple starters missing against the Colts, but their luck may not be any different against the Browns. Outside of Chubb, the Browns will enter the matchup in good health and could even get Newsome back after a week out of the lineup.
It will be interesting to see how Schwartz and the defense gameplan to defend a quarterback they have seen nothing like thus far in Lamar Jackson. The offense should once again find a favorable matchup through the air against the Baltimore secondary, but can the run game get going?
Get the job done and redeem yourself for what you failed to do last week.
