Browns Offense a Dud Against Falcons, But Should Remain Aggressive

The Cleveland Browns needed a productive day from their offense to beat the Atlanta Falcons on the road. The Falcons defense made their share of plays, but the Browns couldn't get out of their own way.

Pete Smith | Oct 2, 2022

Browns Offense a Dud Against Falcons, But Should Remain Aggressive /

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Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns needed their offense to carry them if they were going to beat the Atlanta Falcons. That didn't happen as both coaches and players wasted opportunities and left points on the field throughout the game resulting in a disappointing loss for the team.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has already received criticism for going for the touchdown over the field goal on the first drive of the game. However, in that situation, I agree with his decision to go for it. 4th-and-3 inside the five and the Browns could have picked up a first down.

Jacoby Brissett was flushed to his right and threw the ball away rather than either looking back left to what were open options including tight end Harrison Bryant standing in the end zone. He also could have just lowered his shoulder and tried to plow through for the first down. Instead, he threw the ball away, giving no one a chance to make the play.

Maybe the Browns should've called a different play, but the play was there to be made. And while deferring to calling Jacoby Brissett a backup quarterback is easy, he played well the past two weeks and is being counted on to start for at least 11 games this season. Brissett wanted the ball in his hands, wanted to make the play and failed. It's disappointing, but it happens.

Perhaps opting for a field goal would've been prudent. It's a road game. It's early. Nevertheless, with how easily the Browns went down the field and how well they have played offensively the last few weeks, I applaud for Stefanski making that call.

I was also thrilled when Stefanski went for it on 4th-and-1 on his own 29-yard line. Even though it's a yard, it goes against convention and he would've been torn to shreds had they come up short. Having an aircraft carrier under center helps to make that decision easier. The same confidence was in play on 3rd-and-1 when Brissett went deep to Donovan Peoples-Jones for a 42-yard gain. Stefanski knew he was going to go for it on fourth down, so it enabled him to take a shot on third. It paid off handsomely.

The last thing that should happen is for Stefanski to lose this game and suddenly decide to lose that edge. It's the right way to play it, both in terms of tactics and maintaining the respect of his players.

Studs

Nick Chubb, Running BackChubb turned in another stat-stuffing performance, rushing for 118 yards on 19 carries. That included a 28-yard touchdown in the second half that gave the Browns a 20-17 lead. In this game, Chubb created a ton of yards after and through contact. He and running mate Kareem Hunt were able to drag Falcons defenders for yards throughout the game. This offense needed every one of them.Chubb's game wasn't perfect as he was unable to get one yard on the goal line, opting to try to juke outside rather than just slam the ball forward and try to power his way into the end zone. The Browns often utilize Kareem Hunt in those situations for that exact reason. Chubb also fumbled the ball, but the play was ruled dead as his forward progress was stopped.Chubb has 459 rushing yards through the first four games of the season. He's currently on pace for 1,950 yards for the season. Since his production is likely to dip as the season progresses, it's s a shame the Browns haven't taken more advantage in the standings.

Jedrick Wills, Left TackleThe much maligned Wills has turned in back to back games with good pass protection and key blocks in the running game. Wills was key on explosive running plays, both at the point of attack on the left side in concert with Njoku and then pulling on counters going to the right.Finally healthy despite a scare where his ankle was rolled up on, Wills has been the left tackle the Browns were hoping for when they selected him 10th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He's been criticized for not being Tristan Wirfs (not his fault) and comments he made last year about fans (definitely his fault), but people have tried to write him off far too soon. The 23-year old left tackle has been consistent and effective this season and really shined in the past two games.

Grant Delpit, SafetyDelpit didn't have a superstar performance, but he made several key plays as part of a defense who did enough to win the game. Delpit recorded four solo tackles and broke up two passes.Delpit has been rightly criticized for coverage busts resulting from miscommunication that allowed the opening game against the Carolina Panthers come down to a 58-yard Cade York field goal and the New York Jets game, which the Browns lost.Against the Falcons, Delpit was in the right spots. On the first Falcons drive, Marcus Mariota tried to throw a in cutting route into the end zone on third down. Delpit, from the middle of the field, made the right read and closed on the ball to knock it away. He was close to being able to intercept the pass.Delpit spent a large part of his game keeping tabs on second year tight end Kyle Pitts. Pitts would only catch one pass for the game, which came on their first drive. Delpit's second pass deflection came on a pass intended for Pitts when he came down hill and knocked the ball away.A productive performance from the Browns are counting on to be a factor in Delpit. Against the Falcons, he delivered.

DudsOffensive Play CallingHeadlined by Kevin Stefanski, the Browns made several peculiar play calls. None was stranger than the end around to tight end David Njoku. Initially, I thought Njoku was going to throw it because the pace of the play was so slow. Instead, he ended up trying to run it and was stuffed for a loss of six yards.Njoku can help an offense in multiple ways. He's a good blocker and is a terrific player with the ball in his hands and a head of steam. However, he's not someone that comes to mind when it comes to running across the field. Anthony Schwartz and Demetric Felton, two players who might be better for the job, were on the sideline.There were also some odd passing play calls. On second down on the 1-yard line, the Browns opted to pass despite having extra linemen in the game. There were only two receivers lined out wide. It's not a terrible call, because it has worked. It just felt unnecessary with their ability to run the ball.Credit to the Falcons secondary, but it was disappointing that the Browns couldn't find ways to get Amari Cooper the football. He only had one reception for nine yards on the game. The combination of being stout at times against the run and being able to keep Cooper in check, the Browns offense completely stalled.Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Njoku were able to produce in this one, but in the stretch where the Browns punted twice and then stalled out in field goal range after the Denzel Ward interception, they couldn't get Cooper or anything else going.The play calling operation is often criticized unfairly and has been great for much of this young season. Against the Falcons, that group had a poor outing and it cost the Browns dearly.

Jacoby Brissett, QuarterbackBrissett could not execute a screen in this game. The Browns ran four screens that Brissett could not make work. The looks were there, but Brissett was flummoxed as to when to get the ball out. One was deflected. Another resulted in an illegal man downfield penalty. They should've hit at least half of them and there was plenty of space to be had in front of the back.Brissett just didn't read the field as well as he has the previous two weeks. He missed multiple throws that were there for the taking. On the last drive of the game, after taking a sack he couldn't take, Brissett forced a ball into coverage on 3rd-and-23 that was intercepted. This is the second time this has happened in four games even if the Jets loss was not on him. This time, had he gone shorter, the Browns might have had the ability to attempt a long field goal to tie the game. D'Ernest Johnson appeared to be wide open and had he caught it, that would've given kicker Cade York a shot.
Even if York hits the field goal, the Falcons would've had enough time to mount a drive. It just capped off a day when the Browns couldn't execute plays to be had.

Published Oct 2, 2022

PETE SMITH