Cleveland Browns: Week 14 instant reactions following huge win over Panthers
Coming off a humbling loss to the Houston Texans in Week 13, the Cleveland Browns had to pick themselves up. In an up and down game against the Carolina Panthers, the Browns showed just how Jekyll and Hyde their team can be.
The duality of the Cleveland Browns was fierce in this one, as they returned home to face the Carolina Panthers in Week 14. The Panthers hadn’t won in a month, and the Browns were hungry to get their mojo back after a rough loss to the Texans just a week before. When all was said and done, the Browns and the Panthers battled to a 26-20 Browns win after a Damarious Randall pick. Let’s get some instant reactions.
Baker Bounces Back and Balls Out
Week 13 was a nightmare situation for rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield. The most accurate quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft threw three interceptions against the vaunted Texans defense. Although he bounced back in the second half, throwing for 351 yards and a touchdown, Mayfield’s miserable first half doomed the Browns in Week 13.
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This was not the case in Week 14. On the Browns’ first offensive play of the game, Mayfield uncorked a 66-yard pass to Breshad Perriman. Just two plays later, Mayfield along with Jarvis Landry fooled Carolina’s defense with a wide receiver jet sweep. Mayfield threw a few truly elite passes throughout the course of the game, and actually kept the Browns in this one.
The Problem With Defense
The Browns sorely missed Denzel Ward this week, their rookie cornerback from Ohio State University. Ward has been a terrific shutdown corner for the Browns this season, and was an early favorite for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The Browns missed him a lot this week, and the changes in the defense were clear as day.
Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey ran all over the Browns in Week 14, responsible for multiple touchdowns on the day. Ward would’ve been a big help containing Carolina’s Swiss army knife, and the Browns seemed like they were a couple pieces short without him.
Thankfully, the defense did make one huge play. Damarious Randall picked off Cam Newton at just the right time, and the rest was history. One play, at just the right time, can sometimes change a narrative. It was a rough day for the defense, but Randall made it all worth it.
Penalties Galore
On both sides of the field, referees were pretty happy with their performance today. Penalties on Cleveland and Carolina dragged the game to well over the 1:00-4:00 start time. Nothing crucial to the game, except a dead ball penalty on an extra point to cut the Browns lead to 23-20, but just a point that made parts of the contest almost unwatchable.
Fumbles Almost Damn the Browns
Two crucial fumbles almost killed the Browns here. First it was Rashard Higgins, early in the game, whose fumble led to a Panthers touchdown. Second, Jarvis Landry’s fumble on the opening drive of the second half, which nearly led to another Panthers score.
Next. Have the Browns built a strong foundation?. dark
Luckily, the Browns were able to bounce back from the two major mistakes made by their receivers. Landry made up for it with two touchdowns on the day, and Higgins had a couple of big catches throughout the contest as well. But the Browns won, so, like…who cares, right?