Browns notch eighth win to strengthen playoff position
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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 31-27 win over Jacksonville Jaguars …1. That’s better: Returning home was the right tonic for the Browns. They put together a complementary game offensively and defensively and turned back the Jacksonville Jaguars, 31-27. Joe Flacco passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns and the Browns’ defense had four takeaways and four sacks of Trevor Lawrence, who played the entire game after a high ankle sprain six days ago. The defense made a big stop at the Jaguars’ 38 to set up a 55-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins with 3:10 to play. But Lawrence made them sweat with his third TD pass of the game with 1:33 to play. Myles Garrett sacked Lawrence attempting a 2-point try and Jacksonville's onside kick was recovered by James Proche. In halting a two-game losing streak the Browns moved to 8-5 and strengthened their grip on the AFC playoff fifth seed. The Jaguars (8-5) didn’t lose ground in the AFC South as both (7-6) Houston and (7-6) Indianapolis lost.2. Gamble pays off big: Up by only a touchdown, Kevin Stefanski made a bold call to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Jaguars’ 41 with 12:42 to play. The defense had been strong all day and Corey Bojorquez’s punting was good, too. A Greg Newsome interception created the possession. What’s the call? Flacco read the Jacksonville blitz and connected with David Bell on a short throw over the middle. And Bell ran to the end zone, 41 yards in all, for the touchdown and 28-14 lead. The play was Flacco’s third TD of the game and pushed his passing total over 300 yards. But the two-score lead was short-lived. Trevor Lawrence moved 75 yards in 3:42 to close it to 28-21 on a 19-yard pass to Parker Washington. 3. Can’t shake them: The third quarter ended with the Browns clinging to a 21-14 lead despite outgaining the Jaguars in total yards, 315 to 156. Each team had three turnovers. The difference was Jacksonville turned two of them into touchdowns and the Browns only capitalized on one. Flacco’s fumble on a sack at the 7:26 mark of the third quarter resulted in Jacksonville’s second touchdown, a spinning, twisting 1-yard run by Travis Etienne.4. Turnover city: The Browns only touchdown off a takeaway came on their third one on the first series of the second half when linebacker Anthony Walker stripped and recovered a fumble from receiver Parker Washington after a catch at the Jaguars’ 22. Stefanski used heavy formations to push the ball over the goal line. Flacco converted a sneak on fourth-and-1 and two plays later the Browns lined up two extra linemen and three tight ends and called a direct snap to Kareem Hunt, who barreled in from the 4 for the touchdown and a 21-7 lead.5. What happened?: The Browns were cruising, 14-0, and looking for more after an M.J. Emerson interception with 13:27 to play in the second quarter. Then things got sloppy. Flacco tossed one interception when receiver Cedric Tillman collided with cornerback Gregory Junior and the ball was intercepted by Darious Williams. That didn’t result in a score, but an Amari Cooper fumble after a completion did. Lawrence’s 10-yard TD to tight end Evan Engram put the Jaguars on the board. It stayed, 14-7, Cleveland, the rest of the half, despite plenty of back and forth. Emerson added his second interception, but nothing came of it.
6. Flacco Fever: Flacco threw the rock 28 times in the first half, completing 17 for 212 yards and two touchdowns to tight end David Njoku. Flacco was perfect on both those scoring drives – 4 of 4 for 66 yards and a 34 TD on the first possession of the game, and then 3 of 3 for 67 yards and the TD of 30 yards on a shallow cross to Njoku. So, aside from those two series, Flacco was 10 of 21 for 79 yards and one INT.
David Njoku had a career-first half with two TD and 91 yards receiving. (Cleveland Browns)
7. Chief statement: Njoku came off two rough games on the road with a vengeance. In the first half, Njoku had 6 receptions on 8 targets for 91 yards and two TD. There was one drop, but it was an effective one because he was surrounded and would have lost yardage with the catch.
8. The DTR Package: Flacco had a textbook first drive working off Stefanski’s opening play script. On the next possession, Dorian Thompson-Robinson trotted onto the field on second down and lined up behind center. He just handed off to Kareem Hunt for 3 yards, and that was that. The Browns proceeded to have three consecutive 3-and-out possessions on offense.
9. Field flipper: After a Browns’ three-and-out series ended at their 11 in the first quarter, it appeared the Jags would successfully flip the field. The opposite happened, however, when Corey Bojorquez unloaded a 75-yard bomb. Jacksonville returner Parker Washington was tackled by Pierre Strong at the Jaguars 18. Net punt: 73 yards. Bojorquez punted six times in the first half for a 55.3-yard gross average.
10. Whew: Lawrence took a shot downfield on first-and-5 from his 39, but he overthrew Zay Jones. It would have been a 61-yard touchdown if on the mark because nickel back Cameron Mitchell lost his footing.11. Ouch: In the first half, the Browns lost center Ethan Pocic (stinger) and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (concussion). They did not return.
12. In the bank: Prior to the game, a source confirmed that the Browns and safety Grant Delpit have agreed to a contract extension that will keep Delpit off the 2024 free agent market. Delpit, 25, was in the last year of his rookie deal. The club identified Delpit as one of the foundation players of their defense and is the third player to receive a second contract, following defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward. Delpit, a second-round pick in 2020, is GM Andrew Berry’s first draft pick to receive a second contract. ESPN reported the new deal to be for three years. Not surprisingly, the deal came to fruition after a report by NFL Media that the league salary cap could increase by about $15 million per team in 2024. Delpit was having a good game but had to be helped off the field with 9:30 to play after he collided with Myles Garrett while pressuring Lawrence.
13. Pre-game notes: Cornerback Denzel Ward was a surprise name on the Browns’ inactive list. After missing two games with a shoulder injury, Ward talked hopefully of returning for this game after a week of practice. But he was scratched. Also, free safety Juan Thornhill (calf) was a late scratch and replaced by Ronnie Hickman. Right tackle Dawand Jones (knee) was ruled out on Friday. Other Browns inactives: Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate, center Luke Wypler, defensive end Isaiah McGuire and defensive tackle Siaki Ika.
