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- The Cleveland Browns Made History — By Bungling A Fourth-And-9 Play (FiveThirtyEight.com) - History was made on Sunday Night Football, but likely not the kind Cleveland Browns fans were hoping for. With 9:45 left in the fourth quarter and trailing 17-13, the Browns advanced to the Rams’ 41-yard line. A first-down run by Nick Chubb and two subsequent passes by Baker Mayfield netted Cleveland a single yard, and head coach Freddie Kitchens was faced with a difficult fourth-and-9 decision. In response, he dialed up a play call that is unprecedented in recorded NFL history: a draw.
- Baker vs. BFFs (ESPN) - For Baker Mayfield, Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens represents a chance to get back into the AFC North race, an opportunity to get the Cleveland Browns’ offense on track and a weird college reunion where he is clearly the odd-man out.
- Baker Mayfield and Marcus Mariota are making their offensive lines look worse than they are (SB Nation) - The Titans and Browns are giving up a lot of sacks, but the OLs are only partially to blame. Retired NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz explains what is happening.
- Browns’ Myles Garrett looks at Patriots’ stingy defense and asks, ‘Why aren’t we doing that?’ (ohio.com) - Coach Freddie Kitchens has been taking responsibility for the Browns’ 1-2 start, but Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett hasn’t been listening. Instead, he’s had an eye on the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, who have not given up an offensive touchdown this season. Patriots opponents have scored 17 points, including a fumble recovery in the end zone and a pick six, while the Browns have allowed 66 points and six offensive scores.
NFL:
- Jay Gruden and the Redskins are strangely optimistic despite 0-3 start (Washington Post) - With his team stuck in a winless morass and his job in jeopardy, Redskins Coach Jay Gruden went to space.
- Chargers Melvin Gordon has “a chance” to play on Sunday (CBS Sports) - Melvin Gordon reported to the Los Angeles Chargers for the first time all season on Thursday, and he could be playing for the team once again by Sunday. The star running back just ended a holdout that began over the summer, rejoining the Chargers this week after missing the club’s first three games of 2019, and initial reports indicated Gordon would not make his season debut until Week 5. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn told reporters Friday, however, “there’s a chance” the two-time Pro Bowler will be taking snaps against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday.
- Matthew Stafford added to Lions injury report (Detroit Free Press) - Matthew Stafford was a surprise addition to the Detroit Lions’ injury report Friday as the team listed him as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a hip injury. Stafford was a limited participant in practice Friday, but there are no signs yet that his injury is serious.
- Bills QB Josh Allen maturing, becoming a must-watch player (NFL.com) - Despite his carelessness at times, Buffalo’s Josh Allen has become a must-watch player in this league.