What We Saw: Week 11

Browns @ Bills

(Game played at Ford Field in Detroit)

Final Score: Bills 31, Browns 23

Writer: Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)

On the schedule, this will read as a home game for the Bills. In reality, winter weather forced the game to move to Ford Field to utilize the domed field there, so this was more of a neutral site game than anything. The Browns started off strong and were looking like they were about to give the Bills a run for their money, but in typical fashion they lost momentum – although this time they almost actually came back until finding another way to lose via special teams. The Bills, on the other hand, started off slow but ended incredibly strong, keeping the game just out of reach. It was entertaining to say the very least.

Cleveland Browns

Quarterback

Jacoby Brissett: 28/41, 324 Yards, 3 TD | 7 Carries, 29 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost)

When the Browns find themselves throwing this much, it’s usually not a good sign for their chances of victory. Surprisingly, Jacoby Brissett had a great fantasy day mostly thanks to two passing scores in the fourth quarter while playing catchup. It could’ve been even better. The Browns found themselves playing from behind early in the game and never could catch back up. The Browns failed to establish the run game which required them to rely on the passing game to move the ball. The Browns lost their starting center Pocic early in the game, which came back to haunt them later in the form of a lost fumble due to a botched snap. Brissett wasn’t perfect, but you couldn’t ask for more out of your backup quarterback.

over the top on the fade route ⬆️👏

📺: #CLEvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/pM2wnZCD5g

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 20, 2022

Running Back

Kareem Hunt: 5 Carries, 32 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 22 Yards

Nick Chubb: 14 Carries, 19 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 48 Yards

This was an outright embarrassing showing by this group of talented backs. The game script was not friendly to the Browns rushing game. Combine that with a tough Buffalo defense and the starting center going out due to injury, it was a recipe for disaster. It did create a few extra targets to the backfield, if you were looking for a silver lining. Kareem Hunt was the more efficient back, but with his longest rush going for just 11 yards, simply couldn’t find any space to keep the ball moving and get in rhythm. Nick Chubb was kept in check all game, getting hit just after receiving the handoff a couple of times. The Bills dominated the trenches and it showed. Chubb was able somewhat salvage his PPR score, thanks to this screen early in the game:

screen pass run to perfection 🤌

📺: #CLEvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/DV74V3QbNL

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 20, 2022

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Amari Cooper: 12 Targets, 8 Receptions, 113 Yards, 2 TD

Donovan Peoples-Jones: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 61 Yards, TD

Harrison Bryant: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 41 Yards

David Bell: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 22 Yards

David Njoku: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 17 Yards

Pharaoh Brown: 1 Target

The Browns had a bad case of the dropsies today. Amari Cooper had two receptions for 40 yards and a score on the opening drive. He was targeted throughout the game as he had 30% of the total targets. He was able to cash in late in the game as it was closing in on garbage time to make his fantasy day stellar. He’s clearly the first read in the offense and that isn’t changing. David Bell contributed four receptions for a meager 22 yards as mostly a safety valve. Harrison Bryant brought in four of his seven targets for 41 yards – one of the drops was an open touchdown score. Pharaoh Brown also dropped his lone target for a touchdown on the same drive as the Browns ended up settling for a field goal. David Njoku looked good as he is working his way back from injury after a hot start to the season. Tight ends were targeted 11 times, which is a good sign for Njoku’s future. Donovan Peoples-Jones continues to make a case as the Browns long-term WR2. He was kept in check for most of the game till a late score to set up the eventual failed onside kick for the Browns:

DPJ pulls down the contested catch for the TD

📺: #CLEvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/LL0GD7d60H

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 20, 2022

Buffalo Bills

Quarterback

Josh Allen: 18/27, 197 Yards, TD | 3 Carries, 7 Yards

Consider the Bills scored 31 points, you would expect Josh Allen to have a decent game. He didn’t have a bad game by any means, but it was very…. meh. He got off to a slow start, missing a few of his first few throws before settling in and letting his teammates do the hard work. Allen definitely isn’t feeling 100% yet, but he was feeling good enough to manage this game. Take care of the ball and good things happen. Even when Allen couldn’t put six on the board, he still got his team in position to end the drive with three. Considering the talk about his elbow injury not even 10 days ago, it’s impressive to see him throw darts like this:

Stefon Diggs has entered the chat.

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/lVy8VinPeo

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 20, 2022

Running Back

Devin Singletary: 18 Carries, 86 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 11 Yards

James Cook: 11 Carries, 86 Yards | 2 Targets

Nyheim Hines: 1 Carry, -8 Yards | 1 Target

With a lead for almost the entire game and a QB who is less than 100%, the Bills leaned heavily on their run game. The trio of running backs combined for 30 total rushing attempts to go with five combined targets. Singletary and Cook combined to average nearly six yards per carry. James Cook gashed the Browns defense for 29 yards to keep the ball moving on his way to 86 yards on 11 carries. Newly acquired Nyheim Hines was hit in the backfield on his lone carry and was not a factor. Devin Singletary was the workhorse, carrying the ball 18 times as the lead back in this split backfield. Game script was very friendly to this group as it kept them involved all game.

Wheels activated. 😤

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/1MIEhlBegt

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 20, 2022

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Dawson Knox: 7 Targets, 7 Receptions, 70 Yards

Gabe Davis: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 68 Yards

Stefon Diggs: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 48 Yards, TD

Isaiah McKenzie: 1 Target

With Josh Allen having a pretty relaxed day, this group didn’t have much of a fantasy ceiling as they watched their running backs run up and down the field. Dawson Knox was Mr. Reliable for Allen today, bringing in all seven of his targets for 70 yards. His chemistry with his QB looked great. Gabe Davis botched the onside kickoff towards the end of the game but it ended up not mattering. He was was tied with Knox at seven targets, bringing in five of them for 68 yards. Stefon Diggs was having a very casual game until the end of the first half where he brought in a short score. Otherwise, this entire passing offense didn’t need to do much

Let it snow!