The Cleveland Browns got good news before their Week 10 matchup with the Houston Texans, but started the game poorly, once again, which led to a lot of discontent among fans. Then the Browns turned things around to pull off the huge 27-24 win, solidifying their playoff position.
Takeaways for Week 10 were written as the game went on, with the top notes from early in the game and building as the contest went on:
Tackling problems again on the first Texans drive
Missed tackles on Houston’s first offensive play, then again on the long 29-yard catch-and-run
by Xavier Hutchinson. In the last few games, Ronnie Hickman was a big part of the issue, but he’s out this week, and it’s still happening. Sometimes the issue is trying to do too much; other times it is bad angles, and sometimes it seems like a lack of effort. No matter what, it is a problem
Run game problem: Chicken or egg?
It seems that Browns HC Todd Monken is trying to open up run lanes by throwing early, but is the problem that the backs and line don’t get enough carries to get the feel for the game early, or is Monken doing it that way because he doesn’t think the run game is good?
Too much man-to-man?
Just like they did in the playoffs a couple of years ago, Houston’s route combinations took advantage of all the man-to-man defense played by Cleveland. Routes going away from defenders: crossers, rub routes, etc., are easy pickings against all-man defense. It also opened up scramble lanes early for CJ Stroud.
No quick pressure continues to be a problem
Along with concerns with so much man-to-man, “marrying pass rush with coverage” is important, and Cleveland struggles to get any (ANY) quick pressure. Every once in a while, a defensive tackle might get one; otherwise, QBs have nothing to worry about going through their first few progressions.
Deshaun Watson inconsistent ball placement is a problem
A lot of good plays, especially with his legs, but Watson missed rookie KC Concepcion twice in the first quarter; the second could have been a long gain, but he was well behind the rookie, who had a lot of space in front of him if the ball was placed well.
“Clown show” to let Stroud go instead of sacking him early 2nd Q
Not even sure how to describe it, except two Browns defenders had hands on Stroud who looked like he threw the ball, so they didn’t finish the play and both let go of the QB, who then scrambled and threw the ball away instead of taking a sack. Described by many as proof of a “clown show,” Stroud then threw for a first down on the next play.
Here is said play, if the description wasn’t good enough:
Browns not good enough to have big drops
Jerry Jeudy in the first quarter, Conecpion in the second, Cleveland’s offense and team as a whole are not good enough to have those big drops on plays that would have been first downs and maybe huge gains.
Players will drop the ball at times, but the ones on those big third downs or deep plays are not something the Browns can afford.
Don’t take Szmyt for granted
While kickers are crushing field goals, it’s important not to take Andre Szmyt for granted. Assuming a 49-yard field goal will be made is a nice place to be, and the kicker took care of that in the second quarter.
Unfortunately, a long 54-yarder was no good in the fourth quarter, when he just pulled it.
Big play and “grit” help CLE stay in it
After going down 17-0, Watson to Jeudy for 65 yards and a designed Watson run helped put the Browns within 17-10 with four minutes left in the first half.
CJ Stroud’s ball placement was elite
On most of his throws, it didn’t matter what Cleveland’s defense was doing in coverage because Stroud was leading his receiver perfectly, hitting them in their hands while they were on the move. Something Browns fans are hoping to find long-term. His early stats back up what we were seeing on the field:
Shortly after writing this, Stroud was intercepted by Tyson Campbell, a great play by the Cleveland cornerback:
2-minute drill run well, then not at all
With less than a minute left, Cleveland’s offense got the ball over midfield, but twice they were unable to get out of bounds, forced to use timeouts instead of having them available for later. Then Watson just missed a wide-open Jeudy for what would have been a touchdown if the receiver had caught it, but the ball was just way too far.
Then a surprising QB run and fumble meant the Browns didn’t get a field goal attempt to end the first half. Another one of those things where Cleveland is not good enough to have that missed throw or poor late-half decision-making.
Zero penalties in the 1st half
For a team that has had a huge penalty issue, important to note that they did not have a single penalty in the first half. The Browns got called for their first penalty on the punt return to start their first offensive possession of the 2nd half. As they usually do, the penalty made things more difficult on the offense with poor field position.
Huge change after 1st quarter
It often seems like DC Mike Rutenburg spends the start to the game trying to figure out the other offense, then makes some kind of huge change. This happened again after the first quarter, with stop after stop, including early in the second half.
“A game of adjustments.” Will Houston change things to adjust to Cleveland?
Monken’s offense also seemed to make some key adjustments, even though the run game continues to struggle early in the second half.
Creativity works!
A callback to a creative inside run that Jarvis Landry scored on (and is used by other teams), Monken calls a creative, misdirection run for Concepcion:
Browns defense in 2nd, 3rd quarters
After giving up 17 points, Cleveland’s defense forced a punt, intercepted Stroud, then forced three straight three-and-outs by Houston’s offense, and another to start the fourth quarter.
“Houston does not have a first down in the second half,” as said by the announcers early in the fourth quarter.
Watson does just enough, quite often
While the Browns quarterback was behind receivers often, as well as the victim of some drops, Watson makes enough plays to keep Cleveland’s offense moving. Whether it is scrambling, running, or nice touch on a pass to Dylan Sampon late in the third quarter, Watson is often moving the offense forward. Far from perfect, but enough can be enough at times.
Late 3rd-quarter drive gave defense rest; Browns take first lead
After Houston’s punt, Cleveland’s offense was able to burn over six minutes off the clock, leading just six seconds on the clock going into the fourth quarter after the ensuing kickoff. The Browns defense had one play to defend, a run, over the span of 20-plus minutes of real time. Could be very helpful in the final stanza.
Unfortunately…
Redzone issues continue
It happens to all teams, but Cleveland’s offense seems to bog down a lot in the redzone with plays having almost no chance of success. Late in the third quarter, the Browns couldn’t convert on 1st and 10 from the 10-yard line, settling for a field goal and taking a 20-17 lead.
Cheap penalty takes away INT
“He was actually in good position…” started the announcer, but most looking at the play would say it wasn’t a penalty, and it eliminated the big return by Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
The first big positive play for the Texans offense is a cheap flag that should have been a turnover:
Houston then scored a touchdown three plays later to retake the lead, 24-20.
The 4th-quarter response was very positive
After Houston scored, Cleveland’s first play was a nine-yard sack. Instead of letting that define the drive, the Browns got a first down, and later the Texans jumped on third down to give Cleveland a first down due to the penalty. That is huge growth for a young Browns team.
Then…
Tipped ball INT, Watson’s accuracy issue continues
A play that is a “blame goes to both,” Watson was just off throwing to TE Blake Whiteheart. While the ball hit Whiteheart’s hands, it was too far away from his body and led to a tipped pass INT that ended a great Cleveland drive:
Another three-and-out and a terrible punt gives the Browns offense another shot.
Lack of plays for Boston, KC, Fannin kills drive
To start the Browns drive with just over three minutes, Cleveland runs plays that are mostly set up for backup RB Dylan Sampson and fifth-string WR Tylan Wallace. Then Watson is sacked and forced to punt in less than a minute. Not calling plays for their three top pass catchers, or Jeudy, is confusing.
One offensive drive to define the season
Boston getting injured to start the drive, after returning the punt, is a bad start for the Browns offense. A somewhat questionable flag on the Texans gave Cleveland life with over a minute left, then Fannin was found wide open and pushed inside the 10-yard line. A great throw by Watson over a few defenders to get it to his tight end.
One play later, Judkins scored with 53 seconds left on the clock to give the Browns a 27-24 lead.
One defensive drive to define the season
Cleveland scoring with just under a minute means their defense needs to get one stop, while Houston has two timeouts and 53 seconds to try to at least get in field goal range.
Another great game by Denzel Ward
Can’t wait to see the PFF grade for the Browns top defender, including a huge pass breakup on the final drive of the game, as Cleveland’s defense shuts down Houston for the victory.
Browns 27 Texans 24
What are your takeaways from this Week 10 Browns victory over the Texans?
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