Browns backups remain undefeated in preseason with 17-13 win over Giants

 Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.

Instant takeaways from Browns’ 17-13 victory over the New York Giants …

1. Hump week over: The Browns escaped their week with the New York Giants with a 17-13 preseason win and no apparent major injuries to regular players, although cornerback Greedy Williams left early with a groin injury and recently re-signed linebacker Montrel Meander was carted off with an ankle injury. So coach Kevin Stefanski accomplished what he wanted – good work for the starters in the two practices, and some quality play time in the practice game to sort out some backup roster battles. Players who had good showings included running back D’Ernest Johnson, running back Demetric Felton, fullback Johnny Stanton, running back John Kelly, defensive tackle Sheldon Day and defensive tackle Malik McDowell. It was hard to judge the performance of the Browns’ backup defensive players because the Giants are so thin on offense and their second and third teams on that side of the ball are, well, mediocre. Overall, the Browns’ backups played cleanly until backup cornerback Robert Jackson suffered three penalties on the Giants’ fourth-quarter scoring drive. Now, Stefanski can go about his primary task of preparing his team for the opener in Kansas City. That may include playing starters sparingly in the preseason finale in Atlanta.

2. Take that: Giants coach Joe Judge went for two after his third-team offense closed the Browns’ lead to 14-13. On the Giants’ first try, Jackson was called for pass interference and face-masking defending a pass. That put the ball inside the 1. But on a handoff to Gary Brightwell, cornerback Brian Allen and linebacker Elijah Lee combined for the stop to preserve the lead. More importantly, it helped to set up a 49-yard field goal opportunity. Chase McLaughlin, challenging incumbent Cody Parkey, drilled it through to tighten that battle..

3. Down to the wire: I’m still saying there are two roster spots available among D’Ernest Johnson, Demetric Felton and JoJo Natson. If so, it’s not an easy call. Johnson had 36 yards on four rushing attempts in the first half, with four receptions for 23 yards. In his first action at running back, Felton had 13 yards on five attempts and one catch for 12. Natson didn’t have any return opps, but made a nice 12-yard run on an end-around lined up as a receiver.

4. Case closed: Keenum moved the ball well in his only two series. He found the end zone for the first time in his two games on a nice throw and catch by KhaDarel Hodge over cornerback Madre Harper in the short left corner of the end zone from 7 yards out. Harper broke up the ball for Rashard Higgins on almost the same play two downs earlier. But on his second series, Keenum made two decisions he’d probably want back. The first was a throw into coverage for tight end Jordan Franks on third down, but he was saved on a pass interference call on linebacker Carter Coughlin. The second was a late throw in the middle of the end zone for Franks that was intercepted by cornerback Quincy Wilson. It was the first offensive turnover in preseason for the Browns.

5. More DPJ: Training camp MVP Donovan Peoples-Jones made another highlight catch on the second offensive series. He pulled in a Keenum pass behind him for a 13-yard gain and first down. Should be bubble-wrap time for DPJ.

6. You’re up, kid: Stefanski gave quarterback Kyle Lauletta a two-minute drive opportunity with 1:50 to go in the first half. Rookie left tackle James Hudson didn’t help the cause with a false start on first down and missed block causing a throwaway on second down. Lauletta managed to move the team to the 49-yard line. Then with no timeouts and one play to go, Lauletta couldn’t find anyone open in the Giants’ prevent defense. He kept the ball and run for 32 yards before being blasted from behind by 300-pound defensive end David Moa. Lauletta should have just run out of bounds.

7. Flashing: Big No. 58, defensive tackle Malik McDowell, had his first game appearance in four years – and he made the most of it. On successive plays in the fourth quarter, McDowell knocked down backup QB Brian Lewerke. One went as a pressure as Lewerke got the ball away. The second was a clean sack.

8. Greedy hurt again: Cornerback Greedy Williams, who missed Friday’s practice with a migraine headache, made the start but suffered a groin injury in the second quarter. Williams missed last season with a shoulder/nerve injury and is in competition with rookie Greg Newsome for a starting job.

9. Starting lineup notes: Blake Hance started at center because of inactive status of JC Tretter (rest), Nick Harris (knee) and Michael Dunn (back). Hance’s only chance of sticking is ability to fill-in as an emergency center. Drew Forbes started at left guard. Defensively, the Browns opened with same lineup as last week with exception of Elijah Lee making start at MIKE linebacker. The other starters at linebacker were Malcolm Smith and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. One interesting difference from the Jacksonville game: Troy Hill played in his customary starting nickel back spot. Perhaps it was “punishment” for fighting with Giants receiver Sterling Shepard after Friday’s practice session. To be fair, backup nickel back M.J. Stewart (hamstring) was out and Kiondre Thomas, who had played exclusively at nickel in practice, was waived/injured this week.

10. Count him in: Giants radio analyst Carl Banks came away from the two days of joint practices this week a firm believer that the Browns could go far in the AFC playoffs if they can survive the natural battle of attrition over the extra-long regular season. The former Giants and Browns linebacker believes their roster is loaded with talent and Stefanski has them working hard. Banks thinks the Browns’ strengths are both lines and, of course, their running game.

11. No day off: Most prominent Browns who were active and not given the day off included: receivers Peoples-Jones and Rashard Higgins, fullback Andy Janovich, linebackers Mack Wilson and Owusu-Koramoah, and cornerbacks Greg Newsome and Williams.