CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Deshaun Watson and the Browns needed a minute – or half – but rang in the New Year in style.
Watson threw three touchdown passes in the second half as the Browns offense woke from their hangover to beat the Commanders 24-10, essentially eliminating Washington from playoff contention.
Here are our Top Takeaways from a Happy New Year in the nation’s capital.
1. The first half might have been the worst – at least offensively – for the Browns and the second half was definitely the best half of football this season.
2. It took 18 quarters, but the Browns finally got their first true glimpse of the dynamic quarterback they gave $230 million bucks to and the Texans six draft picks for.
3. It was a bad day for ‘the players don’t play for Kevin Stefanski’ crowd. Sure, Stefanski, like any head coach, gives the second guessers plenty to chew on every week but effort is not an issue with this team. Stefanski isn’t going anywhere – at least this offseason.
4. After a downright dismal and ugly first half, Watson erupted in the second half and the Browns curb stomped the Commanders to improve to 7-9 and position themselves to finish with the same record as they did a year ago if they can win next weekend in Pittsburgh.
5. Watson was sensational in the second half. He led three consecutive touchdown drives spanning the third and fourth quarters – six plays, 63 yards; 12 plays, 89 yards and nine plays, 71 yards to take control and put the game away. After completing three of eight passes for just 23 yards in the opening half and four sacks, Watson went six of 10 for 146 yards and three scores after halftime.
6. After being sacked four times in the first half, Watson’s electrifying escape ability, mobility and elusiveness showed up and gave Washington’s defense fits.
7. Two of Watson’s touchdowns went to Amari Cooper. Cooper slipped out of a tackle to convert and third down into a 46-yard touchdown to put the Browns on top for good at 10-7 with just over 10 minutes to play in the third quarter. Cooper did more work on a 33-yard pass from Watson in the fourth quarter that provided the final margin with 5:21 remaining. Cooper’s nine touchdown receptions is the most by a Brown since Josh Gordon had nine in 2013.
8. Nick Chubb hammered one of the best defensive fronts in football with an impressive 104 yards on 14 carries performance. It was the seventh 100-yard rushing performance of the season for the Pro Bowl back.
9. Commanders coach Ron Rivera started Carson Wentz looking for a spark. He got a dumpster fire instead. Wentz completed 16 of 28 passes for 143 yards and three interceptions in the loss.
10. Give grant Delpit some love. He’s had an uneven season but two interceptions Sunday afternoon and three in two games is a nice way to end the campaign.
11. Denzel Ward came away with his third interception of the season working against former Buckeye Terry McLaurin on the Commanders opening series. Ward anticipated the throw from Wentz and jumped the route perfectly for the pick. Unfortunately, the offense did little, and a 37-yard field goal gave the Browns a 3-0 lead.
12. Stefanski took 3 points off the board and pulled the field goal unit off the field after the Commanders were flagged for jumping offsides late in the first quarter. Watson was buried at the 2 on a QB keeper. The Browns are 21-39 on fourth down this season and once again zero points remain superior to 3 in their advanced strategy.
13. In one of the funniest plays you’ll see, Watson spun out of a fifth sack in the second quarter on a third-and-8 but with nothing open downfield, checked the ball down to right tackle Jack Conklin, which drew an illegal touching penalty. In the third quarter Conklin was flagged for being downfield as Watson extended another play.
14. Not sure what's more impressive – Browns defensive end Chase Winovich beating two dudes to sack Wentz or him pretending to use a rotary phone to dial up his sack celebration.
15. On the subject of sacks, Myles Garrett had another Sunday to bring his sack total to 14.5 this season, 1.5 shy of tying the single-season club record he set last season.
16. Washington, who leads the NFL in time of possession, tied the Steelers for the longest drive of the season with a 21-play march down the field covering 96 yards and taking 11:27 off the clock that was capped by Wentz jumping and reaching the ball over the goal line for a 7-3 lead with 21 seconds remaining in the half. Pittsburgh also went 91 yards in 21 plays and took 11:43 off the clock in Week 15 against Carolina. Washington converted five third downs on the drive.
17. Give the Browns defense some credit. After that drive it would’ve been understandable if they were gassed and worn out, but they came out in the second half and got off the field quickly to begin the second half and give the offense an opportunity to take control.
18. On to Pittsburgh to close out the season. The NFL will announce the Week 18 schedule likely late Sunday night as to provide its TV networks with the most compelling matchups at key times. A Steelers win over the Ravens Sunday night keeps them in the playoff hunt.