Browns studs and duds Week 4: Defensive issues lead to late loss

Stud: Nick Chubb, RB

Again, this spot needs to be saved for Nick Chubb. Week after week, he proves to be the best and most consistent player on this team. While many players were struggling to be consistent weapons, Chubb simply ran for 118 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

His longest run was a 28-yarder, which was also the fourth-quarter touchdown that gave Cleveland a 20-17 lead. This was the third game in a row where Chubb topped 100 yards and his lowest output of the season was 87 yards in the loss to New York — but he did have three touchdowns in that one.

Chubb is the heart and soul of this offense and is the main reason for hope despite this frustrating start.

Dud: David Njoku, TE

There was some good and some bad for David Njoku on Sunday. He did have five receptions for 73 yards but there were a couple of plays he would surely like to take back.

The first came on the second drive of the game for Cleveland. Atlanta had just gone up 3-0 and on the second play of the ensuing drive, Njoku caught an 11-yard pass but then coughed it up when being tackled. The Falcons recovered and took advantage of the short field to go up 10-0.

Later in the first half, he was involved in one of the uglier plays as he came around for a tight end reverse, a poorly designed play that was blown up for a six-yard loss. This was a bad play, so it wasn’t all on Njoku but it still wasn’t a great look for him.