What We Saw: Week 14

The What We Saw team recaps everything you missed from Week 14

Ben Brown
What We Saw A Year Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Patriots @ Steelers
Buccaneers @ Falcons
Lions @ Bears
Colts @ Bengals
Jaguars @ Browns
Panthers @ Saints
Texans @ Jets
Rams @ Ravens
Vikings @ Raiders
Seahawks @ 49ers
Bills @ Chiefs
Broncos @ Chargers
Eagles @ Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cleveland Browns

Final Score: Browns 31, Jaguars 27

Writer: Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)

 

The Jacksonville Jaguars went on the road to Cleveland to face one of the league’s top defensive units. Trevor Lawrence was declared active after what looked like a very serious ankle injury last week. The Browns declared their starting quarterback later in the week, and now lean on veteran quarterback and former division rival Joe Flacco to guide their offense the rest of the season. The Browns took the lead early in the first quarter and never looked back as they protected that lead to the final whistle, even as the Jaguars scored twice in the final frame. Both teams now sit at 8-5 on the season.

 

Three Up

  • David Njoku – The targets continue to find their way to David Njoku and he did the most with them in this game.
  • Evan Engram – Set multiple personal records and a new team mark with today’s performance.
  • Joe Flacco – It has been a while for  Joe Flacco, but he earned his accolades with a surprisingly impressive showing.

Three Down

  • Calvin Ridley – Needed to step up with Christian Kirk injured, but for the second straight week, he failed to do so.
  • Zay Jones – Similar to Ridley, Zay Jones has had golden opportunities but hasn’t capitalized.
  • Dorian Thompson-Robinson – The Browns named Flacco as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season, so the proverbial handwriting is on the wall for DTR.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

 

Quarterback

 

Trevor Lawrence: 28/50, 257 Yards, 3 TD, 3 INT, 4 Sacks | 3 Carries, 11 Yards

After doing his best Paul Pierce impersonation last week, Trevor Lawrence was declared active and proceeded to sling it 50 times. The ankle sprain suffered last week wasn’t visibly noticeable from a physical standpoint; Trevor wasn’t obviously limping, but you can tell it was bothering him at times. The three passing scores make Trevor’s day look better than it actually was. He missed several throws, and his accuracy was generally problematic, as evidenced by his 56 percent completion rate. He was also responsible for three turnovers and was sacked four times. He needs Kirk back ASAP.

Notes

  • The interceptions were ugly.

 

 

 

Running Back

 

Travis Etienne Jr.: 14 Carries, 35 Yards, TD | 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 37 Yards

Playing from behind capped his fantasy potential on the ground but Travis Etienne Jr. helped his stat line with a hard-fought touchdown from short yardage. He was able to find a little bit of space in the passing game to add to his overall production but in general, it was a quiet day.

 

 

D’Ernest Johnson: 3 Carries, 12 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards

A potential “revenge game” for D’Ernest Johnson, but he didn’t get much of an opportunity; some thought he might see more action with Etienne nursing an injury. In limited action, Johnson had similar efficiency to fellow running back Travis Etienne, sans the touchdown.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Evan Engram: 12 Targets, 11 Receptions, 95 Yards, 2 TD

Evan Engram has been the clear beneficiary of the targets that would have typically gone to the injured Christian Kirk. Catching all but one of his 12 targets with two resulting in scores, Engram has been surging with the extra looks coming his way and that likely is not going to change based off of the production of his fellow pass catchers.

 

 

Calvin Ridley: 13 Targets, 4 Receptions, 53 Yards

The Browns are known for having a tough defense this year, especially in the secondary, with several talented defensive backs on the roster. With that said, Calvin Ridley struggled mightily for the majority of the game as the Browns’ corners blanketed him. When he had a step, Trevor Lawrence flat out missed him. He was able to secure a couple of balls towards the end of the game to add some sort of respectability to his statline but otherwise, Ridley didn’t do much of anything with plentiful opportunities.

 

Zay Jones: 14 Targets, 5 Receptions, 29 Yards

Similar to teammate Calvin Ridley, Zay Jones did little with the extra targets thrown his way; the team played from behind without Christian Kirk as the first read. Jones also struggled against the tough Browns defense and had to endure his own quarterback throwing bad balls. A mere 7.9 fantasy points on 14 targets is simply dreadful.

 

Parker Washington: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 27 Yards, TD, 1 Fumble (Lost)

Despite getting a fraction of the targets of his fellow pass-catchers, Parker Washington is now on a two-game touchdown streak after securing one in the fourth quarter. Washington showed toughness as he iced what was likely a broken nose on the sideline after bringing in the score and taking a shot. He did lose a fumble earlier in the game but that was more of a product of great defense than poor ball security. More opportunity may be on the horizon if his fellow pass-catchers continue to put forth lackluster production.

 

 

Cleveland Browns

 

Quarterback

 

Joe Flacco: 26/45, 311 Yards, 3 TD, INT, Sack | 4 Carries, -1 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost)

As a long-suffering Browns fan, Joe Flacco is a guy I never thought I would see in a Browns uniform, let alone starting games, let alone winning games. Even though he only joined the team a couple of weeks ago, Flacco already looks to have a comfortable understanding of the offense and the potential to be an above-average signal caller with the weapons on this roster. Flacco still has some zip in his throws and looks like the great decision-maker he has always been. The interception was not his fault (rub route gone wrong) and the fumble was blown protection resulting in a strip-sack. Against a tougher defense, Flacco may not have this type of production, but the opportunity is there otherwise.

 

Dorian Thompson-Robinson: 1 Carry, 5 Yards

Dorian Thompson-Robinson came in for a designed quarterback keeper as he is much more athletic than Joe Flacco. He successfully converted the first down.

 

Running Back

 

Jerome Ford: 12 Carries, 51 Yards | 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 31 Yards

Jerome Ford was heavily involved to open the game and helped to establish a lead for Cleveland at the outset. Later, more touches started going to Kareem Hunt to keep the clock running. Ford was able to add to his fantasy production with some dump-offs in the passing game but was otherwise kept quiet the further the game went on.

 

Kareem Hunt: 10 Carries, 27 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards

The efficiency wasn’t there, but Kareem Hunt looked unstoppable in short-yardage situations as the Browns needed him for a yard or two to keep the drive going. He plunged one into the endzone from four yards out on a direct snap in the third quarter on somewhat of a trick play. Even with the lead, the Browns didn’t lean on the rushing game as much as you would’ve expected.

 

Pierre Strong Jr.: 1 Carry, 0 Yards

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

David Njoku: 8 Targets, 6 Receptions, 91 Yards, 2 TD

Even with the quarterback carousel in Cleveland, David Njoku‘s target totals have continued to trend in the right direction for the most part. This week, he finally made the most of them as he found the end zone twice while bringing in six of eight targets. After suffering from a case of the dropsies the last couple weeks, Njoku looked more confident with the ball in his hands; he was able to stay on his feet and rack up yards after the catch against a soft Jaguars secondary.

 

 

Amari Cooper: 14 Targets, 7 Receptions, 77 Yards, 1 Fumble (Lost)

Amari Cooper would’ve had another “Moss’d ’em” entry if one of his sideline catches had been ruled complete, but Cooper just barely wasn’t able to touch his toes in bounds. His lost fumble was courtesy of some horrendous ball security which Cooper clearly regretted, given his sideline demeanor afterwards. He’s still the #1 target in Cleveland, and a more comfortable Flacco should continue to improve Cooper’s target quality as we near the final stretch of the regular season.

 

Elijah Moore: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 42 Yards

With the familiarity from their time on the Jets together, Joe Flacco treats Elijah Moore like his security blanket on a lot of underneath routes. I’d like to see him convert more of his targets into catches, but regardless he is still a consistent part of this offense. The scheme and playcalling in Cleveland unfortunately have been limiting his fantasy production, and I don’t see that changing.

 

David Bell: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 41 Yards, TD

David Bell‘s first career touchdown came courtesy of a ballsy call to go for it on fourth down with three yards to go in the fourth quarter of a very close, competitive game.

 

Cedric Tillman: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 23 Yards

 

Jordan Akins: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards

 

 

 

 

Series Navigation
Introduction
Patriots @ Steelers
Buccaneers @ Falcons
Lions @ Bears
Colts @ Bengals
Jaguars @ Browns
Panthers @ Saints
Texans @ Jets
Rams @ Ravens
Vikings @ Raiders
Seahawks @ 49ers
Bills @ Chiefs
Broncos @ Chargers
Eagles @ Cowboys

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