Cleveland Browns find true identify in win over Bengals

The Cleveland Browns scored their sixth win of the season in Week 14 but more importantly, they seemed to find their true identity on offense

Odell Beckham Jr. Jarvis Landry. Antonio Callaway. Rashard Higgins.

Mix those four dynamic receivers in with newly-hired offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s “Air-Raid” offense and Freddie Kitchens’s creative play-calling, and the Cleveland Browns offense was supposed to bring terror to opposing secondaries.

That’s far from what happened.

Callaway was released mid-season and Higgins is still mysteriously missing from the offensive rhythm, becoming a free agent this offseason. Beckham is reportedly seeking a trade to get out of Cleveland.

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At halftime of Sunday’s plain-featured win against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Browns were only leading 14-13. Against the league’s worst statistic run defense, the Browns only used Chubb six times, and Mayfield was the team’s leading rusher at that point.

After halftime, the Browns came out and stunned Cincinnati’s defense with a drive fueled completely by Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Four straight runs put the Browns into the red zone. After Baker Mayfield‘s pass fell incomplete to tight end David Njoku on first down, Hunt easily dashed into the end zone for a three-yard score.

“It feels good to bring wins home!” Hunt exclaimed after the win on Browns social media.

With all the drama surrounding Beckham’s trade request and sports hernia, the Browns were able to sneak out a victory on the shoulders of Chubb and Hunt, the true identity of this team moving forward.

“I’m whatever Cleveland needs me to be,” Chubb posted on Instagram earlier in the week.

Cleveland needs Chubb to be the identity of their football team. The 2018 second-round pick is currently the NFL’s leading rusher, and the only running back to reach at least 75 yards from scrimmage in every game this season.

While the big personalities of Mayfield, Beckham, and Landry still exist, and will still make a splash when needed, the Browns need to finish this season on the legs of Chubb and Hunt.

While it doesn’t feel this way, Cleveland’s 2019 season is not completely lost. With a win yesterday, the Browns are still alive to finish at 9-7, and with some help, could somehow crack the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

If the Browns miss the playoffs, which is the likely scenario, general manager John Dorsey and the front office should understand the true “needs” of this offense moving forward.

They need to resign Hunt, who signed only a one-year contract, and do whatever it takes to get him back in brown and orange next season. Bringing in a fullback to eat blocks would certainly help. They also need to solidify a legitimate offensive line, to let these two running backs churn, and give Mayfield time when he needs to throw.

The fans have been begging for this team to run the ball. It’s an element of the game that Cleveland fans have identified with since the glory days of Jim Brown and then Kevin Mack and Ernest Byner.

Next. Studs and duds from Week 14. dark

Run the ball with Chubb and Hunt. The rest will be fine.

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