Myles Garrett's field goal block was scooped up by Rodney McLeod and returned 50 yards for a touchdown. (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.
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Instant takeaways on Browns' 20-16 loss to Philadelphia Eagles ...
1. Fly, Eagles, Fly: The Browns failed to score 20 points for the sixth game in a row. As a result, they lost another winnable game, 20-16, to the Eagles to fall to 1-5. The Browns’ only touchdown came on a Myles Garrett blocked field goal that ex-Eagle Rodney McLeod returned 50 yards to the end zone at the end of the first half. The Browns actually were in the game all the way but could only muster two field goals in the second half. The Eagles kneeled down to kill the clock after Jalen Hurts connected with A.J. Brown for 40 yards down to the Browns’ 12-yard line. The Browns are on to Cincinnati.
2. Oh, those SIWs: The Browns had a game-tying drive going, complete with Watson’s best pass on a third-and-11 conversion, a riveting dart to Amari Cooper on a slant. They made it to the Eagles’ 5, and then the 3. But then … false start on Zak Zinter. And then … false start on Jedrick Wills. Kevin Stefanski settled for 31-yard field goal, cutting the Eagles’ lead to 20-16, with 3:54 to go.
3. Stuck in traffic: The Eagles pulled ahead, 20-13, on a 45-yard catch-and-run by DeVonta Smith. Hurts’ pass was about 3 yards. Smith lined up in the left slot, crossed the middle just beyond the line of scrimmage, and nickel back Greg Newsome got jammed in traffic. Smith sauntered into the end zone with nobody within 15 yards of him.
4. Well, I’ll be: The Browns tied the score, 13-13, on a 49-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins with 9:49 left in the fourth quarter. What was noteworthy about that? They managed to convert two third downs to plow into Hopkins’ range after goiong 1 for 8 prior in the game. Of course, a third conversion was wiped out when Michael Dunn was called for holding.
5. Ode to Romo: In the first half, the Eagles converted 4 of 4 first downs from their famed Tush Push quarterback sneak formation. CBS game analyst coined the nickname for the controversial play.
6. More line woes: The Browns opened the game with a new offensive line alignment with Nick Harris replacing injured Ethan Pocic at center and Michael Dunn replacing rookie Zak Zinter at right guard. However, those plays went awry when Harris suffered a serious injury to his right ankle on the third offensive play. Harris was carted off the field with the entire offensive team surrounding him with support. The injury caused Dunn to move to center and Zinter return to right guard.
7. Paging a spark: Stefanski begged for “a spark” all week long. It might have come at the end of the first half when Myles Garrett leaped to block a 57-yard field goal try by Jake Elliott and Rodney McLeod picked up the ball and raced 50 yards to the end zone. It was McLeod’s second TD in three games. The PAT tied the score at 10-10. As the Eagles retreated to the locker room, their fans booed loudly and a smattering of “Fire Nick … fire Nick” chants were heard outside the press box. The Browns got first possession in the second half, but it ended when Jameis Winston handed off to Cedric Tillman out of QB sneak formation on third-and-1 from the Eagles 29 and Tillman was dropped for a 5-yard loss. Dustin Hopkins’ 52-yard field goal try was missed wide right.
8. Third-down 0-fers: The Browns ended the first half 0-for-5 on third-down conversions. Hence, Watson failed to convert on his last 25 third-down tries.
9. True grit: Watson overcame another classic, Browns SIW to salvage three points just before the 2-minute warning of the first half. A holding penalty on TE2 Geoff Swaim negated an 18-yard run by D’Onta Foreman deep into Eagles territory. Watson made up the deficit on a 10-yard completion to Cooper and then a thread-the-needle bullet to David Njoku on a slant for 14 yards. That drive ended in a Watson sack when Jalen Carter overpowered Dunn and Zinter. Dustin Hopkins’ 43-yard field goal was much-needed.
10. It’s not unusual: A.J. Brown beat M.J. Emerson 1 on 1 for a 22-yard touchdown from Hurts in the second quarter. It was Brown’s first game since injuring a hamstring in Week 2 practice week. Emerson was beat for a TD last week against Washington. Brown beats a lot of cornerbacks; he had 42 touchdowns in 5 seasons entering this year.
11. Ford in for maintenance: Jerome Ford left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. Ford may have suffered the injury on an 11-yard run on his second carry. This left Pierre Strong and D’Onta Foreman as the only active running backs.
12. City of Brotherly Love: You think home fans will be tough on the Browns next week after a three-game road swing? The Eagles were booed after their third offensive play resulted in a punt. And they were coming off a bye week.
13. Pre-game notes: This week’s episode of ‘As the Tackles Turn’ has Jack Conklin making his first appearance since his knee injury in Game 1 of 2023 and returning to starting right tackle. Michael Dunn replaced Zak Zinter at right guard, and Nick Harris replaced injured Ethan Pocic at center. With Maurice Hurst and Michael Hall active, Quinton Jefferson was a healthy scratch. Other inactives: safety Grant Delpit, quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, safety Ronnie Hickman, linebacker Jordan Hicks, and receiver Jamari Thrash.