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Browns' Week 16 Offensive Snap Counts vs. Chiefs

Looking at the offensive snap counts in the Browns' 17-13 loss to the Chiefs.

Peter Aiken/Getty Images

Below, we analyze the snap counts on offense for the Cleveland Browns' Week 16 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Quarterback

Pos Player Plays % Stats
QB Johnny Manziel
68
100% 13-of-32 (40.6%) for 136 yards, 1 INT. 11 carries, 108 yards.

No matter how you look at it, from start to finish, this was a poor passing game by Johnny Manziel. According to Pro Football Focus, "his -9.2 pass grade is the 3rd worst PFF has ever graded." Manziel still was able to extend drives with his mobility, though, setting a franchise record for most rushing yards in a game by a Browns quarterback. We'll chalk this up to an off day for Manziel's accuracy, as he's been fairly accurate over his other starts. If we can get a combination of Manziel throwing the ball accurately and him running, it's a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses.

Running Back

Pos Player Plays % Stats
RB Duke Johnson 41 60% 8 carries, 26 yards, 3.3 avg. 3 catches, 15 yards (4 targets).
RB Isaiah Crowell
28 41% 16 carries, 88 yards, 5.5 avg, 1 TD.

The Browns are going to be in a predicament next year with their running back situation. Isaiah Crowell has played pretty well over his past three games, and that has been in parallel with the changes in the team's run blocking strategy. If the team can stick with this form of run blocking next year, wouldn't the team be better off investing in a different position, like defense or wide receiver? On the same note, Crowell and Duke Johnson aren't the most talented running backs when it comes to vision -- is it possible that a back with even slightly better vision would thrive in this system?

Wide Receiver

Pos Player Plays % Stats
WR Darius Jennings
61 90% 3 catches, 37 yards (4 targets).
WR Travis Benjamin 48 71% 2 catches, 20 yards (5 targets).
WR Dwayne Bowe 31 46% 0 catches (1 target).
WR Taylor Gabriel 26 38% 0 catches (2 targets).
WR Marlon Moore
10 15% 1 catch, -1 yard (1 target).

Curiously, Darius Jennings, who was just re-signed to the roster this past week, led the team in receiving snaps. Travis Benjamin was in-and-out of the game with an injury, which might be the reason for Jennings' and Dwayne Bowe's increased roles. It's interesting to see that Bowe finally got more playing time over the likes of Taylor Gabriel and Marlon Moore. Unfortunately, none of the receivers had a productive day, in part due to Manziel's accuracy issues.

Tight End

Pos Player Plays % Stats
TE Gary Barnidge 60 88% 3 catches, 47 yards (8 targets).
TE Jim Dray 32 47% 1 catch, 18 yards (3 targets).
TE E.J. Bibbs
3 4% No stats registered.

I wonder if I'm going to cringe at how open Gary Barnidge was on the team's first offensive series. The Chiefs defend tight ends well, but if that ball was near Barnidge, the veteran tight end might have had the best game by a tight end against their defense all year. Jim Dray was involved in the offense more than any other game this season, but again, the accuracy issues for Manziel prevented a better day.

Offensive Line

Pos Player Plays % Stats
OL Joe Thomas 68 100%
OL Austin Pasztor
68 100%
OL Alex Mack 68 100%
OL Cameron Erving 68 100%
OL Mitchell Schwartz 68 100%

The offensive line surrendered zero sacks and 5 hits on the quarterback, as Kansas City struggled to get their normal pass rush without either of their starting outside linebackers. Although Cameron Erving didn't have as many visibly awful plays, he still graded very poorly by Pro Football Focus, and Austin Pasztor's grade wasn't too good either.

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Amount of Offensive Plays, By the Week

  • Week 1: 71 plays
  • Week 2: 49 plays
  • Week 3: 75 plays
  • Week 4: 71 plays
  • Week 5: 88 plays*
  • Week 6: 79 plays*
  • Week 7: 75 plays
  • Week 8: 63 plays
  • Week 9: 53 plays
  • Week 10: 69 plays
  • Week 11: Bye Week
  • Week 12: 69 plays
  • Week 13: 63 plays
  • Week 14: 78 plays
  • Week 15: 55 plays
  • Week 16: 68 plays

We'll have coverage on the defensive snap counts later on.