Browns overcome 14-0 deficit but lose late in Seattle, 24-20
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
SEATTLE, WA
Instant takeaways from Browns 24-20 loss to Seattle Seahawks … 1. Oh so close: Well, we knew it couldn’t last forever. P.J. Walker’s Cinderella story had an unhappy ending in Seattle. His interception off the helmet of safety Jamal Adams with 3:30 play – Walker’s third turnover of the game – led to the Seahawks’ winning points. Geno Smith’s 9-yard touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with :38 left was the difference as the Browns fell, 24-20. They were on their way to ending a 34-year drought in Seattle and had the raucous Lumen Field crowd on edge until the interception, which was made by safety Julian Love. All in all, it was a valiant effort from the Browns' defense, Walker, and his offensive line, which lost right tackle Dawand Jones in the second half, to overcome a 14-0 deficit. The Browns dropped to 4-3. Seattle is 5-2.2. There’s Myles: Myles Garrett had a quiet game … until midway through the fourth quarter. Geno Smith finally regained his rhythm and a couple double-digit runs by Zach Charbonnet took the Seahawks to the Browns’ 35. On second down, Garrett’s pressure caused Smith to hurry a throw in the dirt. On third down, Garrett sacked Smith for a 7-yard loss, knocking the Seahawks out of field-goal range. Ogbo Okoronkwo had pressure from the opposite side. The Browns took over at their 11 after a punt with 5:46 to play.3. Here they come: Smith cooled off as the game stretched into the fourth quarter, while Walker got more comfortable. All of which kept the Seattle fans from taking over the game. A huge play by defensive tackle Maurice Hurst led to the Browns’ first lead. On third-and-5 from the Seattle 30, Hurst peeled back into coverage and deflected Smith’s pass for tight end Noah Fant. Not only that, Hurst came down with the ball after a high deflection for the interception. Walker kept it close to the vest from the Seahawks’ 39 and the Browns settled for a 27-yard field goal to go up, 20-17.4. Defensive double dip: The Browns grabbed control of the game by stymying the Seahawks on the last series of the first half and first of the second half. Cornerback M.J. Emerson thwarted a Seattle score by jumping in front of DK Metcalf on fourth-and- 2and intercepting Smith at the Browns’ 17 in the final seconds of the first half. The Seahawks owned possession first in the second half and went three-and-out when Smith was pressured into a throwaway on third down. The Browns scored a short field goal on their ensuing possession to tie the score at 17-17. The big plays were a 41-yard catch-and-run by David Njoku on a Walker screen pass and a nice completion of 21 yards to Elijah Moore over cornerback Devon Witherspoon. The Seattle rookie was having a quiet game.
The Browns managed to stay with 3 points at halftime despite two turnovers by P.J. Walker. This strip-sack set up a 14-0 Seattle lead in the first quarter.
5. Worst possible beginning: You don’t want to spot the Seahawks 14 points on their home field, but that’s how it went for the Browns. The Browns’ opening possession was a rare (for Stefanski) three-and-out with Jerome Ford losing a yard on a third-and-2 carry. On their second possession, Walker got a first down on a nice blooper throw to Amari Cooper to the left sideline for 20 yards. Two plays later, Walker was blindsided for a strip sack by linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Linebacker Boye Mafe recovered, and that led to Seattle’s second touchdown. In the second quarter, Walker was intercepted by Tariq Woolen on a poorly thrown ball for David Njoku, who was wide open.
6. Walker comes back: Walker brought the Browns back, however, with two snappy touchdown drives. Stefanski beat the aggressive Seattle rush with screen passes to Kareem Hunt for 12 yards and Pierre Strong for 41. From the Seattle 18, Walker faked a screen pass to his right and then delivered the ball to Njoku open in the middle. Njoku carried safety Julian Love into the end zone for the TD. Walker rubbed his rabbit’s foot for two key Seattle defensive penalties on his second scoring drive. Woolen got called for interference when Cooper worked a veteran move to draw it. Walker escaped pressure and found Cooper at the Seahawks’ 2 for a 24-yard completion, after which Mario Edwards was called for a questionable roughing-the-passer penalty. Kareem Hunt got the 1-yard score from the jumbo formation.
7. Defensive breakdowns: Schwartz’s defense got spanked for some big plays early. A 45-yard run by Kenneth Walker set up Seattle’s first touchdown, which came when rookie receiver Jake Bobo came on a surprise jet sweep and then cut inside for a 3-yard TD. On the second TD, Smith attacked the Browns’ secondary with completions of 17 to Tyler Lockett, 19 to Jaxson Smith-Njigba and the TD to Lockett from 12, on which Smith escaped the clutches of Za’Darius Smith. Later in the second quarter, Smith set up a short field goal with a beautiful throw to DK Metcalf over M.J. Emerson for 43 yards.
8. Lock him up: Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett was questionable after missing two days practice with a hamstring injury. So much for practice. In the first quarter Lockett had three receptions on third downs. Two went for first downs on Seattle’s first touchdown drive and the third came in the left corner of the end zone for its second touchdown.
9. Moore returns needed: Bubba Ventrone hasn’t been happy with his return game. Donovan Peoples-Jones lost the job to Jaelon Darden for a game. With Darden inactive on Sunday, Ventrone turned to Elijah Moore. His 13-yard return on his first try matched DPJ for the team’s longest so far this year. Peoples-Jones returned the first punt in the second half, and then Moore returned.
10. Pre-game notes: All four Browns listed questionable on Friday were active – left tackle Jedrick Wills, running back Jerome Ford, receiver Marquise Goodwin and linebacker Sione Takitaki. Nevertheless, the Browns did use their 46th active spot on offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe.
