Buccaneers @ Browns
Final Score: Browns 23, Buccaneers 17
Writer: Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)
It was a gross, rainy Sunday morning in Cleveland as Tom Brady and the Buccaneers came into Cleveland looking to get over .500. The Browns were looking to bounce back after a rough last few games, and it seems like Jacoby Brissett‘s likely last game as the starting QB was the catalyst the team needed. It wasn’t the highest-scoring game, with the weather creating an extra challenge for both offenses, but it was still an entertaining game from start to finish. The Browns ended up hanging on to take home the overtime victory thanks to Brissett’s heroics. If you noticed circles on the field this game, your eyes weren’t playing tricks on you – a man broke into Cleveland Browns stadium and did donuts on the field last week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Tom Brady: 29/43, 246 Yards, 2 TD, 3 Sacks | 1 Carry, 2 Yards
Considering just how bad the Browns have been at stopping the run this season, it was surprising to see Tom Brady throw it 43 times. It’s usually a bad sign when you only complete around 67% of those attempts. Game script called for some bigger plays throughout the game, as penalties and sacks created some bad situations for the offense. A few 50/50 balls didn’t go the way of the Buccaneers and it showed with Brady’s yardage total. Brady never looked comfortable in the pocket, as Myles Garrett was breathing down his neck all game. This got even worse when Tristan Wirfs was carted off and might spell doom for Brady’s pass protection moving forward if Wirfs misses time. Although Brady was able to throw for two scores, he was never able to get anything going in overtime. In general, you would expect more than 17 points from this offense against a defense such as the Browns.
#1Fo for 6️⃣
📺: #TBvsCLE on FOX pic.twitter.com/F2MUvgThIi
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 27, 2022
Running Back
Rachaad White: 14 Carries, 64 Yards | 9 Targets, 9 Receptions, 45 Yards
Ke’Shawn Vaughn: 4 Carries, 15 Yards
In general, 18 carries typically is not a recipe for success. Ke’Shawn Vaugh, with four carries for 15 yards, acted as the spell back behind Rachaad White. White did the majority of his damage on a 35-yard run in the first quarter and was held in check otherwise. He was able to stay involved in the offense as he brought in all nine of this targets for 45 yards as he helped keep drives moving all game. The lack of pass protection for Brady required some checkdowns, and White capitalized big time on those opportunities. The Buccaneers had the lead about halfway through the third quarter until the final moments of regulation, but still leaned heavily on the passing game. The playcalling was weird to watch.
Little trickeration with @juliojones_11 🌀
📺: #TBvsCLE on FOX pic.twitter.com/IhGRidbKnY
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 27, 2022
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Chris Godwin: 13 Targets, 12 Receptions, 110 Yards, TD
Julio Jones: 1 Carry, 15 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 40 Yards
Mike Evans: 9 Targets, 2 Receptions, 31 Yards
Cameron Brate: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards
Ko Kieft: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards, TD
Breshad Perriman: 1 Target
Mike Evans had a pretty quiet day on nine targets, bringing in only two for 31 yards. Congratulations to Mr. Evans for being the first Tampa Bay player to achieve 10,000 receiving yards. Evans was smothered all game and was clearly the focus of the Browns defense – 28 of his 31 yards came from one catch. Cameron Brate also brought in just two of his five targets for 15 yards and was mostly a safety valve for Brady. Julio Jones gashed the Browns for a 26 of his 40 receiving yards on a single play as well, but was kept in check otherwise. The Buccaneers got creative with playcalling and got the ball to Julio on an end-around, and he still looked like the physical freak he is known to be. Chris Godwin benefitted the most from the focus on Mike Evans, as he was targeted a whopping 13 times, bringing in 12 for 110 yards and a score. Godwin was a tough cover for the Browns secondary and just kept getting open. Ko Kieft brought in his only target for a five yard score that was apparently the desert to his Thanksgiving dinner:
First NFL TD for @KoKieft 🙌
📺: #TBvsCLE on FOX pic.twitter.com/UkKIPDovbi
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 27, 2022
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett: 23/37, 210 Yards, TD, INT, 4 Sacks | 2 Carries, 27 Yards
Jacoby Brissett did his best to impersonate his former teammate, against his former teammate in Tom Brady. This was probably one of the best games for Brissett this season, even with the lack of scores. A couple of his passes were outright dropped, likely due to the weather. Brissett’s 27 rushing yards came at key moments, as both runs went for first downs and kept the drive going. Brissett’s decision making in this game was top notch. He took a few bad sacks when he likely should’ve thrown it away, but that’s about all the criticism I can come up with. Brissett has likely seen his last game as a starter for the Browns as Deshaun Watson returns from suspension next week. Brissett impacted the game on all levels on his way out – he throw, he run, but most importantly, he block:
Anthony takes off for 6 ⚡️
that crucial block from Jacoby though!! 👀 pic.twitter.com/JYZMoHzqpm
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 27, 2022
I love this block a lot.
Running Back
Nick Chubb: 26 Carries, 116 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 16 Yards
Kareem Hunt: 5 Carries, 15 Yards | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 6 Yards
Now this… this is the type of game we have come to expect from Nick Chubb – 27 total touches for 132 yards and a score. The Browns were able to lean on Chubb throughout the game as the game script did not completely remove him from the game like it did last week. Chubb ran hard all game like he always does and the Buccaneers had a heck of a time bringing him down, especially later in the game. He was kept out of the end zone until overtime where he slammed in a score from three yards out. Kareem Hunt was used sporadically and never really got anything going. He was on the field for plenty of snaps, but was tasked to do other things than running the ball. His usage has been disappointing this season, but it’s allowed Chubb to thrive.
Nick was not going to be denied 💪🙏
📺: #TBvsCLE on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/aW2qJSXwM9— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 27, 2022
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Amari Cooper: 12 Targets, 7 Receptions, 94 Yards
David Njoku: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 29 Yards, TD
David Bell: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 23 Yards
Anthony Schwartz: 1 Carry, 31 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 17 Yards
Donovan Peoples-Jones: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards
Harrison Bryant: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 9 Yards
Amari Cooper‘s home/away splits continue to be something fun to monitor this season. Start this man during home games for sure. Cooper brought in seven of his 12 targets for 94 yards. He would’ve eclipsed the 100 yard mark had he not outright dropped a costly 4th-and-9. The Browns overtime win was set up by Cooper roasting Carlton Davis at the line of scrimmage which left him wide open for a 45-yard catch. David Bell usage in this offense is ramping up. After getting just 11 total targets through the first seven games of the season, Bell has now been targeted 16 times over the last three games. He didn’t do a whole lot with his six targets, bringing in four for 23 yards, but the opportunity is there. Anthony Schwartz made his mark on the game with a 31-yard rushing score on a reverse (the one where Brissett laid the block of the century clipped above) and also brought in one of his two targets for 17 yards. Schwartz is another player that is starting to get more involved in this offense. Donovan Peoples-Jones and Harrison Bryant were kept in check as both brought in two targets for 25 total yards. Kept quiet until the fourth quarter, David Njoku brought in the most important catch of the game as he hauled in this leaping one-handed catch in the back of the end zone to send the game to overtime:
one hand for the tie!!! 🤯 @David_Njoku80
📺: #TBvsCLE on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/yqrF3Gvffc pic.twitter.com/9NbqiH9s9n— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 27, 2022
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your loved ones. I know I am thankful for my guys here at QB List, as well as you, the reader. We wouldn’t be here without you.