The Cleveland Browns returned home and did not disappoint as they knocked off the Jacksonville Jaguars in a much-needed bounce-back win. Led by quarterback Joe Flacco and tight end David Njoku, who linked up for two touchdowns, the Browns dropped 31 points on the Jaguars. They outlasted the top AFC South team by a score of 31-27 to rack up their eighth win of the season.
The defense came up huge, creating four turnovers (including three interceptions of Trevor Lawrence). The offense found the endzone a season-high four times in this one, and kicker Dustin Hopkins once again delivered a kick of death to the Jaguars from 55 yards out to seal the win. It is an all-around great day to be a Browns fan.
What stood out from this impressive win over the now 8-5 Jaguars? Here is a much more positive 4 Downs than the two that came before it as the Browns now have a firm hold of the fifth seed in the AFC after this massive win at home.
1st Down: The Browns can compete with anyone with this level of QB play
The Browns could not ask anything more from Joe Flacco than what they have gotten from him over the past two weeks. And one thing is now evident: the Browns can compete with anyone with this level of quarterback play.
Throws are being made over the middle of the field that has not been hit in recent memory. There is a level of professionalism and trust that Flacco plays with where he can be trusted to make the correct decision and protect the football. This defense is good enough but Flacco just needs to play average for this team to rack up the wins.
Ending the game with 311 yards and three touchdowns on the day, this Cleveland passing attack has looked the best it has all season with Flacco at the helm.
Now, if his receivers could cut down on the dropped passes…
2nd Down: Numerous players prove they deserve first Pro Bowl nods
Tight end David Njoku continues toward his career year with his season’s best showing. Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. adds another two picks to his tally, locking down Jacksonville receivers all season. Kicker Dustin Hopkins continues to be ice-cold, nailing a 55-yard dagger to put the game out of reach.
Each of these players deserves to see their first Pro Bowl appearance this season.
Njoku continues to play like a top-seven tight end in the NFL, surging for even higher standards after a massive 91-yard and two-touchdown output. It is hard to find a cornerback tougher to complete a pass on than Emerson Jr. has been this season. Hopkins continues to be a season-altering move for general manager Andrew Berry and the Browns.
Get these guys to their first Pro Bowls.
3rd Down: Run game still an issue the Browns must solve
The Browns are finding their stride through the air with Flacco under center. However, their run game continues to be a work in progress. And now 14 weeks into the season, we live with the reality that this is who the Browns are on the ground.
Kareem Hunt, although he is a weapon in short-yardage situations (encapsulated by his goalline touchdown today), averaged less than three yards per touch today. Jerome Ford was not much better working with a higher volume, racking up just 51 yards on 12 carries.
Entering the week, the Browns fielded a league-average rushing attack in Expected Points Added per play. Leaving this week, that efficiency will take another hit. Jacksonville had not fielded a top-tier run defense over the past five weeks entering this matchup either.
Unfortunately for the Browns, all of the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, and New York Jets have fielded better run defenses than the Jaguars over the last five weeks. The Browns are going to have to rely on the arm of Joe Flacco and their strong defense.
This team misses Nick Chubb desperately.
4th Down: Can the Browns continue to overcome steep injury toll?
The Browns entered this game already without cornerback Denzel Ward, safety Juan Thornhill, and right tackle Dawand Jones. This is already on top of quarterback Deshaun Watson, running back Nick Chubb, left tackle Jedrick Wills, right tackle Jack Conklin, safety Rodney McLeod, and more.
And the injury toll was not kinder to the Browns in this game against the Jaguars.
In this game, all of defensive tackles Jordan Elliott and Maurice Hurst, safety Grant Delpit, running back Jerome Ford, center Ethan Pocic, and others exited with an injury. The Browns have deployed a “next man up” mentality, as showcased by Joe Flacco and two rookie defensive backs making a massive defensive stop on a fourth down throw.
However, how much more attrition can this Browns roster take?
Hopefully, they will get Ward, Thornhill, and Jones back. And hopefully, none of the numerous players who exited against the Jaguars will miss significant time. However, the Browns may take on the Chicago Bears with their backs against the wall once again next week.
Extra Point: The Browns play complimentary football for one of the few times this season. And it's refreshing.
There have not been many times the Browns have played complimentary football this season. But today was one of them.
The defense created turnovers, the offense managed to put points on the board off of those turnovers, the special teams units came through to flip the field or give the Browns a dagger of a field goal.
All game long, all three phases of the team picked each other up and complimented one another at a high level. That was refreshing to see.
With four games to go, the Browns will need more of that as the injuries will continue to press their backs against the wall. This team is resilient and extremely well-coached, however. They look as up to the task as ever.
Just how many more wins can they rattle off in their last four games?
