Myles Garrett will miss Sunday's game in Atlanta because of injuries suffered in a car crash on Monday. (USA Today)
Browns can be right where everybody wanted them to be with win in Atlanta
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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.
ATLANTA
Four downs on Browns (2-1) v. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)
First down: At the quarter.
Players of “The Schedule Game” insisted the Browns had to be 3-1 through four games to compete for the AFC playoffs and North division title. Well, here we are. A win in Atlanta ups the record to 3-1 and meets the first checkpoint of the young season. Historically, the Falcons have been the easiest of foes for the Browns. They are 12-3 all-time against the Falcons, including 6-1 in Atlanta. The Browns come to Atlanta with potentially three starters on their defensive line out with injuries – ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, and tackle Taven Bryan. Only Clowney’s status was in doubt when the team departed for Atlanta; the others were declared out. But even those major subtractions don’t change the personality of the Browns. The Browns can control most opponents with their fabulous wide-zone and counter running game. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt carry the ball and deservedly get the accolades, but the system would not run so efficiently – currently leading the league at an astounding 190.7 yards per game – without the efforts of pulling guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, the other starters on the offensive line, tackle-eligible and emergency tight end Michael Dunn, and the architect of it all, offensive line coach Bill Callahan. What’s different this year is coach Kevin Stefanski has been able get steady, selfless quarterback play out of Jacoby Brissett. All the while, the run game has reached a higher level. That enables Stefanski to control a game with his offense while his defense and special teams work out their early-season kinks. There’s no telling what happens when Deshaun Watson rejoins the team after his suspension, but, for now, everything the Browns do runs through their running game.
Second down: Next men up.
Garrett and Bryant were ruled out before the team departed for Atlanta. If Clowney (ankle) doesn’t play, the Browns’ line would be comprised of players with no more than three years NFL experience. Rookies Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas probably would start at the ends, and second-year tackle Tommy Togiai would line up next to third-year tackle Jordan Elliott. The backups all were called up from the practice squad for this occasion. If the Browns are concerned, they kept it to themselves. “I really believe it’s not that guys have to step up and do anything special,” said defensive coordinator Joe Woods. “Just go out and do your job. Whoever’s up, whoever’s healthy, just go out and play and do your job. I don’t believe there are backups in the NFL. I believe there are starters-in-waiting.” With Garrett out, and linebacker Anthony Walker (quad tendon) on injured reserve, safety John Johnson assumes a larger leadership role on the field. Johnson said of the depleted D-line, “I don’t think you can replace those guys. I think you just kind of band together as a team, all 11 guys on defense. Gotta run to the ball, gotta do your job, gotta execute at a high level. Any given moment your number can be called. Everyone has been preparing like starters. So I think we’re in a good position with guys stepping in, but I think it’s gonna be more a team-oriented thing like running to the ball, swarm tackling.”
Third down: Fly-high Falcons.
The Falcons lost the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes in March, and then lost 14-year franchise quarterback Matt Ryan as a result. They rebounded by signing ex-Titans No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota. The Falcons are getting productive play out of Mariota because coach Arthur Smith put him back in a comfort zone running an RPO-heavy offense. So Mariota looks more like the Heisman Trophy winner of his Oregon days playing for Chip Kelly than an indecisive QB uncomfortable throwing mostly from the pocket. They’ve surrounded him with two physical, towering receiving targets – tight end Kyle Pitts, the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2021, and rookie receiver Drake London, taken ninth overall and the first receiver off the board in 2022. The key for the Falcons’ offense, however, is Cordarrelle Patterson, the converted receiver who’s blossoming as a full-time running back while wearing No. 84. Patterson is defying all conventional wisdom at the age of 31. While most running backs are over-the-hill after 30, Patterson is just coming into his own, ranking third in rushing through three weeks behind Nick Chubb and Saquon Barkley. Retired Falcons receiving legend Roddy White said Patterson hasn’t taken the contact of a full-time receiver over the years, so he’s probably got the body of a 25-year-old. “Every time that guy touches the ball I feel like it’s a kick return he’s doing,” White said on the #100YearsPod on thelandondemand.com. “He has a different mentality. He treats those things like kickoff returns.” Browns receiver Amari Cooper was a teammate of Patterson’s with the Raiders. “One thing that stuck with him, when the ball’s in his hands he’s gonna make plays,” Cooper said. “When you play running back, you ain’t getting the ball quicker than that."
Fourth down: Eye on special teams.
Patterson’s eight career kickoff return touchdowns ties him for the NFL all-time lead with Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington. Patterson is intent on owning the record himself, despite his transition to full-time running back. But nobody is kicking to him – the Falcons lead the league with 17 touchbacks out of 19 kickoffs received. So the Browns would be nuts to kick to Patterson. Still, the Falcons have another dynamic player on special teams, punt returner Avery Williams, who’s fourth with a 12.0-yard punt return average, and one of the best kickers in the NFL in Younghoe Koo. Meanwhile, the Browns are trying to eliminate the negative plays that have marred their special teams. Demetric Felton was shaky at punt returner in the first two games and lost the job to Chester Rogers. But because of the massive call-ups from the practice squad for defensive substitutes, the Browns were unable to activate Rogers for this game. Which means Felton will be out there. Fingers crossed.
The pick: Browns 32, Falcons 27.
My record: 2-1.
