Browns studs and duds Week 3: Amari Cooper goes off in redemption win

Stud: Amari Cooper, WR

Amari Cooper continues to be a stud.

His stats weren’t great in Week 1 but he was open the entire game against Carolina. He’s remained open the past two weeks and after having 101 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, he again went off in Week 3 — and added his second touchdown in as many games.

He continued to play well from that point, topping 100-yards for the second time this season. He crossed that mark on his seventh reception which came on a third-and-one to start the fourth quarter. A play-action pass from Brissett found Cooper wide open after a route that left his man looking lost on the field. No. 2 ended up pulling it in and gaining 32 yards before being taken down.

In all, he had 101 yards (for the second week in a row) on seven receptions. He’s proven to be everything this team thought they were getting.

Dud: Denzel Ward, CB

Following the second Cleveland touchdown, Pittsburgh started moving it down the field again and it was clear they were attacking Denzel Ward. Diontae Johnson caught an eight-yard pass on first down. Two plays later, Trubisky avoided a sack and again hit Johnson, who beat Ward for a 16-yard gain to move it into Cleveland territory.

After Cleveland turned it over on downs, Ward was flagged for holding as he grabbed Johnson when he was trying to make a cut, giving Pittsburgh a fresh set of downs.

Ward continued to struggle in the second half, giving up a 14-yard gain on second-and-19 in the third quarter. That turned the following third-down into a manageable situation but they were bailed out when Chase Claypool was called for offensive pass interference.

He nearly gave up a long play to Johnson in the third as well, but the Pittsburgh wideout dropped the pass, which led to Nick Chubb’s touchdown run that put Cleveland up by nine with just under 10 minutes to play.

The game ended with Ward falling on a fumbled lateral in the end zone, which means he scored a touchdown, but overall, it was a night to forget for the former No. 4 overall pick.