Eagles @ Browns
With the rain coming down all afternoon, the offenses were a bit suppressed as the Cleveland Browns defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 22-17, to improve to 7-3. The rain definitely had an effect on both team’s offenses, limiting the passing game work from both teams. However, there was still plenty to note as to what these teams looked like on offense and how their offense was run.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Carson Wentz: 21/35, 235 yards, 2 TD’s, 2 INT’s, 5 sacks | 3 carries, 10 yards
Carson Wentz greatly struggled to get the offense going on Sunday, with his offensive line not holding up creating pressure on Wentz all game. He finished with two interceptions on some very poor passes and should have had at least one more on an interception that was called back after a replay review. One of these interceptions even ended up getting returned for a touchdown for Cleveland, on a poor outside pass to the running back with the defender stepping right in front of it to take it to the house.
TAKITAKI TO THE HOUSE. #Browns @STakiTaki
📺: #PHIvsCLE on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/XvGQdBFS2I pic.twitter.com/5oxAuulKSz— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2020
He did have two touchdown passes, the first of which was Wentz getting time in the pocket and looking to finally find Richard Rodgers open in the endzone, and the second very late in the game down at the goal line extending the play to find Dallas Goedert. The pressure did get to Wentz with him being sacked 5 times, including in the end zone for a safety, and getting knocked down many more times than that.
The first offensive TD in #PHIvsCLE comes in the third quarter. Richard Rodgers with his first TD of the year. #FantasyFootball | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/D4CW8f8kAf
— QB List (@TheQBlist) November 22, 2020
Running Backs
Miles Sanders: 16 carries, 66 yards | 5 targets, 3 receptions, 15 yards
Boston Scott: 5 carries, 24 yards | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 26 yards
With the opportunities which Miles Sanders got, Sanders took advantage of those opportunities and is starting to look like the back that Philadelphia expects him to be. While they did spell him a fair amount with Boston Scott, the game script turned early on to need the Eagles to throw the ball to try and keep up. In those passing downs, both backs got their opportunities and were relied on. Unfortunately for Sanders, he did fumble the ball in the red zone on the Eagles’ first drive of the game, ending a drive that he was heavily leaned on to open the game up. Sanders is a bit limited playing in such a struggling offense, but it would be nice to see some more production in the passing game. Sanders’ 5 targets were tied for third on the team, but he and Wentz just haven’t been able to consistently connect in the passing game.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD
Jalen Reagor: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 52 yards
Richard Rodgers: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD
Greg Ward: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 9 yards
Travis Fulgham: 7 targets, 1 reception, 8 yards
Alshon Jeffery: 2 targets, 0 receptions
With the Eagles forced to retreat into a passing attack throughout, the most effective pass option in this game was Dallas Goedert, who hauled in a touchdown late in the game with the Eagles down by two scores. Early in the game, he was Wentz’s favorite target, as they connected on a few shots deeper downfield for over 20 yards.
As long as we’re talking about tight end options, we should mention Richard Rodgers who as seen above caught one of Wentz’s two touchdowns. He also was who Wentz looked to in a crucial third-down conversion, reminding us of how much Wentz trusts his tight end options.
The most effective wide receiver for Philadelphia was easily Jalen Reagor making the most of his targets more downfield, while Greg Ward became Wentz’s short route option. While Wentz did look to connect with Travis Fulgham the most of all these options, the two struggled to connect including a target on Wentz’s interception which was overturned by instant replay. This is the second-straight game that Fulgham and Wentz and failed to connect on their opportunities.
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield: 12/22, 204 yards, 3 sacks | 6 carries, 9 yards
The weather had a clear effect on Baker Mayfield, as the Browns had a gameplan to keep the ball on the ground due to the weather and not force the game into Mayfield’s hands. He had an opportunity to add a touchdown pass to his stat line but overthrew an open Austin Hooper in the back of the endzone. Mayfield spread the ball around when he did drop back to pass but definitely seemed to be affected in some way by the weather, including one fumble lost, leading to an eventual Eagles’ touchdown.
Running Backs
Nick Chubb: 20 carries, 114 yards
Kareem Hunt: 13 carries, 11 yards, 1 TD | 1 target, 1 reception, 10 yards
Lead by Nick Chubb, the Browns’ running game was extremely effective on Sunday with the weather allowing them to lean on the ground game and the offensive line creating many opportunities, at least for Chubb. Chubb looked like his old self, breaking off some longer runs and finding the opening hole, not at all looking affected by his formerly suffered injury.
Nick Chubb MY GOODNESS. #Browns
📺: #PHIvsCLE on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/XvGQdBFS2I pic.twitter.com/ycXDeoS2zy— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2020
The Browns still tried to get Kareem Hunt involved on the ground, but the Eagles were able to mostly get to him in the backfield behind the line of scrimmage. He did however break off a five-yard touchdown run to the outside avoiding a tackle and hurdling over defenders into the endzone for one of the better runs of the game. He also was used two straight times at the goal line early in the game on third and fourth down, not making it into the endzone after one touchdown was overturned by replay.
Kareem Hunt hurtles his way in. #FantasyFootball | #Browns pic.twitter.com/JJosFd2Jxb
— QB List (@TheQBlist) November 22, 2020
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
KhaDarel Hodge: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 73 yards
Rashard Higgins: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 65 yards
Austin Hooper: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 33 yards
Jarvis Landry: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 23 yards
With the weather and the Browns’ run-first offense, it was a quiet day in the passing game on Sunday. I already mentioned the touchdown target to Austin Hooper that was overthrown to him, but Hooper had himself a decent game in terms of work and opportunity on conversion attempts. Mayfield took a few deep shots downfield to KhaDarel Hodge and hit on some of them, an effective weapon downfield in this game, along with Rashard Higgins who made the most of his opportunities as Mayfield’s most consistent receiver this game. With the rushing attack being leaned on, Jarvis Landry had himself a quiet game as he was only looked to twice. He made the most of those opportunities as he caught both passes, but is the type of player that needs more volume to be fantasy-relevant.
— Callen Elslager (@callen_elslager on Twitter and Reddit)