CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns beat the Titans on Sunday, 41-35, to improve to 9-3 and further solidify their position in the playoff chase.
Here are three quick thoughts about the game:
1. Did we finally see the Browns play a complete game?
My quick answer would be no. I think the Browns would agree.
This game reminded me a lot of the Browns’ Week 4 game against the Cowboys. They ran out to a 31-14 halftime lead in that one. They led 38-7 at halftime against the Titans. The Browns also impressed in the first half against the Colts, building a 20-10 lead.
But in all three cases, they were unable to really press on the gas in the second half. The Cowboys rallied to lose by 11. The Colts lost by nine.
The Titans looked like they were ready to rally on Sunday, getting to 38-21, but then Cody Parkey connected on a field goal and that was the end of that. The Titans didn’t score again until less than two minutes remained and the Browns walked away with a three-point second half and a six-point win that was really a 13-point win before the craziness of the final minute.
Even though the offense exploded in the first half and the defense got turnovers and got off the field on third downs, I don’t think we saw a complete game for the Browns.
But I’m starting to think this is their version of a complete game.
2. The touchdown pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones was a dagger, and a great example of what Kevin Stefanski’s offense can do.
The Titans had a little momentum after needing just four plays and 1:42 to go 74 yards for their first touchdown. But the Browns snatched it all right back with a play that worked perfectly.
The Browns were in 13 personnel (one RB, three TEs). All the movement before the snap created the perception that the Browns were going to run. Peoples-Jones switched sides, Austin Hooper motioned to the backfield, then motioned back to the line, followed by Harrison Bryant motioning to the fullback spot in front of Kareem Hunt.
The Titans had nine players in the box with one deep safety and a Breon Borders outside on Peoples-Jones. The play action caused the safety to rush toward the line. If Peoples-Jones hadn’t burned Borders with the double move, Baker Mayfield had David Njoku wide open on an underneath crossing route.
In the end, it was just a case of Mayfield hitting a wide-open receiver (something he’s had issues with) and Peoples-Jones catching a pass when he was wide open (he had dropped sure touchdown).
It wasn’t a trick play or a lucky play. It was great execution of the kind of play at the core of Stefanski’s offense.
3. This was Joe Woods’ finest day as Browns defensive coordinator.
The Browns had a plan for dealing with Derrick Henry. We saw them employ an extra defensive lineman or use Sione Takitaki, their best linebacker against the run, as a pseudo lineman on the edge.
It worked. Henry had just 60 yards on 15 carries, including 15 yards on seven carries in the first half.
It helped that Woods’ opportunistic defense showed up again. The Browns had just three turnovers in the previous four games and all three were against the Eagles. The Titans simply hadn’t turned the ball over this season, totaling just five giveaways through 11 games.
But the Browns came away with three takeaways on Sunday, two of which were important to the outcome.
The Titan’s offense was ranked third in DVOA entering the game but couldn’t put together sustained drives in the first half, when the game got out of hand. They managed just one drive of more than five plays in the first half. The Browns, meanwhile, put together five drives of at least six plays in the half.
Keeping those drive short required the Browns to get off the field on third down, which they did. The Titans, who were ranked eighth in the league by converting 44.2 percent through 11 games, were 0-for-3 on third down in the first half and 2-of-10 for the game.
That’s a big stat for a Browns defense that was allowing opponents to convert 44.9 percent of their third downs (ranked 24th) prior to Sunday.
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