Brownies & Frownies: Browns just edge ailing Jaguars 27-25

The Browns have beaten every bad team on their schedule so far. Any win is a good win. And against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it was just another ugly NFL club with a horrid win-loss record to step over.

The Jags so far this season have been very good against the run. The Browns, like to run. So, the key storyline rested here.

In the end, it was the Browns who defeated the one-win Jaguars 27-25 behind the resurgence of Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry and good offensive line play.

Who played a good game for the Browns? Who did not? Glad you asked.

BROWNIES

WR Jarvis Landry – After several weeks of pedestrian numbers, the five-time Pro Bowler Landry came through with a huge game against Jacksonville. The touchdown catch in the first quarter was a contested ball to which Landry snagged the ball with two hands and then somehow wrangled it to his body. There were many key catches, but none more important than the reception he made in the third stanza with 10:19 left for a crucial first down. Finished the game with eight receptions for 143 yards. His 23-yard catch in the second quarter set up the Mayfield to Hooper touchdown.

Goal line stand – Anytime the defense can stop an opponent inside the five-yard line with a first and goal and the end result is a field goal is a victory. In the second quarter down just 7-3, the Jaguars took their third possession of the game down to the eight-yard line. Jacksonville RB James Robinson ran for two yards followed by two incomplete passes. This stand ultimately became the difference in the game.

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RB Nick Chubb - We missed you Chubb. 144 yards on 19 carries does not tell the story of this storied warrior. Grind it out and punish would-be defenders is more of this tale. His 29-yard scamper followed a 13-yard gain in the drive that took eight plays and ran off almost four minutes of clock. A highlight reel could be made of his efforts just from today’s game. This marks his fifth game this season with over 100 yards. One can only wonder what overall totals Chubb would have if he had not been out for part of the year due to injury.

Short passing game - Next to the running of Chubb, the short passing game was very effective. Nice design for Mayfield to roll out and be able to survey the field.

K Cody Parkey - Two field goals on two attempts, all three PATs true, four of six kickoffs for touchbacks. A good kicker is crucial when you win by two points.

Callie Brownson - Three years ago, Brownson was the first female to be hired as a full-time college coach. Today, she became the first female to coach a position in an actual NFL game when she took the place of Drew Petzing, the Browns tight ends coach. Petzing’s wife gave birth to their first child on Saturday and did not travel with the club. There have been nine women to play college men’s football, multiple women to coach Women’s professional teams, two women to play men’s professional football, and now Brownson broke the female barrier to coach while an actual game occurred.

FROWNIES

DT Larry Ogunjobi - Was pushed around by guard K.C. McDermott and center Brandon Liner often all game. The Jaguars touchdown for four yards up the middle by running back James Robinson with just over three minutes to play was right at Ogunjobi who was literally pushed back five yards into the end zone. Earlier in the same drive, it was Ogunjobi who was manhandled out of the way for Robinson’s 27-yard gain that led to the late touchdown.

CB Terrance Mitchell - In the second quarter, Mitchell should have picked up receiver Collin Johnson on the crossing route, but was instead left him unattended for the 46-yard touchdown. Instead, he watched Johnson cross in front of him and then trailed the speedy wideout. Was out of position too many times such as the 13-yard completion to Laviska Shenault in the third quarter. Took a bad angle on Robinson’s 27-yard gain that led to Jacksonville’s late touchdown.

Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

TE Harrison Bryant - First target, first catch, first down, first turnover via fumble, Jacksonville touchdown and a Jags’ 19-17 lead. With 10:19 in the third quarter, Bryant could not stay engaged with DE Adam Gotsis who forced Mayfield to hurry his throw and get assigned the intentional grounding penalty. Early in the fourth quarter, an arrow to Bryant in the end zone was dropped for a sure touchdown which was contested and cost Cleveland a timeout. Had downfield blocking issues as well by not staying engaged.

Lack of pass rush - Jaguars’ QB Mike Glennon had few collapse pockets as the pass rush was minimal at best. Sheldon Richardson had good push at times as did Adrian Clayborn and newly-activated Cameron Malveaux, but Porter Gustin and Myles Garrett were sorely missed.

Milk Bones - will sing “Soft Kitty” to you as they steal your change

KR D’Ernest Johnson - Johnson had two very good returns for sizeable gains Three returns for 93 yards with a 31-yard average is an impressive day’s work. After the Jaguars went up 3-0, Johnson’s return of 43-yards set up shop on Cleveland’s own 45-yard line. Five plays later, the Browns scored their first touchdown. After Jacksonville went up 13-10, instead of downing the ball kicked two yards into the end zone, Johnson took it out and was nailed at the 18. Johnson had another great return when the Jags went ahead 19-17 with a 32-yard burst that again set up the Browns offense in great field position.

QB Baker Mayfield - Some quarterbacks are known for how many turnovers they are guaranteed to account for in each game. Mayfield’s Achilles heal is how many overthrown balls he will throw in any given game. Three to four must be his number. The overthrow to Rashard Higgins in the second quarter with 1:48 until the half was heartbreaking and ultimately a loss of four needed points. Higgins was open right off his break before he entered the end zone. Then, all alone, Mayfield aimed for the bleachers. His touchdown pass to Landry in the first quarter was in a place that only his receiver could make and was spectacular. But then he overthrew Landry in the front corner of the end zone for a sure touchdown. Did very nice work rolling out and finding second and third options. The pass to Landry right after the two-minute warning on a third-and-six for a key first down kept the drive going which resulted in the short touchdown pass to Austin Hooper. Threw behind a wide-open Kareem Hunt on third-and-inches and later overthrew Harrison Bryant, both crucial plays. Fifth straight game Mayfield has not thrown an interception is a huge plus.

Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images

C J.C. Tretter - Had a rough first half opening holes in the first half, but settled quite nicely after the break. Had a key holding call late in the game that negated a good run by Hunt. His run blocking became stellar as the game wore on. Tretter could not move NT Davon Hamilton on the fourth down attempt in the fourth quarter which resulted in a turnover of downs.

LB B.J. Goodson - Had a lot of nice stops up the middle, but then became the invisible man. Nice batted down pass early in the game on coverage of Keelan Cole that prevented a first down. Finished with six tackles.