Tom Brady's possible last appearance in Cleveland was so uneventful, he almost seemed bored at times. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Jacoby Brissett outlasts Tom Brady in expected last start for Browns
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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’ 23-17 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers …
1. Still breathing: Jacoby Brissett’s expected last start for the Browns will be remembered a long time. Brissett will hand the reins now to Deshaun Watson after leading the Browns from a 17-10 deficit late in the fourth quarter and engineering a winning drive in overtime. Nick Chubb’s 3-yard touchdown with 19 seconds left made the Browns a 23-17 winner. It was only the second time the Browns defeated Tom Brady in nine career meetings against the Browns. The winning drive was sweet redemption for receiver Amari Cooper, who had a 17-yard reception to get it going and then one of 45 yards down to the 3 after cornerback Carlton Davis slipped to the ground under a driving rain. Cooper had dropped a key pass midway through the fourth quarter with the Browns down, 17-10. At 4-7, the Browns have a mathematical chance to make some hay in the AFC playoff chase as they now hand the ball to Watson.
2. Chief reigns: Down, 17-10, things looked bleak for the Browns when a screen pass to David Njoku was stopped for a 1-yard loss at the Tampa Bay 12-yard line by linebacker Lavonte David on third-and-9. Having to go for it, Brissett threw for Njoku at the back of the end zone and Njoku soared above linebacker Devin White and pulled in the ball with an outstretched left hand. Cade York followed with the PAT to tie the game at 17-17 with 32 seconds left. With three timeouts at his disposal, Brady moved the ball to the Browns’ 48-yard line. The defense made one stop and Brady’s Hail Mary on the last play of regulation fell to the ground at the goal line.
3. Not fair: The Browns’ chances evaporated when the unthinkable happened. With 8:20 to go in the fourth quarter, Kevin Stefanski went for it on fourth-and-9 from the Tampa Bay 41. Brissett had to time to locate Cooper breaking open to the right sideline inside the Bucs’ 30. Brissett’s throw was on the money. Cooper dropped the ball.
4. Wake up call: The game drove everyone asleep for a half, then the Bucs woke up on their second possession of the second half. Brady finally started throwing downfield. Completions of 28 yards to Mike Evans and 22 to Chris Godwin set up a 5-yard Brady TD toss to third tight end Ko Kieft. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was in coverage. It gave Tampa Bay its first lead of the game, 17-10.
5. Different twist: Two strange occurrences to start the game for the Browns: 1. Stefanski elected to take the ball first after winning the coin toss. 2. The Browns scored on a 31-yard reverse by Anthony Schwartz. Yes, you read that right. Motioning from the left side of the Browns offense, Schwartz took a handoff from Kareem Hunt, made a nice cut inside and accelerated to the end zone for his first touchdown of his third season, only the second of his career. What wasn’t new was this: It was the sixth time the Browns scored on their opening drive. They were 0-5 in the previous occasions.
6. Run defense tightened: The Bucs responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive. On it, they ran five times for 56 yards. Rachaad White’s 35-yard run on the third play was Tampa Bay’s longest run of the year. However, from that point to the penultimate play of the third quarter, the Browns allowed only 19 yards on eight rush attempts. White’s 11-yard run ended that skein.
7. Rookie wall: What’s up with Cade York? The rookie kicker was straight down Broadway on a 51-yard field goal try to the closed end zone, which has been a problem for him. Then, on a 39-yarder into the Dawg Pound, he pulled it right from the start. If there were still an opening in that part of the stadium, the ball would have sailed into Lake Erie. York is now 17 of 23 on field goals, including 4 of 7 from 50+.
8. Whaddya know: Some life from the Browns’ return game. Jerome Ford returned a kickoff 44 yards at the end of the first half. Then, after the defense’s stop on the first series of the second half, Donovan Peoples-Jones returned a 62-yard punt by Jake Camarda 29 yards to the Browns’ 42. DPJ added a 16-yard punt return later.
9. Complementary football: After York’s miss, the Bucs moved the ball to the Browns’ 24. Ryan Succop’s 42-yard field goal tied the score at halftime, 10-10.
10. Why?: Bucs linebacker Devin White made a dumb play that cost his team 15 yards. Chasing a Brissett keeper run towards the Browns sideline, White shoved Brissett to the ground about three feet out of bounds. The 15-yard penalty jumpstarted the Browns on their second possession, resulting in York’s 51-yard field goal.
11. No biggie: Brissett’s last play of the half resulted in an interception in the end zone. He heaved it 53 yards on a Hail Mary try. The weird thing is the Browns lined up two tight ends on the play. The pass, in fact, was intended for David Njoku.
12. Pre-game notes: No surprises on Browns inactive list. Cornerback Greg Newsome (concussion) was the only one with an injury. Healthy scratches included defensive tackle Tommy Togiai, defensive end Chase Winovich and utility player Demetric Felton. The Bucs de-activated running back Leonard Fournette (hip), and replaced him with the practice squad elevation of Giovani Bernard. A key player to avoid their inactive list was nose tackle Vita Vea, who missed most of the practice week with a foot injury.
