What We Saw: Week 14

Rashaad Penny came out of nowhere to be a potential league winner. Who knew?

Ben Brown
What We Saw 2 Years Ago
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Introduction
Steelers @ Vikings
Cowboys @ Football Team
Jaguars @ Titans
Seahawks @ Texans
Raiders @ Chiefs
Saints @ Jets
Falcons @ Panthers
Ravens @ Browns
Giants @ Chargers
Lions @ Broncos
49ers @ Bengals
Bills @ Buccaneers
Bears @ Packers

Ravens @ Browns

Final Score: Browns 24, Ravens 22

Writer: Chris Sanzo (@Doombot12_FF on Twitter)

 

Last time it was Justin Tucker‘s record-setting game winner against the Lions, now Myles Garrett breaks the Browns single-season franchise sack record. When I watch Ravens games, history is made. I’m not saying it’s a gift, but it’s obviously a little magical. Magic aside, this was a slow game with a really fun ending and big highlights. Sadly, it was a little difficult to have too much fun with the apparent ankle injuries to both Lamar Jackson and Kareem Hunt. Injuries aside, the Browns ran the ball early and often, mixing in plenty of play-action to keep the pizazz, and the Ravens stalling out on 3rd downs and missing deep throws by just this much, is pretty much what I prepared for, as much I wanted to be wrong. The Browns’ solid execution and meticulous matriculation kept the Ravens playing from behind all day and in the end, the Ravens made it interesting with 4th down conversions and an onside kick recovery but weren’t able to set up for another Justin Tucker game winner.

 

 

Baltimore Ravens

 

 

Quarterback

 

Lamar Jackson: 4/4, 17 yards, 1 sack | 2 carries, 5 yards

Tyler Huntley: 27/38, 270 yards, TD, 3 sacks | 6 carries, 45 yards

 

This team needs Lamar back, but Tyler Huntley played well enough to give them a shot at a win despite being down huge at the half. He showed his elusiveness that kept the offense close to its game plan going in, but he didn’t move the ball down the field enough to keep them out of constant third and shorts and mediums, which for some reason continued to end in runs leading to punts. Too many possessions ended with ‘short outside run, miss downfield, B gap run, punt.’  If Lamar is out next week, they’re going to need to let Huntley open up the passing game.

 

 

Lamar Jackson suffered an ankle injury and was eventually carted off the field. In the post-game, Jim Harbaugh said, “Lamar has an ankle sprain, we’ll look at it more tomorrow and see where we’re at.”

 

 

Running Backs

 

Devonta Freeman: 13 carries, 64 yards | 5 targets, 5 receptions, 8 yards

Latavius Murray: 1 carry, 1 yard, TD

 

And now for an unfortunate setup I feel I’ve been forced to overuse… Hey, what happened in 2021 that I have to say this? Ugh. Here is video footage of Latavius Murray vulturing a 1 yard TD after Devonta Freeman carried the run game. Freeman actually looked really good and was close to breaking away a number of big plays but had one too many defenders on him each time. His cuts were quick, he ran low and strong at the point of contact and had good hands in the passing game as he was hit almost immediately after every catch.

 

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Marquise Brown: 8 targets, 5 receptions, 41 yards

Mark Andrews: 11 targets, 11 receptions, 115 yards, TD

Rashod Bateman: 8 targets, 7 receptions, 103 yards

Sammy Watkins: 2 targets

Devin Duvernay: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 14 yards

Josh Oliver: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards

 

This group was easily the most impressive I witnessed. This was the breakout game for Rashod Bateman that everyone was waiting for. He put on an absolute clinic. Every time the ball came his way, you knew he was coming down with it. Low in the dirt, got it. Down the sideline over defenders, got it. Need to set a block late in the half, he can do that. Oh, and then I guess we can just throw in a catch and run to set up that late field goal that quieted the crowd. It’s unfortunate that it may have all come at the expense of Sammy Watkins who was limping at the end of a route and was seemingly inactive afterward.

 

 

Mark Andrews was just as impressive. He and Bateman were the only pass catchers capable of picking up big downs and Mandrews reminded everyone about how his big games rival the best in the league. He made one-handed catches look routine and converted a big 4th down with the game potentially on the line. Marquise Brown should have had a much bigger night than he did. He was beating the secondary deep all game. It’s possibly because the defense was playing to protect the underneath as coverage never seemed heavy in the back of the zone, but even when the backs made a conscious effort to body him, he was still able to create separation and was ultimately overthrown by three yards.

 

 

Cleveland Browns

 

Quarterback

 

Baker Mayfield: 22/32, 190 yards, 2 TD, INT | 6 carries, 14 yards

 

This game was not won on the arm of Baker Mayfield. He had 32 pass attempts, yet he could not clear 200 yards in the air. Judging only by today, this offense is designed to run the ball, pray the defense gets turnovers, and throw deep hoping for penalties. If these offenses weren’t equally anemic, maybe there would have been more shots downfield, but when every 3rd down attempt is a handoff, RB target, or screen, the problem sticks out. Baker just simply did nothing to make me think the Browns needed him to play that game. They faced more than 10 first downs and the only one past the first down marker should have been intercepted. Kevin Stefanski wouldn’t even let him attempt to pick up the first on a 3rd and 13 later in the game and instead threw a five yard out and played for field position. They need more than what Case Keenum offers if they’re going to make any noise this year.

 

 

Running Backs

 

Nick Chubb: 17 carries, 59 yards | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 6 yards

D’Ernest Johnson: 4 carries, 22 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards

Kareem Hunt: 2 carries, 5 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 13 yards

Andy Janovich: 1 target, 1 reception, 3 yards

 

Nick Chubb was mostly kept in check all day as he was the focal point of the defense which shifted heavily to follow him on every play. Mayfield was incapable of opening the field for him and part of that was the positive game script. They had the early lead and outside of a couple big runs, he was met at or around the line consistently and was never a factor. Kareem Hunt is the main story here as he was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury after a low hit in the first quarter. The team has since responded to questions saying he would have been able to go back in had the need risen. Provided that’s real and not just coach speak, that’s great news for fantasy managers.

 

 

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Jarvis Landry: 8 targets, 5 receptions, 41 yards, TD

Donovan Peoples-Jones: 7 targets, 5 receptions, 90 yards

Austin Hooper: 7 targets, 5 receptions, 30 yards, TD

 

The wideouts were truly the stars of this game for both teams. Given the entirety of the receiving work, the trio of Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Austin Hooper answered the call. Austin Hooper played a solid game, keeping himself at the sticks and being aware of his leverage at the catch point. It was a strong game with their corps depleted.

 

 

Landry, like Hooper, was also able to find the end zone. He moved well and had the cleanest cuts on the field. His YAC ability and intelligence were a difference-maker in picking up firsts as even the small adjustments and dives forward were critical. It may not have been a big statistical day, as is the norm, but he was dependable as always.

 

 

Like Marquise Brown, DPJ should have had a bigger day. In the first quarter, he was able to split the defensive backs on a post but Mayfield, throwing into the wind, can’t seem to reach him without DPJ having to pull up to make the catch. The commentary was laughable, commending him for putting it on his “back shoulder,” but an underthrow is sometimes just an underthrow. If he hits him in stride, he’s high stepping in for six. The encouraging side of this is that he is developing into a well-rounded wideout, being used more in the shorter and intermediary levels than just a burner that lives on streaks.

 

 

— Chris Sanzo (@Doombot12_FF on Twitter)

Series Navigation
Introduction
Steelers @ Vikings
Cowboys @ Football Team
Jaguars @ Titans
Seahawks @ Texans
Raiders @ Chiefs
Saints @ Jets
Falcons @ Panthers
Ravens @ Browns
Giants @ Chargers
Lions @ Broncos
49ers @ Bengals
Bills @ Buccaneers
Bears @ Packers

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