CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – At some point the Browns have to realize what they are doing isn’t working, right?
There’s no way they can go into week 7 with the NFL’s worst offense by maintaining the status quo.
A.J. Brown caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles, who picked up their third win of the season with a 20-16 win over the Browns.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from Week 6.
How low can you go – Deshaun Watson still hasn’t thrown for 200 yards and the Browns have yet to score 20 points in a game. They are now the first team in a decade to accomplish that feat.
Over before it started – At 1-5, the Browns are effectively done. No amount of AFC games will save this season for them because they likely won’t win many of those anyway.
Swept off their feet – The NFC East is done abusing the Browns. The Cowboys (33-17), Giants (21-15), Commanders (34-13) and Eagles (20-16) swept Cleveland.
Trail of cheese – Deshaun Watson was awful in the first half, but showed a pulse in the second half that will probably be good enough to string everyone along into believing he can still do this at a high level. Watson went to the locker room with 46 yards on 5-11 passing. In the second half Watson completed 11 of 12 passes for 122 yards to finish 16 of 23 for 168 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Of course we saw another play where Watson and Amari Cooper weren't on the same page and it is clear those two have the complimentary chemistry of oil and water. Watson was sacked five times. The Eagles entered the game with just six.
Self-inflicted wounds – Nobody beats the Browns better than the Browns. We’ll start with the brilliant call by Kevin Stefanski on a third-and-1 that saw Cedric Tillman get blown up on a sweep handoff from Jameis Winston in the backfield. Then there was the fourth quarter goal to go disaster. A false start of Zak Zinter was followed by an incompletion on a slant route to David Njoku on third down. Stefanski wanted to go for it on fourth down, but Jedrick Wills Jr. does what Jedrick Wills jr. typically does in big moments – have a stupefying brain cramp that just torpedoes the offense. Wills’ false start forced Stefanski to settle for a 31-yard field goal and a final score of 20-16.
2 scores – Philadelphia’s two touchdowns came off defensive breakdowns. A.J. Brown beat Martin Emerson Jr. for a 22-yard touchdown from Jalen Hurts to give the Eagles a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The Philadelphia receiver DeVonta Smith ran across the field and took the pass 45 yards for a touchdown thanks in part the Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II getting caught in the rub play that put the Eagles up 20-13.
Up to 14 – The Browns increased their season explosive plays total by two to 14 Sunday thanks to a 21-yard catch-and-run by running back Pierre Strong and a 35-yard completion to Jerry Jeudy.
Play of the day – Myles Garrett made the play of the day for the Browns in the closing seconds of the first half by blocking a 57-yard field goal try that Rodney McLeod scooped up and returned 50 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 10. McLeod is tied for the team lead in touchdowns with two.
Birds blanked for 15 – The Browns at least kept the Eagles first quarter scoreless streak rolling. Philadelphia is the only team in the league to not score in the first 15 minutes this season.
Keep pushin’ – The Eagles went 4-4 on the tush push.
Big loss – Center Nick Harris was carted off the field with an air cast on his right leg early in the first quarter after suffering a serious ankle injury. The loss of Harris forced Michael Dunn, who started at right guard in place of rookie Zak Zinter, to play center. Zinter came back on to play right guard. Starter Ethan Pocic was inactive due to a knee injury.
Injury report – C Nick Harris (fractured fibula), RB Jerome Ford (hamstring), CB Martin Emerson Jr. (ribs), WR Elijah Moore (ribs)
