Deshaun Watson did not receive a special introduction in his first game in FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns chose to prop up the defense in pre-game introductions. (Cleveland Browns)
Deshaun Watson wins home debut, crushing Ravens division title hopes
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Instant takeaways from Browns’ 13-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens …
1. Take that: Deshaun Watson was victorious in his home debut for the Browns, as he brought out the best in the Cleveland defense for the second time in three games, and got just enough of a push from the special teams. The Browns outlasted the Ravens in an ugly game played under sporadic snow flurries, 13-3. The Browns’ defense forced two turnovers – an interception of Lamar Jackson backup Tyler Huntley and a fumble by Demarcus Robinson – and turned it over to the offense on a defensive stand inside the 10. Jordan Elliott blocked a Justin Tucker field goal and Tucker missed another field goal. Cade York also missed two field goals for the Browns, but he out-kicked Tucker, 2 to 1. Myles Garrett padded his season sack total to 13 ½ with 1 ½ of Huntley, who inexplicably threw the ball 30 times despite the Ravens rushing for 198 yards. Watson produced one touchdown and was 18 of 28 for 161 yards. The win improved the Browns to 6-8. The loss was costly to the Ravens (9-5), who fell one-half game behind Cincinnati in the AFC North race. The teams meet in Game 17 in Cincinnati.
2. Down goes Tucker: Tucker is the greatest kicker in NFL history, but even he could not solve the capricious winds of FirstEnergy Stadium. Now, Tucker’s 53-yard field goal to the closed end zone was the fifth of 50+ of his career in FES – second-most all time to Phil Dawson’s seven. But at the end of the first half, Tucker missed wide left from 48 yards, also to the closed end. In the fourth quarter, Tucker attempted one of 50 yards into the wind toward the Dawg Pound end, with snow flurries floating in the air. Jordan Elliott blocked the kick with his outstretched right arm. It was the first time Tucker missed two field goals in a game since Dec. 22, 2018 against the Chargers. The turnover was wasted, however, when Cade York, who was out-kicking Tucker, pull-hooked a field goal try of 38 yards wide left. York got another try from 46 yards and was wide right. So York was 2 of 4 on the night and Tucker was 1 of 3.
3. Aw, nuts: The Browns wasted a turnover late in the third quarter created by John Johnson. The safety punched the ball loose after a catch by Demarcus Robinson and then recovered the ball at the Ravens’ 40. Kareem Hunt ran for 8 yards on first down, but then Watson purposely threw the ball into the ground when a play broke down and, after a holding call on Donovan Peoples-Jones, Watson was sacked, and the Browns had to punt. Johnson injured a thigh on his turnover and was out for the game.
4. More like it: After Denzel Ward’s interception of Huntley at the Browns’ 9-yard line on the first possession of the second half, Watson engineered his best drive in his three games after suspension. He linked up twice with Amari Cooper for gains of 16 and 28 yards. An incompletion at the Ravens’ 9, however, set up fourth-and-1. Unlike in Cincinnati and Houston, QB sneak artist Jacoby Brissett was not summoned to the field. Instead, the Browns lined up lineman Drew Forbes as a fullback and handed to Chubb, who extended the drive to the 6. Two plays later, Watson connected with Donovan Peoples-Jones on a quick hitter inside the 5, and DPJ but inside to complete the 3-yard touchdown. The PAT increased the Browns’ lead to 13-3. It was the first time ALL SEASON the Ravens trailed in a game by more than seven points.
5. What’s the hurry?: The Browns owned the ball with 5:31 to play in the first half. After an 18-yard run by Nick Chubb took the ball to the Ravens’ 48, the Browns went into hurry-up mode. Three straight completions – two to newly-activated Daylen Baldwin, in his first NFL game -- took the ball to the Ravens’ 4 at the two-minute warning. The Browns settled for a 23-yard York field go pull ahead, 6-3. But they left 1:52 on the clock because of their hasty strategy. The pass-challenged Ravens did manage to move into field-goal territory. Fortunately for the Browns, Justin Tucker’s 48-yard field goal try to the closed end zone was wide left.
6. Toe to toe: Tucker’s prior field goal from 53 yards was his fifth of 50+ in FirstEnergy Stadium. Only Browns legend Phil Dawson, with seven, has more. York, who has three 50+ in FES, made a kick from 47 yards for the Browns’ other score. So, at halftime, it was York 2, Tucker 1.
7. Run the ball, stupid: Prior to their last possession of the first half, the Ravens had 90 yards rushing on 16 attempts. To the Browns’ delight, however, they passed the ball 15 times, completing only nine for 67 yards.
8. What about the script?: The Ravens won the coin toss and deferred, giving the Browns the ball first. Stefanski’s opening-game script usually results in points; six times they’ve scored touchdowns. But in Watson’s first series at home, the Browns went three-and-out and punted.
9. Stopped cold: After the Browns’ punt, the Ravens moved downfield on their first series with running backs Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins blasting through the defense with double-digit yardage on runs. They had third-and-2 from the Browns’ 8. Edwards was stopped for a gain of 1 by Myles Garrett. On fourth-and-1 from the 7, John Harbaugh didn’t hesitate in going for it. They handed the ball to 305-pound fullback Patrick Ricard and he was stoned for no gain by John Johnson, Jordan Kunaszyk and Jadeveon Clowney.
10. Pre-game notes: The only notable on the Browns’ inactive list was receiver David Bell, who didn’t practice all week because of thumb and toe injuries. That meant the active receivers after starters Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones were Demetric Felton, Michael Woods and Daylen Baldwin. The Browns honored the Ohio state Div. IV champion Glenville Tarblooders prior to the National Anthem. The honory guitar smasher was former Cavalier J.R. Smith. The popular Smith skipped onto the field wearing a No. 5 Browns jersey and then dramatically removed it before smashing the guitar bare-chested in sub-freezing temperatures.
