Ineligible Man Downfield: The Browns did just enough to win
Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt led the way.
Thanks to Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, the Browns are now 6-3.
How long can the Browns rely on the running game like this? You’re not supposed to be able to win as a run-first NFL team in 2020, based on the simple premise that it’s much harder to make what’s considered a successful gain on the ground than it is through the air. The Ravens bucked that trend last season with the MVP at quarterback, aggressive and creative play-calling and a dominant offensive line, only to watch that philosophy crater in the playoffs.
Despite Baker Mayfield’s erratic play, the Browns sit at 6-3 after downing the Houston Texans on Sunday thanks largely to their run game. Both Nick Chubb, who returned after a four-game absence, and Kareem Hunt went over 100 yards, and it was Chubb who came away with the Browns only offensive touchdown as the winds swirled and howled off Lake Erie. You can count the number of passes Mayfield attempted in the second half on one hand.
The Browns are 29th in the NFL in pass frequency on first and second downs, throwing the ball just 45.7% of the time, per rbsdm.com. That trails only the Patriots, Titans and Vikings. Chubb and Hunt ground the Texans defense down through the first three quarters, then exploded in the fourth to seal the game. It has been a formula the Browns have relied on in nearly all of their six wins, getting a lead and riding their workhorses to victory in the second half.
That’s good and well against teams like the Texans, Bengals, Washington Football Team and the Cowboys, and Chubb in particular is a legitimate weapon. But there’s a reason that the most successful offenses also happen to be toward the top half of the early down pass frequency chart. The Seahawks and Chiefs, no. 1 and no. 2 respectively, throw on early downs over 60% of the time. The undefeated Steelers come in at no. 6, throwing 58% of the time. The Packers sit at no. 10 with a robust 55.7%. You get the point.
The Browns have proven they’re an elite rushing team. Just how long they’ll be able to stay run-first remains to be seen. —Jordan Zirm
Wyatt Teller, welcome back. Chris Hubbard is a serviceable NFL offensive lineman and, in a pinch, he’s worth having around to fill in for injured players across an offensive line.
But he also just can’t create the drive Wyatt Teller can. Case in point. Just watch him pull and bulldoze a Texans linebacker to get Kareem Hunt to the next level:
Wyatt is a big, burly, Brock Lesnar-y weapon for Kevin Stefanski to use in the running game. It’s really, really good that he’s back. — Chris Manning
Baker Mayfield is who he is. There are two arguments that can be used to describe what separates Baker Mayfield from a quarterback like Deshaun Watson.
First, there’s a stats argument:
And then there’s the ‘this guy makes shit happen argument.’ Watson makes these plays, Mayfield does not.
Teams can win without a Watson-like quarterback — it’s just harder. Even if Mayfield is someone the team wants to commit to, it’s becoming clearer that he’s not the one who is going to pull the team up a level. Crappy weather aside, it’s telling that the Browns are seeing a ton of eight-man boxes and not trying to really make teams pay. That all stems from Mayfield not being a Watson. — Chris Manning
ICYMI
Here’s Nick Chubb’s game-sealing run if you want to watch it again
Stefanski said he instructed Chubb not to score
Chubb also had an excellent touchdown run
Seriously, Myles Garrett is a freak
Cavs forward Kevin Porter Jr. was arrested over the weekend
Stefanski on the team following protocols after last week’s coronavirus scares
Hoynes with a little Shane Bieber extension update
NBA trades can happen beginning at noon Monday
One thing to read today
At The Athletic, Mike Sando revisited his quarterback tiers ($)
Who we are
Chris Manning: Site Manager at Fear the Sword, co-host of the Locked on Cavs podcast, words at places like Cleveland Magazine and Forbes. On Twitter @cwmwrites
Jordan Zirm: Social editor at @TheCheckdown. Formerly of ESPN Cleveland. Words at B/R, SB Nation and UPROXX. Host of The Rebuild podcast. On Twitter @clevezirm
Photo: Getty