The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Browns turn corner with big victory
The Browns’ 2019 season unofficially began on the same day the Indians’ 2019 season officially ended.
Playing like the team they were expected to be, the Browns dominated the Ravens on offense, defense and special teams on Sept. 29 to win, 40-25, even their record at 2-2 and move into a first-place tie with the Ravens in the AFC North. Technically the Browns are alone in first because they are 1-0 in the division and Baltimore is 0-1.
It was the Browns’ most convincing victory in Baltimore (they are 5-16 at M&T Bank Stadium) since their rebirth in 1999, and it was by far their best performance this season. It was what every Browns fan had been waiting to see after a sloppy loss to the Titans, an unconvincing victory over a horrible Jets team and a frustrating loss to the Rams last week.
“This is one game,” Coach Freddie Kitchens told reporters in the interview area outside the jubilant Browns’ locker room. “Just like last week. It was one game. We have 12 more to go. That’s all it is — one game. We have to go to San Francisco (Oct. 7). That’s going to be a huge, huge challenge for us.”
Still, “This is only one game” has a different ring after the way the Browns beat the Ravens compared to Kitchens following the same sentence with “Nobody is panicking” as he did when the Browns lost to the Rams.
The Browns scored four touchdowns against the Ravens after totaling five in their first three games.
The maligned offensive line protected Baker Mayfield. He was sacked only once and completed 20 of 30 passes for 342 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The line blocked superbly for Nick Chubb, who rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns.
The offense, for the first time this season, resembled the offense that convinced general manager John Dorsey to name
Kitchens head coach in January. Kitchens was the offensive coordinator for the final eight games of 2018 when the Browns went 5-3 and averaged 23.8 points a game.
“I played better,” Mayfield said when it was his turn at the podium. “It made it easier on (Kitchens as a play caller). Any time your quarterback sucks, it’s probably pretty hard to call plays.”
The 530 yards of net offense, with 337 passing and 193 rushing against a Ravens defense that allowed a total of 181 rushing yards the first three games were the most for the Browns since totaling 554 yards in a 51-45 victory over the Bengals on Sept. 16, 2007.
The defense played without starting cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams plus safety Morgan Burnett for the second straight week. It didn’t matter.
The Ravens did not turn the ball over once in any of their first three games. The Browns forced three, all in the second half when Cleveland took control, and safety Jermaine Whitehead had a hand in each.
Whitehead forced a fumble by Mark Ingram at the Browns’ 26 when the Ravens were driving with the Browns leading,
17-10, in the third quarter. He leaped and intercepted a pass at the goal line with 5:52 remaining and the Browns on top, 33-18, to all but seal the victory. He blitzed and hit the arm of quarterback Lamar Jackson the next time the Ravens had the ball, forcing an errant pass that Sheldon Richardson intercepted.
“Jermaine is one of my favorites,” defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said recently. “I think he’s smart. He puts himself in a position to be successful. I love the way he orchestrates and really runs the back end by communicating to everybody. He’s good in the run game. He can fit the run just like the linebackers, and he’s very adequate out in space, as well.”
Kitchens is right when he says, “It’s only one game.” He didn’t panic when the Browns played poorly, and now isn’t the time to practice his Vince Lombardi Trophy acceptance speech.
But winning will make going to work the next day much easier for everybody at 76 Lou Groza Boulevard in Berea.