After a historic defensive performance against the Bears, the Cleveland Browns challenged the Minnesota Vikings to prove it was no fluke.
---
As I continue to immerse myself in the Cleveland Browns community, I’ve noticed a camaraderie among the Lake Erie NFL teams - a respect between the Browns, Lions, and Bills that stems from decades of being the joke’s punchline. While Cleveland and Buffalo sport their first contending teams of the millennia, I’ll notice a vagrant Lions fan in the Browns’ subreddit with words of encouragement.
While not directly part of this raggedy trio, the Minnesota Vikings are the cousin of these Erie siblings. The Vikings have never won a Super Bowl. They haven’t even been to one since the 70s. Vikings’ fans know pain.
In 2009, the Vikings had the longtime-hated Brett Favre. Tied with the Saints and in field goal range with just 19 seconds left in the NFC Championship Game, the Vikings Viking’d and darkness would continue to linger over the Twin Cities.
But, as all dedicated love-hate relationships in sports embody both tragedy and elation, the Vikings enacted their revenge nearly a decade later with one of the most iconic plays of the 2010s: the Minneapolis Miracle.
I’ve always had an affinity for the Vikings for this reason. It’s hard to root against them. Before the stats led me to the Browns, Minnesota was on my shortlist of teams. The area has one of the most fervent fan bases, but the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, and Wild don’t give them much to root for. Yet, they always come back.
I felt nervous about a Browns game for the first time. I had no expectations against the Chiefs, and the Houston/Chicago back-to-back was the schedule’s easiest part. In this game, I knew Cleveland would either prove they were at least top five in the AFC or fill the upcoming stretch with questions.
I found both.
Stand Out Young Guns
On Minnesota’s opening drive, Cousins and Dalvin Cook moved the chains consistently, converting twice on third down and once on fourth on route to a Jefferson touchdown. Here, the Browns are still struggling to stop opposing teams on third down. DC Joe Woods shows the same soft zone coverage with safeties 20 yards off the line. Despite multiple press showings, it leaves massive holes in the mid-yardage situation which both Thielen and Jefferson exploited on the opening drive. So, I prepared myself for a defense closer to Weeks 1 and 2.
But then, everything just changed. On the next seven Minnesota drives, the Browns forced five three-and-outs while allowing only 83 total yards.
Starting in place of the injured Greg Newsome, the second-year cornerback was incredible. He played all 67 defensive snaps and became the Browns’ top-rated cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus. He also recorded six combined tackles and notched his first career interception in the fourth quarter, stunting Minnesota’s offensive momentum.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the 2021 second-round pick, has electrified the linebacking core in his first four NFL games. Against Minnesota, he had seven combined tackles while playing just 35 snaps. His defensive presence was vital, as every play seemed to hinge on either his pass coverage in the flats or his tackling ability. JOK is currently the second ranked linebacker in the league, according to PFF.
D-line Dominance
Cleveland’s defense relies on pressure from their front four to limit the run and prevent passes. Often, only the Myles Garrett-Jadeveon Clowney- Malik McDowell-Malik Jackson core pressures the quarterback.
For example, on Minnesota’s final drive, the Vikings ran nine plays. Cleveland’s defensive line combined for two tackles, multiple QB pressures, and a deflection to seal the game. They were exhausted. Before the last play of the game, Cleveland used their final timeout just to give the line one last pause as Clowney breathed heavy. On the next play, Clowney barreled towards Cousins, forcing him to scramble towards the weak side and chuck an incomplete 30-yard prayer.
These four players each played at least 66% of defensive snaps and combined for 10 total tackles along with six QB hits. Malik Jackson added two defended passes and Myles Garrett notched another half sack.
Against Cleveland, Cousins had his lowest completion total, completion percentage, total yards, and the only interception of his season.
Short Passes, Screens, and Runs, Oh My!
The Nick Chubb-Kareem Hunt tandem proved again they are the NFL’s scariest running back duo. In an off day for Baker Mayfield (we will get to that in a second), Chubb and Hunt shouldered the offense combining for 169 total rushing yards and over 4.76 yards per attempt each. Kareem Hunt also led the Browns on the final first half drive, breaking out a 33-yard run on 3rd & 20 to get Cleveland in field goal range.
Throughout the game, the Browns relied on quick passes and screens to wear down the Minnesota defense as Mayfield was wildly inaccurate on anything over 20 yards (0-for-6 on the day). Cleveland even ran multiple TE screens just to gain some short yardage.
Austin Hooper, David Njoku, and Harrison Bryant combined for nine total targets and 31 yards. While not initially impressive, the tight end trio (along with WR Rashard Higgins) was the only thing giving Chubb and Hunt spacing to run.
Their extra role shed minutes off the clock, and, considering Cleveland was the twelfth lowest team in TE yardage last year, their involvement should only increase until Mayfield, OBJ, and Landry are all healthy and on the same page.
Closing Thoughts and Exploring Injuries
LT Jedrick Wills again started despite the nagging ankle injury that has been a thorn in his side the entire season. He just did not have it. In the Browns’ first drive, Vikings’ DE Everson Griffen blew by him on his way to sack Mayfield on a red zone fourth down. Wills would eventually be carted off in the third quarter and would not return to the game.
The Browns have a great O-Line, and Wills is vital to their success. However, the Browns should have benched Wills against the Texans and Bears to nurse that injury as now his status is uncertain, and the Browns will face much harder competition moving forward. Mayfield is still raw under pressure and needs a top-tier line to provide a passing game to pair with Chubb and Hunt.
Speaking of Mayfield, he had a bad game. I won’t harp on it… much. Before the shoulder injury in Week 2, Mayfield was the most league’s most accurate quarterback. Although there have been no actual reports on it, I (and many other Browns fans) think that left shoulder is messing with his form. He had multiple passes just sail over receivers. For example, on the Browns’ last drive, OBJ ran a fade and beat his defender on the ride side. He had nothing but clear air and a guaranteed shot to give the Browns a 14-point advantage with under two minutes left. And Mayfield just missed him.
Mayfield had his worst game of the season, with just 155 yards and a completion percentage on the wrong side of 50%. I’m not exceptionally worried about it, but the questions around his non-dominant shoulder will linger until he returns to season-start form.
*Cleveland disclosed Mayfield has a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. No immediate action is necessary, but he will most likely require surgery in the offseason.
And if I was nervous for the Vikings game, you know I’m damn nervous for the Chargers game.
After a historic defensive performance against the Bears, the Cleveland Browns challenged the Minnesota Vikings to prove it was no fluke.
---
As I continue to immerse myself in the Cleveland Browns community, I’ve noticed a camaraderie among the Lake Erie NFL teams - a respect between the Browns, Lions, and Bills that stems from decades of being the joke’s punchline. While Cleveland and Buffalo sport their first contending teams of the millennia, I’ll notice a vagrant Lions fan in the Browns’ subreddit with words of encouragement.
While not directly part of this raggedy trio, the Minnesota Vikings are the cousin of these Erie siblings. The Vikings have never won a Super Bowl. They haven’t even been to one since the 70s. Vikings’ fans know pain.
In 2009, the Vikings had the longtime-hated Brett Favre. Tied with the Saints and in field goal range with just 19 seconds left in the NFC Championship Game, the Vikings Viking’d and darkness would continue to linger over the Twin Cities.
But, as all dedicated love-hate relationships in sports embody both tragedy and elation, the Vikings enacted their revenge nearly a decade later with one of the most iconic plays of the 2010s: the Minneapolis Miracle.
I’ve always had an affinity for the Vikings for this reason. It’s hard to root against them. Before the stats led me to the Browns, Minnesota was on my shortlist of teams. The area has one of the most fervent fan bases, but the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, and Wild don’t give them much to root for. Yet, they always come back.
I felt nervous about a Browns game for the first time. I had no expectations against the Chiefs, and the Houston/Chicago back-to-back was the schedule’s easiest part. In this game, I knew Cleveland would either prove they were at least top five in the AFC or fill the upcoming stretch with questions.
I found both.
Stand Out Young Guns
On Minnesota’s opening drive, Cousins and Dalvin Cook moved the chains consistently, converting twice on third down and once on fourth on route to a Jefferson touchdown. Here, the Browns are still struggling to stop opposing teams on third down. DC Joe Woods shows the same soft zone coverage with safeties 20 yards off the line. Despite multiple press showings, it leaves massive holes in the mid-yardage situation which both Thielen and Jefferson exploited on the opening drive. So, I prepared myself for a defense closer to Weeks 1 and 2.
But then, everything just changed. On the next seven Minnesota drives, the Browns forced five three-and-outs while allowing only 83 total yards.
Starting in place of the injured Greg Newsome, the second-year cornerback was incredible. He played all 67 defensive snaps and became the Browns’ top-rated cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus. He also recorded six combined tackles and notched his first career interception in the fourth quarter, stunting Minnesota’s offensive momentum.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the 2021 second-round pick, has electrified the linebacking core in his first four NFL games. Against Minnesota, he had seven combined tackles while playing just 35 snaps. His defensive presence was vital, as every play seemed to hinge on either his pass coverage in the flats or his tackling ability. JOK is currently the second ranked linebacker in the league, according to PFF.
D-line Dominance
Cleveland’s defense relies on pressure from their front four to limit the run and prevent passes. Often, only the Myles Garrett-Jadeveon Clowney- Malik McDowell-Malik Jackson core pressures the quarterback.
For example, on Minnesota’s final drive, the Vikings ran nine plays. Cleveland’s defensive line combined for two tackles, multiple QB pressures, and a deflection to seal the game. They were exhausted. Before the last play of the game, Cleveland used their final timeout just to give the line one last pause as Clowney breathed heavy. On the next play, Clowney barreled towards Cousins, forcing him to scramble towards the weak side and chuck an incomplete 30-yard prayer.
These four players each played at least 66% of defensive snaps and combined for 10 total tackles along with six QB hits. Malik Jackson added two defended passes and Myles Garrett notched another half sack.
Against Cleveland, Cousins had his lowest completion total, completion percentage, total yards, and the only interception of his season.
Short Passes, Screens, and Runs, Oh My!
The Nick Chubb-Kareem Hunt tandem proved again they are the NFL’s scariest running back duo. In an off day for Baker Mayfield (we will get to that in a second), Chubb and Hunt shouldered the offense combining for 169 total rushing yards and over 4.76 yards per attempt each. Kareem Hunt also led the Browns on the final first half drive, breaking out a 33-yard run on 3rd & 20 to get Cleveland in field goal range.
Throughout the game, the Browns relied on quick passes and screens to wear down the Minnesota defense as Mayfield was wildly inaccurate on anything over 20 yards (0-for-6 on the day). Cleveland even ran multiple TE screens just to gain some short yardage.
Austin Hooper, David Njoku, and Harrison Bryant combined for nine total targets and 31 yards. While not initially impressive, the tight end trio (along with WR Rashard Higgins) was the only thing giving Chubb and Hunt spacing to run.
Their extra role shed minutes off the clock, and, considering Cleveland was the twelfth lowest team in TE yardage last year, their involvement should only increase until Mayfield, OBJ, and Landry are all healthy and on the same page.
Closing Thoughts and Exploring Injuries
LT Jedrick Wills again started despite the nagging ankle injury that has been a thorn in his side the entire season. He just did not have it. In the Browns’ first drive, Vikings’ DE Everson Griffen blew by him on his way to sack Mayfield on a red zone fourth down. Wills would eventually be carted off in the third quarter and would not return to the game.
The Browns have a great O-Line, and Wills is vital to their success. However, the Browns should have benched Wills against the Texans and Bears to nurse that injury as now his status is uncertain, and the Browns will face much harder competition moving forward. Mayfield is still raw under pressure and needs a top-tier line to provide a passing game to pair with Chubb and Hunt.
Speaking of Mayfield, he had a bad game. I won’t harp on it… much. Before the shoulder injury in Week 2, Mayfield was the most league’s most accurate quarterback. Although there have been no actual reports on it, I (and many other Browns fans) think that left shoulder is messing with his form. He had multiple passes just sail over receivers. For example, on the Browns’ last drive, OBJ ran a fade and beat his defender on the ride side. He had nothing but clear air and a guaranteed shot to give the Browns a 14-point advantage with under two minutes left. And Mayfield just missed him.
Mayfield had his worst game of the season, with just 155 yards and a completion percentage on the wrong side of 50%. I’m not exceptionally worried about it, but the questions around his non-dominant shoulder will linger until he returns to season-start form.
*Cleveland disclosed Mayfield has a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. No immediate action is necessary, but he will most likely require surgery in the offseason.
And if I was nervous for the Vikings game, you know I’m damn nervous for the Chargers game.
Share your best bets!