The Cleveland Browns enjoyed their Victory Monday in Week 2 so much that they decided to keep the party going this week.
They left it late, but the Browns walked out of Huntington Bank Field on Sunday with a 21-18 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
It wasn’t always pretty – especially on offense – and it wasn’t easy, but the win leaves the Browns in a tie for first place in the AFC North Division with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town for a national TV game on Thursday night.
But let’s not get
ahead of ourselves, as there are Brownies and Frownies to hand out for today’s big win.
Week 3 Winners: Brownies
Most of the high points from the game involved the defense, most notably:
- Defensive tackle Mason Graham, who finished with two sacks and three tackles for loss in what was arguably the best game of his young career. Graham is the first Cleveland defensive player to have a sack in each of the first three games of a season since a guy named Myles Garrett in 2019.
- Carolina came into the game averaging 35.5 points per game. On Sunday? Just 18 points against a Cleveland defense that got after the Panthers all game long.
- The defense was effective on third and fourth downs, holding the Panthers to a combined four-of-18.
- While the defense carried much of the water for the day, the offense and special teams did their part as well:
- Andre Szmyt converted both of his field-goal attempts to extend his streak to 20 consecutive made field goals, dating back to last season.
- Not content to let Szmyt have all the fun, punter Corey Bojorquez dropped three of his five punts inside the 20-yard line.
- After a quiet start to the season with just two receptions in Week 1, tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has picked up the pace over the past two weeks. On Sunday, he had a team-high seven receptions for 51 yards, and added a pair of touchdown catches – one at the end of the first half and the game-winner with 1:48 remaining in the fourth quarter.
- It wasn’t always easy, but the Browns kept pounding away with the run game against Carolina’s defense and found some success by averaging 4.4 yards per carry, with Quinshon Judkins leading the way with 70 rushing yards.
- Quarterback Deshaun Watson had a rocky day – more on that in a moment – but he came up big on third downs (five-of-seven for 44 yards and that fourth-quarter touchdown to Fannin). He also avoided turning the ball over, which is always helpful.
- Watson saved his best for last as he completed three passes for 34 yards and added a 21-yard run on the game-winning touchdown drive. In the fourth quarter, Watson was six-of-nine for 77 yards and the touchdown.
- The Browns still struggled on third down, finishing just 5-of-15, but did convert their first third down in the first half of a game, so baby steps.
Week 3 Losers: Frownies
There was much rejoicing when the Browns hired Todd Monken as head coach because the team would finally have a “hard-nosed coach” who would “put a stop” to the pre-snap penalties that have plagued the team.
- Well, on Sunday against the Panthers, the Browns were penalized 12 times, which included one offensive drive in the second quarter with five penalties called on the offensive line – three false starts, an illegal formation, and a holding call.
- The Browns deferred after winning the opening coin toss and were in prime position to build on their 10-3 lead when they received the kickoff to open the second half. But a penalty on the Panthers forced a re-kick, and returner Malachi Corley fumbled the return away to the Panthers. The defense held Carolina to just a field goal, but it was enough momentum to get the Panthers back in the game.
- The third quarter offense was as bad as it has ever been. The Browns had three offensive possessions in the quarter and ran a total of nine plays for 3 yards of total offense. The inability to get anything going allowed the Panthers to get back into the game as they took a 12-10 lead on Ryan Fitzgerald’s fourth field goal of the day on the drive after Cleveland’s final three-and-out of the third quarter.
Week 3 Quick Hits: Milk Bones
- On Cleveland’s final touchdown drive, Watson took a big hit and had to leave the field for one play. Enter Shedeur Sanders for his first action of the season. Despite having no first-team reps since the preseason, Sanders finished the game one-of-one passing for zero yards, making him the only quarterback (probably) on the day to complete every pass he attempted.
Who are your winners and losers for Week 3 Browns vs. the Panthers?
