Cleveland Browns: 5 Studs and duds in playoff win
By Greg Newland
Stud: Nick Chubb, Running Back
Sometimes Chubb gets overlooked because he is so good. On Sunday night Chubb ran for 76 yards on just 18 carries which doesn’t seem tremendous, but he also had four catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. While Chubb didn’t appear to be the focal point, this win wouldn’t have happened without him.
In the third quarter, things got really hairy for a minute when the Browns offense had stuttered two drives in a row, and the Steelers finally cut the lead to 12 points. Fans knew the drive was likely a make or break it one, and Chubb didn’t disappoint. After converting multiple third and shorts, Chubb broke the big one on another third-down conversion.
A slow-developing screenplay that almost got Baker Mayfield sacked led to a touchdown that once again put the Browns up comfortably at 19 points. Momentum before that play was shifting hard, and if that play wouldn’t have happened, there is a good chance Browns fans would be licking their wounds right now.
While the screen pass was huge, let’s not forget the huge runs at the end of the first half as well. Yes, the Browns ended up with a touchdown, but at one point the goal was to just not punt the ball back to Pittsburgh. That drive started with two huge plays by Chubb that allowed the Browns to get aggressive and go for a touchdown.
Nick, if you’re reading this, sorry we don’t appreciate you enough sometimes. What a game by this guy who continues to carry the load for the Browns offense.