Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Amari Cooper injured in 29-12 Browns' loss in Denver
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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.
DENVER, CO
Instant takeaways from Browns 29-12 loss to Denver Broncos … 1. Rocky Mountain misery: The Browns’ historical doldrums here continued. They lost the game, 29-12. They lost quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson with a possible concussion late in the third quarter. They lost receiver Amari Cooper in the fourth quarter as he was hit hard in the ribs by safety P.J. Locke reaching for a pass. All of which makes it more probable the Browns will try to get Joe Flacco up to speed when they prepare for the Rams all week in Los Angeles. DTR wasn’t responsible for any of their three turnovers, but he had trouble moving the ball (14 of 29 for 134 yards) and completing drives inside the red zone. In relief, P.J. Walker had no chance as the Broncos defense cranked up with a double-digit lead like the old Orange Crush. Walker was sacked for times in the final quarter, the last resulting in a safety. The loss – Cleveland’s 14th in 18 games all time here -- broke a three-game winning streak and dropped the Browns to third place in the AFC North with a 7-4 record. The Broncos are 6-5 after their fifth win in a row.
2. Backfiring gadgetry: With Walker taking over for Thompson-Robinson at the start of the fourth quarter, a costly turnover happened. But it wasn’t Walker’s fault. From the Browns’ 41, Walker handed off to Elijah Moore. Moore then pitched the ball to Pierre Strong coming from the other direction. Strong never received the lateral and the Broncos recovered at the 20. It looked like the defense would hold. On third-and-goal from the 8, tight end Adam Trautman caught a ball sliding out of the end zone. The call was reversed on a Denver challenge, however, making it a great catch for a touchdown. The PAT made it 24-12, Denver. The rest was ugly.3. Welcome to NFL: Thompson-Robinson was leveled by linebacker Baron Browning while retreating from pressure and releasing the ball to avoid a big sack at the end of the third quarter. The rookie making his third NFL start absorbed most of the running hit to his right shoulder, but Browning also grazed his chin, drawing a 15-yard roughing penalty. After staying down for a few minutes, DTR trotted to the medical tent with a bloody mouth, forcing in Walker. DTR later was diagnosed with a head injury.4. Complementary football: A big stop by Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on Denver’s first possession of the second half forced a punt in three plays, and the Browns’ offense came alive. (JOK was all over the place in a losing cause, by the way.) DTR led the offense 79 yards for a touchdown, big plays coming on passes to Cooper (11 yards), and David Njoku (16 and 17 yards). Denver helped out with a personal foul on a third-and-7 incompletion when Locke hit Njoku late. It took until fourth down for the Browns to score their first touchdown. On fourth-and-goal from the 2, DTR play-faked neatly and tossed easily to Harrison Bryant in the end zone. Stefanski went for 2 to try to tie the score. Hunt took a direct snap, lateraled to DTR, who threw to Cooper all alone. From his knees, Cooper dropped the ball, keeping Denver ahead, 14-12.
5. Bend, don’t break: Jim Schwartz’s defense continued to get run on, however. On the ensuing possession, a Samaje Perine 24-yard blast took the ball inside the Browns’ 10. On third-and-2, however, Ogbo Okoronkwo and JOK stopped Perine for a 3-yard loss. Sean Payton settled for a 23-yard field goal and a 17-12 lead. As the game leaked into the fourth quarter, Denver had 146 yards rushing on 26 attempts.6. Red zone foibles: Both teams had a pair of scoring drives in the first half. The difference was the Broncos found the end zone in two red zone possessions and the Browns were forced to kick field goals. The Browns reached the Broncos’ 17 on their fourth possession because of the running of Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt. But after DTR lost the ball on an attempted handoff (Ford recovered), the Browns threw incomplete twice and took a 36-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal. On their last possession of the half, they had first-and-goal at the Denver 9. After a 3-yard DTR keeper, Thompson-Robinson had a pass intended for David Bell in the end zone deflected, and then he threw incomplete in the right corner of the end zone with both Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman in the vicinity of the pass. Hopkins’ 24-yard field goal cut Denver’s lead to 14-6.
This was one of the few times the Browns were able to stop the Broncos' running game. (Cleveland Browns)
7. Browns defense helps Wilson: Wilson wasn’t sharp throwing the ball in the first half (5 of 12 for 66 yards). The Browns’ defense helped him on both TD drives with penalties – a 34-yard interference call on Greg Newsome and an offsides on Alex Wright on the first TD, and offsides calls on Myles Garrett and Wright on the other. Wilson ran keepers 7 times in the first half for 36 yards. He scored from 2 yards. Wilson also lost a fumble when Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah punched out the ball chasing him on a keeper. The Browns’ defense had zero penalties against Pittsburgh the week before. JOK, by the way, had a big stop for a 3-yard loss on Denver’s first possession of the second half, resulting in a 3-and-out and punt.
8. When in doubt – run: After falling behind, 14-0, in the second quarter, Stefanski sought to settle down the offense by running the ball. It worked, as Ford ripped off gains of 19 and 11 yards and Hunt had runs of 7 and 3 for first downs. But after the ball squirted out of DTR’s hands on an aborted handoff to Hunt, it spooked Stefanski into passing, and DTR was off the mark.
9. Missing Ward: Denzel Ward was declared out on Friday with a shoulder injury. His absence was felt on Denver’s first possession when Wilson picked on Newsome covering Courtland Sutton. Sutton drew a 34-yard pass interference penalty and then gained 31 yards on a crossing route on which Newsome appeared to give up coverage to safety Ronnie Hickman. Samaje Perine powered in from 3 for the touchdown.
10. Defensive creativity: Jim Schwartz had one play with four linebackers on the field. On another, both Garrett and end Okbo Okoronkwo dropped into coverage.
11. Better safe than sorry: Jim Donovan, venerable Voice of the Browns, did not accompany the team on this trip for precautionary reasons. Donovan made a triumphant return to the radio booth last week after months of therapy for leukemia. He will return at a later date.
12. Pre-game notes: Linebacker Anthony Walker (hamstring) and cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder) were defensive starters on the Browns’ inactive list. Linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk was activated from IR to bolster the linebacker depth. Free safety Juan Thornhill was active after missing last week with a calf injury. Other inactives: Receiver Marquise Goodwin, offensive lineman Luke Wypler, defensive end Isaiah McGuire, defensive tackle Siaki Ika, and offensive tackle Leroy Watson. Quarterback Joe Flacco made the trip but was not elevated from the practice squad. Players elevated from the practice squad: Safety Tanner McAlister and cornerback A.J. Green.
