The Browns claimed their first win of the season with a 18-13 victory over the Jaguars in Jacksonville. After a strong start both offensively and defensively in the first half of the game, the Browns worked through 13 penalties throughout the game.
"I'm proud of that football team," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "We were not perfect, wasn't pretty, but we fought. We needed all three phases. Needed the offense. Needed the defense. Needed the special teams."
However, Stefanski said there were areas where they can improve on all sides of the ball. Here are the big takeaways from Sunday's win.
Browns find early offensive rhythm
The Browns offense looked like itself once again throughout the first half against the Jaguars. They developed a balance in the run and pass game, especially on the opening drive as QB Deshaun Watson connected with different pass catchers in WR Elijah Moore and WR Jerry Jeudy, as well as ran the ball with RB D'Onta Foreman. The Browns also used all three running backs on the first offensive drive. Watson went 7 of 8 with 83 yards and a rushing touchdown to put the Browns on the board first.
Watson finished the game completing 22 of 34 passes for 186 yards and was sacked twice.
"That's our starting quarterback out there making plays," Stefanski said. "He's not perfect. I got mad at him at the end there, but didn't stay mad at him. He made some plays. That's who he is. I thought his pocket movement, making plays off schedule was incredible. A couple of throws down the field were really impressive. And he never blinked."
The Browns were efficient in moving the ball in the first half but slowed down in the second half. They only converted 2 of 14 third-down attempts but converted all three fourth-down attempts. Their only offensive score in the second half was a field goal. Cleveland ended the game with 125 net rushing yards and 172 net passing yards.
"I give (the Jaguars) credit, that's a very good defense," Stefanski said. "It kind of goes back to not capitalizing on some opportunities. I can think of a couple of plays in particular where we need to capitalize on the look – whether run or pass – we just need to be better."
However, the Browns still dealt with offensive pre-snap penalties throughout the game, which played a factor in their offensive success late in the game.
"It wasn't ideal in some of those situations we put ourselves in, but I thought the guys battled like crazy," Stefanski said.
Strong defensive stance
The Browns excelled on the defensive side of the ball from the beginning of the game, as they limited the Jaguars to only a field goal in the first half. They forced Jacksonville into two three-and-out situations in the first half. After a 33-yard run by QB Trevor Lawrence, the Browns kept the Jaguars from scoring a touchdown and forced them to settle for a field goal. Cleveland limited Lawrence to 5 of 11 pass completions for 16 yards in the first half.
Cleveland's defense gave up a big play at the end of the third quarter as Lawrence threw a 66-yard pass to WR Brian Thomas Jr. that set up RB Travis Etienne Jr. for four-yard rushing touchdown. CB Greg Newsome II tackled Thomas in the one-on-one situation. It was the Jaguars only touchdown of the game.
"It wasn't perfect. The first half was a lot better overall than the second," DE Myles Garrett said. "We let some big plays happen and let it get close. So, we got to make sure that we are dominate all throughout. We can't let those big plays slide, (Lawrence) get time in the pocket like that, and making sure that we do everything we can. If a guy goes up and makes a play, they get paid, too. But, if we allow them to that, whether it's by our communication or by a missed assignment or lack of attention to detail, we can improve on that. We had a couple of those, and we can continue to sharpen them."
The Browns secondary made their presence known in coverage, with three total passes defensed in the first half, and five total. CB Denzel Ward got his hands on a pass but could not come up with the interception. CB Martin Emerson Jr.also almost came up with an interception but recorded a pass defensed.
The front seven had just as much of an impact. Garrett recorded his second sack of the season in the third quarter, as he got the strip sack on Lawrence and forced the Jaguars to attempt a field goal – which bounced off the uprights and was not good. DT Quinton Jeffersonrecorded a sack in the fourth quarter to drop Lawrence for a loss of eight yards, as well as LB Jordan Hicks making his first sack of the season in the third quarter.
The Browns sealed the game with a safety with 1:44 left in the game. After a punt from P Corey Bojorquez put the Jaguars on the 2-yard line, DE Alex Wright broke through and sacked Lawrence in the end zone for the safety.
"That was huge for us," Garrett said. "We needed that kind of cushion. Us being able to work together, rush together like that. Him working off me, me going high and then him going underneath to make that play, that's exactly how we draw it up. He's going to make many more of those plays."
Special teams played critical role
After giving up a touchdown on a punt return in Week 1, the Browns special teams units bounced back in Week 2.
Bojorquez played a critical role in the final two minutes of the game, punting the ball for 39 yards to land at the 2-yard line. It set the Browns defense up for the eventual safety on the next play of the game.
"That play there with Corey pinning them deep, getting a sack there the next play by A-Wright, was outstanding," Stefanski said.
K Dustin Hopkinshelped the Browns stay in the game as he made all three of his field goal attempts. He hit a 38-yard, 44-yard and 53-yard field goal in the first three quarters. Hopkins is 4 of 4 on the season in field goal attempts.
