Cleveland Browns find their mojo: 5 takeaways from win over 49ers
By Thomas Moore
Dec 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge (82) gets tackled by San Francisco 49ers strong safety Jaquiski Tartt (29) following a first down reception during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
It wasn’t just the running game that showed up on Sunday, but the tight end Gary Barnidge and wide receiver Brian Hartline also got in on the fun.
Barnidge finished with five receptions for 84 yards and another touchdown – his eighth of the season. He is now just one touchdown reception away from tying Ozzie Newsome’s single-season franchise record for touchdown receptions by a tight end. Barnidge is also now just 99 yards away from becoming just the third tight end in franchise history to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
Hartline had his first 100-yard receiving game as a Brown, finishing with a team-high eight receptions for 107 yards. After having just 12 receptions through the season’s first seven games, Hartline has picked up 34 receptions and 373 yards over the past five games.
But even on a good day these are still the Browns, so Hartline left the game with what turned out to be a season-ending broken collarbone.
It is truly amazing the amount of support I've received the last 2 hours from Browns fans, Buckeye fans AND Dolphins fans. Thank you all!
— Brian Hartline (@brianhartline) December 13, 2015
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