The Cleveland Browns have done it again. On Sunday, the team put together its fifth game-winning drive of the season, defeating the Tennessee Titans 27-24. A walk-off kick from Andre Szmyt moved the team to 5-2 on the season, keeping Cleveland in first place of the AFC North.
While the Browns are surprisingly having success in the first half of the season, things haven’t been pretty. On the offensive side of the ball, specifically, it has been a work in progress for Cleveland.
However, Sunday’s win in Tennessee provided a look at what the offense is built to look like when it’s rolling.
Browns’ balanced offensive attack vs. Titans could be a sign that Cleveland is figuring things out
Entering the season, the expectation was that Cleveland’s offense was going to be built around a productive run game, while also utilizing some exciting weapons on the perimeter and with Deshaun Watson’s legs. Unfortunately, the Browns hadn’t really been able to bring that vision to life, despite their wins.
That changed on Sunday.
Cleveland had its most productive rushing day of the season, posting 183 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries — 6.3 yards per rush. The run game was led by Quinshon Judkins with 17 carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Dylan Sampson added six rushes for 45 yards. Both running backs returned on Sunday after missing time with injuries.
Watson was also involved in the run game with three carries for 19 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
With the Browns having their way on the ground, the passing game was really able to open up, as Watson completed 25 of 36 passes for 308 yards, with an interception. His favorite target on Sunday was rookie receiver KC Concepcion, as Cleveland was finally able to deploy him the way he was drafted to be used.
The first-round receiver was targeted 10 times, catching eight passes for 129 yards. Concepcion also carried the ball three times for 23 yards, really showing off how dynamic of a weapon he is.
He wasn’t the only talented young weapon to contribute as a pass catcher. Second-year tight end Harold Fannin Jr. caught six passes for 91 yards, Sampson had three receptions for 32 yards, Denzel Boston added three receptions for 27 yards, and Jerry Jeudy caught all four of his targets for 21 yards.
Overall, the Browns were able to run the ball and spread it around in the passing game, showing just how dangerous the offense could be.
Even as good as Sunday was, Cleveland still left some meat on the bone. Watson couldn’t connect with an open Boston on a couple of deep shots, and Concepcion dropped what should’ve been a touchdown on his own deep target early in the third quarter.
Still, the offense is seemingly moving in the right direction, and that’s exciting. Of course, there will be skepticism about this progress since it came against the now 1-6 Titans, but it’ll be up to the Browns moving forward to prove that the opponent doesn’t matter.
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