Browns @ Eagles
Final Score: PHI 20 – CLE 16
Writer: Chris Helle (@ChrisHelleQBL on Twitter)
The Eagles got both of their star wideouts back on the field, and boy were they missed. This game started with four straight punts before Jake Elliott connected on a 49-yard field goal. A second 3-and-out from the Browns was responded by a 10-play drive capped by a 22-yard touchdown to A.J. Brown. Cleveland clawed their way back after getting into field goal range to cut the lead to 10-3, then Myles Garrett blocked another attempt by Elliott that was returned for a touchdown. Coming out of halftime in a tie game, Dustin Hopkins missed a 52-yard attempt that would have taken the lead for Cleveland. The two teams traded punts and back-to-back field goals before Jalen Hurts connected with Devonta Smith on a shallow crosser that he took the rest of the way for a 45-yard touchdown. Down by only seven, Cleveland marched down the field to the Eagles’ 3-yard line, but two false starts forced them to settle for a field goal and the hopes to get the ball back. Philly got a few first downs to burn timeouts, and a final 40-yard throw to Brown sealed the deal.
Two Up
- A.J. Brown – In case anyone forgot how good this man is, he reminded you today. His ability to bring in catches through contact and contested balls is second to none.
- Jalen Hurts – Not that he played especially well, but he is definitely happy to have his receivers back. He also looks much more fluid in open space when running the ball.
One Down
- Jerome Ford – Ford was injured early in the game and was ruled out not long after going to the locker room. Hopefully, the injury isn’t severe, nonetheless, his volume share on this offense will definitely take a hit with a crowded backfield behind him and Nick Chubb returning off IR,
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Deshaun Watson: 16/23, 168 Yards | 4 Attempts, 17 Yards
Watson has received much-deserved criticism through the start of the season; and while he shouldn’t take full blame for this loss, he isn’t the man to carry his team when they need a spark. Most of his completions came from short quick throws, with almost every throw over 10 yards inaccurately landing incomplete. He was sacked five times – sometimes from unblocked rushers, but also from his indecisiveness in the pocket. His best plays came when he did manage to escape pressure, and recognize he has space to scramble for respectable gains.
Running Back
Nick Chubb: DNP
His return from IR is imminent as his 21-day practice window opened this past week.
Jerome Ford: 2 Attempts, 14 Yards
Ford only had two carries, one on each of the first two drives. After his second carry, he hobbled off the field with an apparent injury. After being taken back to the locker room, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Pierre Strong: 8 Attempts, 43 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 35 Yards
With Ford being taken out of the game, snaps were split fairly evenly between Strong and D’onta Foreman. Strong was on the field for the early downs and was definitely the more explosive of the two backs. Both of his receptions came on releases to the flat out of the backfield and he took both for over 10 yards.
D’onta Foreman: 10 Attempts, 31 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards
Foreman’s best run of the day went for 12 yards but was taken back due to a holding penalty. Every other touch he got was rather uninspired short, hard-earned gains. Both of his receptions were on play-action throwbacks to him, but the bigger back isn’t as elusive in open space as Strong. With Chubb’s return on the near horizon, Foreman’s performance today did not do himself any favors to keep getting time on the field.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Amari Cooper: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 42 Yards
Three of Cooper’s receptions were for over 10 yards downfield, with a single 5-yard hitch in the mix. He dropped his first target, which was definitely a catchable ball. A fade down the sideline went incomplete as Watson overthrew him, and he cut off his route as Watson expected a go-route. He also grabbed the defender’s facemask for a penalty on another target that doesn’t appear on the stat line. While six targets isn’t a ton, it could have been a more productive day had it not been for these missed opportunities and miscommunications.
David Njoku: 7 Targets, 5 Reception, 31 Yards
Njoku suited up after logging some limited practices this week, but the team should be grateful to have had him out there. All five of his receptions were either in the flat, screens, or short slants. The two incompletions were a ball thrown at his feet and an impressive break-up by the defender, both also on slant routes. He’s usually able to break tackles, especially the first defender, but wasn’t able to do so on any of his touches today.
Jerry Jeudy: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 35 Yards
Cooper and Njoku served roles as chain movers, whereas Jeudy stretched the field vertically. Unfortunately for the speedster, Watson’s throws were well off the mark. His lone completion came on the Browns’ last drive of the game on a dig across the middle of the field.
Elijah Moore: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards
Jaelon Darden: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 6 Yards
Cedric Tillman: 0 Targets | 1 Attempt, -5 Yards
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts: 16/25, 264 Yards, 2 TDs | 14 Attempts, 33 Yards
This actually was not a very good game from Hurts. Early on, he was forcing the ball toward A.J. Brown with pretty inaccurate passes. Most of his passing yards came from runs after the catch or two plays where he chucked it up in A.J.’s direction and let him bail out an underthrown pass. Last season he got many touchdowns on “brotherly shove” QB sneaks, but today all four were only for first downs. He did look much faster and more agile on his runs when he got into open space, which was reassuring to see after battling issues with his knee last season.
Running Back
Saquon Barkley: 18 Attempts, 47 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 7 Yards
Barkley had his least efficient game of the season, even after only touching the ball 14 times against Tampa Bay two weeks ago. Despite the Eagles’ offense line being considered one of the best lines in the league, the Browns’ front was very impressive at clogging up the trenches. The play calls didn’t do Saquon any favors as most of his runs were between the tackles. Lane Johnson returned from his concussion, but late in the game, Jordan Mailata went down with an undisclosed injury.
Kenneth Gainwell: 3 Attempts, 23 Yards | 1 Target, 0 Receptions
Wide Receiver/Tight End
A.J. Brown: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 116 Yards, 1 TD
A.J. stole the show again. His only incompletions were due to a miscommunication back shoulder throw from Hurts that he overran, and a deep ball that Hurts overthrew. However, it wasn’t long before the two connected on an incredible catch through contact in the endzone. His hamstring injury seems to have been fully subsided as his intermediate routes are fast and create space.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1845524559287685305
Devonta Smith: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 64 Yards, 1 TD
Don’t forget about the former 10th overall draft pick. A.J. Brown may play the more prominent role in this offense, but Smith takes advantage of coverage mismatches and is as fast as anyone in the league. Almost all of his yards came on his touchdown, but this was the least amount of targets he’s seen in a game since Week 9 of last season.
https://www.twitter.com/Eagles/status/1845546948947845184
Dallas Goedert: 1 Target, 0 Receptions
Unfortunately, Goedert suffered a hamstring injury on the first drive of the game. The severity of the injury and timeline to return are to be determined, but it’s worth noting that the Eagles’ staff was very cautious with bringing back A.J. Brown from his pulled hamstring.
Grant Calcaterra: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 67 Yards
Jahan Dotson: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 10 Yards | 1 Attempt, 13 Yards