Kevin Stefanski's consistency as Browns coach is reflective in the team's record after Game 3. It's been 2-1 four years in a row. (Cleveland Browns)
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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.
Four downs on Browns (1-1) v. New York Giants (0-2)
First down: Mr. Consistency.
One of Kevin Stefanski’s trademarks as Browns coach is his consistency. Joel Bitonio and other players frequently point out that Stefanski never gets too high after wins or too low after losses, and that level-headedness serves his team well over the course of a long season. Nothing portrays Stefanski’s consistency better than his record in Week 3 games. In four previous seasons, the Browns reached the third game of the season with a 1-1 record, same as this year. Each time, the Browns won Game 3 to move to 2-1. In 2020, they beat Washington, 34-20. In 2021, it was 26-6 over Chicago. In 2022, they jumped on Pittsburgh, 29-17. Last year, they rolled Tennessee, 27-3. I think the trend will continue.
Second down: Red Zone wall.
Improving their 32nd-ranked red zone efficiency was a top priority of the Browns’ defense this year. The defense gave up a touchdown in the only red zone opportunity in Game 1 against Dallas. But in Jacksonville, Jim Schwartz’s defense came up big, denying TDs on three of the Jaguars’ four trips inside the 20. Another time, the defense held at the 25-yard line and forced a field goal try, which was missed. Those stops were a major reason the Browns eked out an 18-13 win. Meanwhile, the Giants’ defense had an amazing day against Washington, yielding no touchdowns in six trips inside the 20. The Giants made third-down stops at the 9-, 8-, 9-, 11-, 15- and 12-yard lines. The Commanders kicked field goals each time, and added a seventh, to win, 21-18. But the red zone performance epitomized the bend-but-don’t-break nature of Shane Bowen’s Giants defense.
Third down: Danny Dimes’ dashes.
Quarterbacks who play home games in the media capital of the world acquire nicknames easily. Such was the case of Giants QB Daniel Jones. He was dubbed “Danny Dimes” after his very first NFL game when he threw for 336 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 32-31 win over Tampa Bay. (Incidentally, Bucs QB Jameis Winston had a pretty good game, too: 380 yards, 3 TD, 112.4 passer rating.) Much overlooked in Jones’ NFL debut, however, was the fact he scored the winning touchdown on a 7-yard keeper run with 1:16 to play. It turns out that Jones’ legs would be a large part of his game as his career progressed. Jones, who is 6-5 and 230 pounds, rushed for 708 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2022 – his best NFL season and the only year he produced a winning record (9-6-1). Jones suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in the Giants’ ninth game on November 5. But it hasn’t deterred him from running this season; 11 times for 47 yards through two games. Jones typically is his team’s second-leading rusher in games. “Dude is, I mean, second play of the game against Washington, he’s keeping it and he’s not sliding,” Schwartz said. “He’s running like a running back. You can see a lot of the similar runs that Coach [Brian] Daboll had with Josh Allen. They’re still in the game plan. You don’t see a guy that’s struggling with a knee injury, or lacks confidence in his knee. You see a guy that has confidence and is using all the tools that he has. So, we have to take measures to combat all of them.”
Fourth down: As the tackles turn.
Befitting their pre-snap foibles over two games, the Browns committed a false start even before Sunday’s game. Jack Conklin looked ready to make his first game appearance in 13 months until he was ruled out because of a hamstring injury suffered at Friday’s practice. Ugh. Elsewhere, erstwhile left tackle starter Jedrick Wills (knee) was limited again all week and was made questionable on the Friday injury report. Meanwhile, right tackle Dawand Jones was limited all week with a knee injury but was off the Friday injury report. Further, backup tackle Germain Ifedi was NOT elevated from the practice squad a third week in a row. What does it mean? It might mean Wills is ready to be active for the first time, possibly, though, as a backup to James Hudson, with Jones keeping the starting right tackle spot.
The pick: Browns 24, Giants 13.
My record: 2-0.