Browns studs and duds Week 1: Cade York an instant legend

The Cleveland Browns secured their first opening season win since 2004 and Cade York became a hero in the process. He leads off the Week 1 studs and duds

It wasn’t the revenge game Baker Mayfield hoped it would be. The former No. 1 overall pick played his first game with the Carolina Panthers against the Cleveland Browns and struggled in the first half before taking off in the second.

He led the Panthers to a 24-23 lead with just over a minute to play but Cade York knocked in a 58-yarder to secure the victory for Cleveland.

He leads off the studs and duds from Week 1, but there were plenty of players who stood out for Cleveland — both good and bad.

Browns Week 1 studs and duds

Stud: Cade York, K

What a debut. The rookie fourth-round pick from LSU was perfect for the Browns, going 4-of-4 on field goals and 2-of-2 on extra points. His most impressive kick was the 58-yarder that silenced the Carolina crowd and gave Cleveland the win.

https://twitter.com/PFF_Browns/status/1569057212282146816?s=20&t=GbvmYtRetuq7APBzg3rkow

Dud: Second-half Browns defense

After giving up just seven points in the first half, the Cleveland defense struggled in the final 30 minutes of the game. After giving up a touchdown to Mayfield to cap off an 11-play, 75-yard drive, they had a terrible miscommunication that allowed Mayfield to hit Robbie Anderson on a 75-yard bomb to make it 23-21.

once they got the ball back, D.J. Moore caught a pass for 26-yards, and then Christian McCaffrey went for 21-yards on a short pass — and got 15-yards added on a horse-collar tackle from John Johnson.

This set up the kick that could have led to a huge upset, but thankfully the aforementioned York had other plans.

Stud: Nick Chubb, RB

While Deshaun Watson is suspended, the Browns are going to have to lean heavily on the ground game — and Nick Chubb is just fine with that. He played well from the start, showing an amazing second effort on the first drive when facing a third-and-three to pick up the first.

He kept dishing out punishment on the Carolina defenders and had 79 yards on 12 carries heading into the half — including a beautiful 25-yarder during their second scoring drive.

Chubb kept going in the second half, finishing with 141 yards on the day. He didn’t score a touchdown on the day but was instrumental in the huge win.

Dud: Jacoby Brissett, QB

Jacoby Brissett is expected to start in place of Watson but his first outing left a lot to be desired. His first drive ended on a turnover on downs when he threw an incompletion on both third-and-three as well as fourth-and-three.

On the third-down play, Amari Cooper was running free as his man slipped on the route but Brissett missed him by a couple of yards. He was then short and to the outside when trying to hit Donovan Peoples-Jones on fourth-down

Later, Brissett overthrew Kareem Hunt on third-and-five on the second drive — and Hunt had a touchdown if he was hit. Brissett was bailed out that time thanks to Jaycee Horn holding Cooper, and then got bailed out when he threw a terrible pass into the end zone that was picked off by Xavier Woods — but C.J. Henderson was guilty of an egregious pass interference.

Still, he missed far too many open players and while it didn’t doom them against Carolina, not every team they face during the first 11 games will be as forgiving of leaving touchdowns on the field.

Had it not been for a questionable roughing penalty on the final drive and the blatant pass interference from Henderson, Brissett’s accuracy issues could have cost them this game.

Stud: Kareem Hunt, RB

Nick Chubb was already mentioned for his strong performance but there’s more than one dominant running back in Cleveland. Kareem Hunt was a former NFL rushing champion and he was sorely missed in 2021 when he was only able to suit up for eight games.

Fully healthy, Hunt reminded us all how explosive he is as he had the first two touchdowns of the game for the Browns. First was a one-yard touchdown reception after a pass interference on C.J. Henderson set them up. His second score was more impressive, as he took off for 24-yards.

Hunt was also on the field with Chubb often, which was a nice sight to see — and it makes you wonder why it took so long for Kevin Stefanski to use such formations.

Stud: Myles Garrett, EDGE

Myles Garrett had a lot to say ahead of this game and then backed it all up. Facing Ikem Ekwonu in his first game, Garrett gave the rookie fits.

He was constantly blowing past him and had two sacks on the day — and also tackled Mayfield when he was recovering one of his many fumbled snaps. Garrett is now just 1.5 sacks shy of tying Clay Matthews for the most in team history.

Dud: Demetric Felton, RB/Returner

Cleveland had high hopes for their return game this season when they added Jakeem Grant in free agency. Unfortunately, he was lost to an Achilles injury during the summer and that means Demetric Felton was back to returning kicks — and it wasn’t great.

The first two times he fielded punts, he should have called a fair catch but didn’t. He was fortunate not to lose the ball on either occasion but then did muff one on his third return. Thankfully Herb Miller was there to recover the ball and ensure the Panthers didn’t get free points.

Browns Week 1 instant reactions: Cade York becomes hero in debut

For the first time since 2004, the Cleveland Browns won in Week 1 and they can thank their rookie kicker, Cade York, for securing the victory