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Cleveland Browns: Studs and duds in dominating Week 9 Battle of Ohio victory

By Matthew McFatridge

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85), center, is congratulated after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter during a Week 9 NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cleveland Browns won, 41-16.Cleveland Browns At Cincinnati Bengals Nov 7
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85), center, is congratulated after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter during a Week 9 NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cleveland Browns won, 41-16.Cleveland Browns At Cincinnati Bengals Nov 7 /
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Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) intercepts a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) in the end zone in the first quarter of the NFL Week 9 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. Cleveland led 24-10 at halftime.Cleveland Browns At Cincinnati Bengals Week 9 /

Cleveland Browns stud: Troy Hill

The Cleveland Browns defense played their best game of the season, causing nothing but havoc for Joe Burrow and the rest of the Bengals’ offense. Several players could be singled out as being the stud on that defense, but cornerback Troy Hill deserves to be praised for his excellence on Sunday.

Hill had seven solo tackles on the day, including two tackles for loss. He also added two sacks on the day, constantly swarming to the ball and causing Burrow to think twice about holding onto the ball too long.

Hill’s performance on Sunday afternoon is one of the exact reasons general manager Andrew Berry signed him to play in defensive coordinator Joe Woods’ scheme. His ability to play well in coverage, while also attacking the backfield as a blitzer, leaves the opposing offensive coordinator with a huge task in devising a way to stop him.

If this is the type of play that we continue to see from Hill the remainder of the year, the Browns defense could be very dangerous as they make a playoff run in the last half of the season.

Cleveland Browns stud: Denzel Ward

Another defensive back who deserves love for his performance is Denzel Ward, who is one of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL when he’s healthy. On Sunday, he was healthy and, unfortunately for Joe Burrow, on the field.

Burrow led the Bengals down the field on the opening drive, but threw an interception to Ward on the one-yard line and saw it returned 99-yards for a touchdown. The pick-six set the tone for how Cleveland’s defense would play on Sunday, and they seemed to really feed off the early energy provided from their star cornerback.

As long as Ward stays healthy, he can provide a huge spark for this offense just by being on the field opposite of Greg Newsome II. He’s consistently in the right place at the right time, able to contest most throws that come his way. The Browns defense needs Ward to be on the level he was on Sunday, and if he can stay at that level, it could be a truly dangerous team down the stretch.

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