Jerry Jeudy's career game -- 9 catches for 235 yards plus a 2-point conversion -- was a triumphant night for him but not for the Browns because of a 41-32 loss. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst of the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
DENVER, CO
Post-game takeaways from Browns 41-32 loss to Denver Broncos …
1. Jameis shaken: People all over the league who watched the Browns lose on the Monday Night Football stage because of Jameis Winston’s two Pick 6’s probably shrugged and said, “Well, that’s Jameis.” If you saw and heard him after the game in the bowels of Empower Field, you would not make light of his propensity to throw interceptions. He was a shaken man. He said he apologized to his teammates. “I gotta play better. The team doesn’t deserve that. I have to finish fourth quarters when it matters most,” Winston said. When reporters referred to Winston’s franchise-record 497 yards or his 4 touchdowns, it was no consolation to him. “I’ve been here before,” he said. “I am a better player. I know I’m better than this. I’m just praying for the Lord to deliver me from Pick 6’s. That’s not me. A phenomenal game [by the] offense … [we] do some great things. But I mess it up.” Winston’s 497 passing yards were the most in Browns history. His 58 attempts ranked second and his 34 completions were fourth.
2. Not to be: Winston can be a free agent after this season, so this was a big stage for his audition for possible starting job offers. “This was a tough one in front of the whole world,” he said. “I messed it up for us in front of the whole, wide world.” Asked how he recovers from this game, Winston said, “It’s prayer, it’s asking why, it’s more prayer, it’s asking for deliverance of that, and it’s just going to work. [It’s] being accountable to your teammates and knowing I’m going to bounce back.” Winston’s three interceptions on the night were returned 71 yards for a touchdown by linebacker Nick Bonitto in the second quarter, 44 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian with 1:59 to play, and then 56 yards by linebacker Cody Barton with the Browns at the Denver 1 with 44 seconds left.
3. Jeudy’s revenge: The loss marred a magnificent personal night for Jerry Jeudy in what he viewed as a revenge game against his former team. Jeudy smashed his career high with 235 receiving yards with 9 receptions on 13 targets. He had a 70-yard TD, then made a tight catch in the end zone for a key 2-point play. He should have had another TD of 89 yards except that Winston’s pass overthrew him by 3 yards. Jeudy would have had 324 yards receiving if Winston's pass were shorter. Jeudy’s viral quote to TheLandOnDemand on Wednesday that he wanted to “whip their ass” set the tone for this game. “We knew at the beginning of the week what time it was,” Winston said. “He was hungry, he was preparing, he was ready to get back here and show up and shell out. It’s unfortunate we didn’t get this win for him.” Jeudy was booed most every time he caught a pass. He showboated at the end of his all-alone touchdown, stopping at the goal line, and leaning into the end zone backwards. At one point, he egged on the booing crowd with the “bring it on” arm gesture. “I loved it,” Jeudy said. “They only boo you when they know there's something great in you." He took immense satisfaction in showing on the prime-time stage that he truly can be a No. 1 receiver. But he was not happy with the outcome. “I don’t care. I like winning. And we didn’t do that today,” he said.
4. Browns schemed for Jeudy: The Browns opened things up for Jeudy by moving him away from All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain. Denver did not have Surtain shadow Jeudy wherever he lined up. Many of Jeudy's longest plays were made against cornerback Levi Wallace. “We were going to match Pat and then the simple slot moving him to the other side. We have to be able to handle that,” said Denver coach Sean Payton. Surtain said, “He definitely had himself a game. You really can’t say much about it. You just have to watch the film and correct it.” During the week, Denver receiver Courtland Sutton gave Jeudy a lot of love. After the game, Sutton said, “I’m so happy for him. Seeing him have the success that he had today was heartwarming.”
5. Go figure: The Broncos entered the game ranked third in total yards allowed and though the Browns were 21st, they’ve generally played better than that. Yet the offenses produced 552 yards by the Browns and 400 by the Broncos, including 791 combined passing yards, in a madcap shootout. “Holy cow,” exclaimed Payton. “Some games go in a direction you think they are going to go. Obviously that one went in a much different direction.” Denzel Ward, who had one of two interceptions of Bo Nix, said, “That’s the NFL. Great talents on both sides. You just try to find a way to win when your match-up’s called.”
6. Why the Browns didn’t challenge: In the first quarter, a Martin Emerson fumble return for a touchdown after Mohamoud Diabate stripped tight end Adam Trautman of an apparent catch was overturned by replay. Kevin Stefanski said he couldn’t challenge the call because it was made by the league officiating office in New York via the “replay assist” process. It certainly looked challenge-able on replay to me. Neither Emerson nor Diabate argued the call because they didn’t have much time to view the replay on the stadium scoreboard screen. “I just picked up the ball and tried to get vertical and score,” Emerson said. “I got to see it [again]. Somebody he said he took two steps. But I couldn’t tell right then.”
7. A future star?: Although Nix was intercepted twice after throwing only three in the previous 11 games, he came up big time in his second prime-time victory. Nix’s 65.7 passer rating was skewed by the INTs, but he was relentless throughout the night despite some tough field position in the second half. He took the Broncos to a touchdown and field goal after inheriting the ball at the Denver 8- and 4-yard lines in the third quarter. In winning his eighth game in 13 starts, Nix completed 18 of 35 passes for 294 yards with one TD. “He’s savvy,” Emerson said. “He plays with confidence. He trusts his receivers, he trusts his arm. He feels he can make every throw on the field.” Ward had a hand in both interceptions, catching one on a greedy deep pass on first down in the fourth quarter and also deflecting one caught by Greg Newsome. “He’s impressive,” Ward said of Nix. “He did a great job making big plays when he needed to.”
8. What now?: Nix’s first interception was caused by pressure from Myles Garrett, who nailed the quarterback just after he released the ball ahead of schedule. The loss dropped the Browns to 3-9, guaranteeing a losing season following playoff expectations. Putting the remainder of the season in perspective, beginning with a rematch in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Garrett said, “We're still trying to win. It doesn't matter what the record is. We've got to start going out there and spoiling people's dreams. We've got to start making people feel how we're feeling right now. The mission doesn't change. We're still out there to win."