The Elements Of A Statement Win In Baltimore
Nov 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns place kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports
Things could not have started out more wrong for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday as they traveled to Baltimore and took on one of the hottest teams in the league. Not only did they begin in a 14-point hole after a pick-six by Deshaun Watson and a long run given up by the defense, but they also squandered multiple scoring chances in the first half.
Halftime was very strange. Even though the team was down only 8 points, it felt almost insurmountable. Remember, Watson started this game going 6 of 20 with an interception. And even though the Browns had opportunities most of those were gifts from the Ravens via penalty or turnover.
Not only did the Cleveland Browns overcome that deficit, but they also overcame a botched punt and a missed extra point that nearly cost them game. In years past all the things mentioned above would have changed the outcome and the Browns wouldn’t have won. But not Sunday. The defense quickly forced a punt and then the Browns offense marched 58 yards for a game-winning 40-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins as time expired.
In that final drive, the Browns converted a second and 19 and got a 12-yard run to get in the final field goal position when everyone in the stadium knew a run was coming.
This win, to move the team to 6-3 overall and 2-2 in the division, could define their entire season for the good. Here are our top takeaways.
Offensive Line Improvement:
There is no doubt that Watson was under a ton of pressure in the first half and that was a big reason for most of his struggles. But after a few halftime adjustments and the miraculous improvement of Watson, this offensive line stepped up to the challenge.
Not only did they open up holes for Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt who ran for nearly 140 yards combined, but they gave Watson just enough time when they needed to and allowed him to make the appropriate read.
Remember, the top three tackles missed the game this week which left James Hudson and Geron Christian (first NFL start). They certainly weren’t perfect, but they did just enough to score 33 points vs. one of the best defenses in the league.
Let’s hope this experience will only help build depth for the Browns, and that Dawand Jones can be back this week vs. the Steelers. Remember, no one has beaten down the Browns more than JJ Watt has.
Team Camaradie:
The second biggest smile on my face came when I saw the reaction of all the guys in the locker room after the game. Not only did Kevin Stefanski give a great post-game speech about tightening down when things got tough, but you could see legitimate joy in everyone’s face.
This team was dismantled at home by the Ravens in week four, they overcame about five major pieces of adversity, and they likely sealed controlling their own destiny for a division title. That doesn’t mean the road will be easy, but they don’t have to count on anyone else at this moment.
There was a point this season where I wasn’t sure if everyone on this team was fully committed, and I wasn’t sure if Stefanski had control of the locker room. But after pulling through and coming up with such a big win, I can say it feels like the team took a huge step forward in turning this organization around.
Watson Finally Showed Up:
For the first half, it was much of the same old same old for the Cleveland Browns. The defense made a few huge plays that helped keep the game close, but Watson really didn’t capitalize, and nine first-half points should have easily been 14 to 20.
He was under a ton of pressure for most of the half, and you could tell he was never comfortable in the pocket. The pressure had him flustered and had a big effect on his accuracy. A timely drop by David Njoku also really killed momentum in the first half.
Then came the second half, and we finally saw the Watson we had been waiting for. Not only did he go a perfect 14 for 14 on his second-half passes, but we finally saw the accuracy and elusiveness we’ve been waiting for.
Watson made a huge throw on second and 19 on the final drive of the game, and he also had a huge run for 12 yards that put the Browns over midfield. There were times when he was still under a lot of pressure, but he kept his composure and found his check-down or was able to run. On the final drive, he held on a second too long and the Ravens did for a fumble, but Wyatt Teller flew over and quickly recovered.
As I mentioned above, there is still a lot of unfinished business for this Browns team. While they got revenge on a bad loss last week, they’ll be looking to serve the same dish this upcoming Sunday in Cleveland vs. the Steelers.
Even though the Ravens are a far superior team, but the Steelers find a way to hang around and not lose games. If this team is truly ready to turn the page, we will see a victory by 10 plus points on Sunday.
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