Week 6 instant reaction: Browns get zapped by Zappe

The Cleveland Browns simply did not have any fire or effort and Bailey Zappe led the New England Patriots to a Week 6 victory.

In a game where many anticipated would be dominated on the ground, it was Patriots fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe who did the most damage. He finished with 30 yards and two touchdowns to send the Cleveland Browns to 2-4 on the season with a 38-15 victory.

The Cleveland defense was yet again putrid to say the very least and allowed the rookie to carve them up like they were Halloween pumpkins. While Rhamondre Stevenson didn’t run too wild this week, he did rack up 76 yards and a pair of scores.

Browns running attack was held in check

Remember when the game was going to be decided on which team ran the ball better? Well in Week 5, it was the ground game of New England that did a better job.

Bill Belichick is the master of taking away an opposing team’s best offensive player and he did just that with Nick Chubb, who came into the game as the league’s leader in rushing yards. Chubb finished with just 56 yards on 12 carries. His battering mate Kareem Hunt was limited to four carries for just 12 yards.

This is the area the Browns pride themselves in the most, but Belichick took that right away. Also, you can’t really run the ball when your down double digits for most of the second half.

Jacoby Brissett showed why he’s a perennial backup QB

For most of the season, Brissett has played well enough to put the Browns in positions to win football games. He has thrown three late, costly interceptions, but overall he has played well.

Well that certainly was not the case on Sunday afternoon as he struggled all game long. He finished 21-of-45 for 266 yards, a touchdown, a fumble, and a pair of interceptions. The touchdown he threw was to Amari Cooper, who made a sensational catch.

Remember when there was actual talk that if Brissett was playing well by the time Deshaun Watson made his season debut, he could actually remain the starter? Good times.

Brissett has been a perennial backup for the majority of his career and on Sunday he showed exactly why that is. Five more games and then he will hand over the reins to Watson, but if Brissett can’t figure something out, it might not even matter who is under center at the time.

Myles Garrett gets a pair of sacks, breaks Browns all-time record

While the defense was mostly horrendous throughout the day, there was a sliver of a bright spot. Myles Garrett recorded a strip-sack in the first quarter and took over as the Browns all-time sack leader with 62.5, passing legendary linebacker Clay Matthews, who has 62.

There was a lot of chatter on the app with feathers this week about Garrett’s contributions or lack thereof, but on Sunday, even with a mangled arm, he provided sparks the team needed. Unfortunately, he was the only member of the defense that seemed to care to show up.

Cade York put the ball through the uprights

Last week Cade York was not effective in his job and that was one of the many reasons the Browns fell to the Chargers by two points. He made up for that in Week 5, even if it didn’t mean much in the final outcome.

York booted home balls from 39, 48, and 51-yards, leading to nine of the Browns 15 points. This might not have mattered in the long run of the game, but it does for the long run of this season for the rookie kicker. Seeing the ball go through the uprights should be a confidence booster for the fourth-round pick.

Up Next

Next week starts a two-week AFC battle for the Browns as they head to Baltimore for a showdown with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. For as bad as this season has gone through the first six weeks of the season, Cleveland can leave Baltimore as the division leader. Crazy, right?

That will be a tall task as Jackson can hurt the Browns with both his arm and his legs. The Browns defense – yes, this has been said to death and will continue until the unit plays better – needs to step up and contain Jackson or it will be yet another long week.

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