5 Studs and Duds for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday
By Greg Newland
Stud No. 2: Denzel Ward, Defensive Back
On a defense that has underperformed almost every week, cornerback Denzel Ward has continued to play at an elite level with little love because of the rest of the unit (besides Garrett). This week, Ward was just too good to leave off the list.
Ward ended with 3 solo tackles and closed the game out with an interception in the fourth quarter near the goal line. Ward ended the game with one interception but had an opportunity for a couple of others that he just couldn’t come up with.
The defensive unit has been a liability all season, and this week they finally were able to win a game for the Browns. Not only did they keep the Eagle’s offense quiet, but they were also able to score points to help pick up the offense that was once again sluggish.
Ward came into the league as a corner known for struggling to tackle with incredible coverage skills. But wow, has the tackling concerns been corrected by practice and coaching. A few different times on Sunday Ward strung out running plays and was able to force a running back out of bounds or slow them down enough for linebacker help to clean up.
Ward has been great all year, but this week he really stood out. If he can continue this performance with a few others this year, the Browns could very well find themselves in the playoffs.