Burns
Hall of Famer
Browns Shine in National Spotlight
Cleveland, OH - For the first time this season, the Browns were featured as PX1Sports Game of the Week, broadcast live to many fans tuning it. It was a huge divisional battle, with first place in the AFC North on the line. Cleveland, fresh off a heartbreaking loss to the Indianapolis Colts (we were so angry, we didn't even do a post-game recap), definitely showed up for this one. These were two of the three highest scoring teams in the league, with the Browns at 40 PPG (2nd) and the Bengals at 39 PPG (3rd). Many thought this would be a shootout. It did not live up to those expectations. It was a defensive struggle, that saw Cleveland's defense really shine...and this is a defense without Myles Garrett. Let's take a quick look at the game recap, presented by RecapWizard:
As we can see, it was a defensive struggle for the most part. The Bengals had trouble moving the ball the entire game, and when they did threaten to score, Andy Dalton would throw it to the wrong team. Not a great recipe for success.
Dalton would toss hist first of 4 INTs on the opening drive, setting up the Browns in plus territory to start. However, Cleveland failed to punch it in on 4 tries inside the 5 yard line, and ended up coming away empty-handed.
Later in the 1st quarter, after trading a few punts, the Browns would go on a a 60 yard scoring drive, ending with a Zane Gonzalez FG, to go up 3-0 as the first quarter wound to a close.
One thing was apparent in this game: with the rain, the running games were going to be featured, and the team with the best one would most likely come out on top. Well, the Bengals only had 13 rushing yards the entire game, while Cleveland's ground attack, led by Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson, amassed over 200 yards.
This was a key part of Cleveland's victory, as both QBs struggled with their accuracy at times...the rain obviously playing a role. Kizer made good decisions most of the game, apart from 1 or 2 throws, but just couldn't find the touch in the bad weather. Dalton on the other hand, not only struggled with his accuracy, but also with his decision making, which arguably cost the Bengals the game.
After another Bengals punt, the game would see its first TD, as Kizer found fellow rookie David Njoku, who was the hot receiver against the blitz, on a quick pass in the flats. Njoku would bowl over Adam 'Pacman' Jones, and rumble his way into the endzone for the score. A missed PAT however, only saw the Browns up 9-0.
Andy Dalton would lead the Bengals down the field on the last drive of the half, where they would tack on a FG to cut the lead to 9-3. The Browns dominated the entire first half, but the score was much much closer than it should have been.
The Browns' offense would continue to have success in the 2nd half, as the very first drive, primarily orchestrated by Kizer, led to another Zane Gonzalez FG, putting the Browns back up by 9 points at 12-3.
Late in the 3rd quarter, the Browns offense once again marched down the field, this time punching it into the endzone on a 12 yard run from Crowell, who has been excellent all season. He struggled a bit the last two games against the Ravens and Colts, but he and the running game made their presence felt in this one.
On the ensuing drive by the Bengals, thanks to a great return by John Ross, Andy Dalton would get the team down to the Browns 6 yard line. However, a poor decision by Dalton (throwing into triple coverage) saw Jason McCourty come away with the INT.
Now, with just 10 minutes to go, the Browns had the ball AND a 2 score lead. They would use this drive to waste clock, and change the field position, as the Bengals got the ball back with a little under 4 minutes to go.
Dalton would once again get his team into the redzone...and once again thrown an INT. Akeem Ayers came away with his 2nd of the ball game, putting the nail in the coffin for the Bengals.
This was a great performance from Cleveland. The defense played their best game of the season, and the running game found their form once again. Kizer struggled with his accuracy at times, but it didn't end up costing the Browns in this one, although they probably could have had more points.
Next week, the Browns are home once again, as they face the 3-1 New York Jets. Look forward to our matchup preview for that one.
Before we go, check out these highlights from your Browns' Week 4 win over the Bengals:
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