What is the story about?
The Cleveland Browns’ offense failed them in Week 1, and the Ravens’ defense did everything right. Back in Week 1 against the Bengals, the Browns took what the Bengals gave them to consistently move the chains. This week, the Ravens’ defenders saw everything that worked for Cleveland in that first game and committed to anticipating those plays. When Cleveland went to them, they weren’t open.
When Flacco held the ball, looking downfield, our receivers couldn’t get open. And then, even Joe Cool got
out of his element and look flustered, a rarity. The Browns still won the time of possession 31:49 to 28:11 and out-gained Baltimore 322 yards to 242 yards, but neither of those were because the offense had good ball control.
Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 2 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Quarterback
- I know his playoff game was bad, but this was by far the ugliest regular season performance in a Browns uniform for Joe Flacco. In 2023, we were used to him easily putting up 300+ yards each week and always finding the open receiver, even when it wasn’t garbage time. Last week, it was a safer style of offense, but Flacco was sharp. This week, the wheels came off, and he looked flustered.
- As I indicated in the introduction, it seemed like the Ravens looked at what worked for Cleveland in the first week and played aggressive to shut it down. The Browns aren’t looking to go deep, so all of those screen passes, flat passes, and short receiver routes had a defender dying to blow it up all day. When Flacco held the ball to look downfield, our guys couldn’t get open. Early on, he was doing the right thing and throwing the ball away. When the offense kept struggling, Flacco tried to start rolling, but Baltimore wasn’t having any of that either, which led to erratic decisions and the game getting out of hand. Flacco didn’t get much help this week, but he also earns basically an F grade along with the rest of the offense.
- Dillon Gabriel came in during garbage time and got his first career touchdown. Good for him, being prepared and sharp in relief. However, no one should take that drive and put much weight into it vs. the rest of the game, because Baltimore clearly played back and had their reserves in.
Running Back
- Despite having limited practices, Quinshon Judkins got the start. I think we saw some glimpses of his running style and how it differs from the other backs. His final stat line includes a 31-yard carry on that final drive where Baltimore’s backups came in, but it was still good for him to get those live game reps. Cleveland needs an identity on offense, and although the ground game has struggled to get going, Judkins being a bellcow back is the team’s best-looking shot at establishing something.
- Jerome Ford led the % of snaps for the second week in a row. I’m expecting Judkins’ workload to be dialed up next week, so we’ll see who then gets the backup reps.
- Cleveland’s backs combined for 11 catches, although not a ton of yards. It’s nice that each of them have good hands. Dylan Sampson caught Gabriel’s touchdown pass on a corner route.
Wide Receiver
- What a mess the wide receiver position was. I tried to have optimism in training camp, but now look at the group when the regular season hits. Jamari Thrash barely gets involved, Isaiah Bond is an unknown. Cedric Tillman seems ok still, although his touchdown catch was a gift.
- Jerry Jeudy has been a big disappointment, as his dropped passes continue to plague him. In what was a tight game in the first half, Jeudy dropped a pass that would have allowed Cleveland to either try a long field goal, or go for in on fourth down. Instead, they punted. In the second half, he bobbled an easy sideline pass that would have set up 3rd-and-short. Instead, on third down, Flacco rolled out and threw an erratic pass downfield that was picked off and basically taken the distance.
- I’m not trying to fully pin the butterfly effect on Jeudy, because the fact that the team still doesn’t execute is part of a grander issue. With that said, you saw what Jeudy’s mistakes led to in Week 1, and in Week 2, that led to 3 missed points one way and 7 points going the other way. For a guy who is supposed to be a Pro Bowl caliber receiver, he looks anything but that.
- I don’t know when or if David Bell will be back, but heck, he’d probably have a good chance to stick around if he does.
Tight End
- The Browns’ tight ends were the best thing about the offense again, including a nice snag by Harold Fannin up the seam. They both saw the field for much of the game again.
- Fannin’s 12 catches are tied for the second most ever by a rookie tight end in the first two weeks of a season, only surpassed by Brock Bowers (15) last year.
Offensive Line
- It was confusing during the broadcast why Dawand Jones kept exiting the game, to be replaced by KT Leverston. Was a benching? Sending a message? Jones still played 86% of the snaps. After the game, Kevin Stefanski said that Jones missed time because of the heat.
- Cornelius Lucas played the entire game at right tackle for Jack Conklin, who was out with his elbow injury after testing it out in pregame.
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