The Cleveland Browns are, once again, a team of destiny. They're not meant to win, but they find a way. It's not easy, pretty, or recommended for folks with a heart affliction, but Todd Monken's team gets the job done.
Once again, a slow start to the game had Deshaun Watson and the Browns' offense playing catch-up. But as has become the norm now, the defense, even without Grant Delpit and Mason Graham, kept giving the team a fighting chance.
The offense is still a work in progress, and there are so many reasons to be skeptical about the quarterback situation.
Either way, the Browns are 4-2, and these are the six main standouts from another close win.
Cleveland keeps finding unlikely heroes as its improbable start rolls on
Winner: Jaleel McLaughlin
Quinshon Judkins missed the game with an ankle injury, and the Browns' running game was there when they needed it in the second half. McLaughlin certainly made the most of every single touch he got in this one.
The former Denver Broncos running back turned nine attempts into 41 rushing yards, an average of 4.6 yards per carry. He also hauled in four receptions on as many targets for 14 yards.
Dylan Sampson's return will likely hurt his usage, but McLaughlin made a strong case for a larger role on offense.
Loser: Denzel Boston
For whatever reason, Watson and the Browns haven't been able to get Denzel Boston going early in games. They only seem to turn to him when they need a big gain, and that took a big toll on his production against the Ravens.
Boston had just one catch for 15 yards, and while he drew five targets, most of those were uncatchable passes, with Watson forcing him to beat coverage in tight spaces.
Boston is a budding superstar, but the Browns aren't yet utilizing him in that fashion.
Winner: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
The Browns lost Delpit, their starting safety, early, forcing Mike Rutenberg's hand to roll with rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. The rookie answered the call, even stopping Derrick Henry at the goal line.
The rookie out of Toledo held his own pretty well with the starters, although he dropped an easy interception late in the game and appeared to get picked on in coverage at times.
The arrow is pointing up, though, and the Browns must find ways to get him on the field, even when Delpit returns.
Loser: Deshaun Watson
There's just no way to feel good about Watson right now. The home crowd booed him after a terrible first half, and his sloppy feet in the pocket and inability to operate outside of shotgun are just tough to watch.
Watson did make some big throws when it mattered most, so there's that. But his erratic decision-making, aimless scrambles, and overall limitations are holding back this offense.
He's still the best choice, for now.
Winner: Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy continues to be tangled up in trade rumors, and understandably so. However, he's kept his head down, gotten to work, and has made some big plays as of late, serving as Watson's go-to guy when he's needed to move the chains in the clutch.
He did the same again on Sunday, setting up the game-winning field goal with a big 33-yard gain. He led the team with four receptions on as many targets for 69 yards, and while he's still behind the rookies in the pecking order, he continues to prove that he's a valuable piece of this team.
Winner: Todd Monken
Monken continues to turn doubters into believers. Yes, the team is clearly flawed and has plenty of issues to figure out, but the Browns have still won four out of six games. They were one botched snap on special teams away from potentially being 5-1. That should count for something.
Who would've thought the Browns would be on top of the AFC North after six weeks, with a 2-0 record in the division? This team hasn't even come close to scratching the surface, and they're a quarterback away from being a real threat.
Add us as a preferred source on Google