NFL expert notes: Browns rediscover their identity in the middle of drama, Patriots in thick of race and more from Week 9.
And also, why the Cowboys looked so bad in a dismayed loss to Broncos.
Kevin Stefanski will always remember his first NFL win. And he will always remember his first playoff victory, as his Browns took apart the competing Steelers in Pittsburgh in January. But what his team did Sunday, possibly, may resonate much more than those 2 turning point accomplishments.
At once when it was ending up being style to write off the Cleveland football group as the same 'ol Browns, or an one-year wonder, or an over-hyped outfit-- especially amid all the tumult from Odell Beckham, Jr.'s eventual departure-- Stefanski's group stepped up, played dominant football on both sides of the round and made a declarative statement of intent regarding staying a consider the AFC North race.
You could try to decrease it, if you like, by stating it came with the expenditure of the Bengals. Yet it is precisely as a result of that, to me, that the success holds more meaning. At the actual time when Cincy required to put its finest foot ahead after stumbling to the Jets last week, at the very time that really young group needed to recover its confidence as well as show that the Bengals might duplicate what the startup Browns did a year earlier, it was the Browns dominating and also determining from the opening drive.
The Browns found their identity as well as mojo in this 41-16 thrashing at Cincinnati, as well as most importantly embattled quarterback Baker Mayfield performed skillfully, looked every bit the part of the leader of this group as well as squashed any remaining yammering concerning the OBJ separation by publishing a 132.6 rating versus a Bengals pass protection that showed up truly elite till a couple of weeks ago. Second-year burner Donovan Peoples-Jones had an outbreak game long presaged by his stellar training school, becoming the new downfield danger, and the Browns returned to absolutely smothering challengers on the ground, with Nick Chubb rushing for simply under 10 backyards per carry on his 14 attempts.
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However that was only half the tale.
The Browns protection threatened to have much more bite as well as influence on protection this season, and also my oh my did that reveal itself from the opening kickoff on Sunday. Myles Garrett continued his Defensive Gamer of the Year press, and also he had a lot of firm as the Browns proceeded Joe Burrow's current string of turnover-prone play, starting with a 99-yard choice 6 by Denzel Ward. They chose Burrow again and also took the Bengals offense off the area once again early by removing Ja'Marr Chase for a fumble recovery (the Bengals were fortunate not to shed any one of their various other 3 fumbles). That sustained a 24-7 lead simple minutes into the 2nd quarter, as well as the result was never in doubt.
The one-sided triumph offered multi-purposes, of both strengthening the Browns' playoff hopes and also establishing them up for an intriguing 2nd half, in addition to handing the in-state competitors a second straight troubling loss that can send them into a long term tailspin (take an optimal at Cincy's second-half schedule).
More than anything else, it enables Mayfield to loosen up, it additionally emboldens Stefanski and also GM Andrew Berry as well as their imprint on this franchise business's turn-around, as well as it closes the chapter on the OBJ experiment-- one that started prior to their arrival-- with am emphatic triumph that might be a springboard for much more narrative-changing play ahead.
Patriots all of a sudden very much in thick of points.
Do not look currently, but the New England Patriots are hiding.
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Yeah, beating the plunging Panthers is no great accomplishment, but it was just how they did it that portends advantages. The defense was asphyxiating once again, as well as they continued to flex their renewed running video game, going for 151 against a solid protection. With the Expenses laying an egg at Jacksonville, New England Patriots has as numerous success as any kind of team in the AFC East.
They are bringing novice quarterback Mac Jones in a wise as well as timely manner as well as have actually been quite excellent the last six weeks, all things considered. They are 4-2 and, keep in mind, damn near spoiled Tom Brady's go back to Foxborough in that span and likewise lost a heartbreaker to a Dallas team that people have actually been in a hurry to crown all period.
The Patriots are not hot, but they understand who they are and also they have one of the greatest instructors in the background of the video game. The weather is transforming, they are developed for that time of year and they certainly seem like a team that is headed in the best instructions.
Broncos also physical for Cowboys in astonishment.
The Broncos out-physicalled the Cowboys. Straight up. Perhaps Dak Prescott should have taken one more week off to more heal up, because this was the most awful the Cowboys infraction has actually looked in a very long time, and full marks to the Broncos for making it happen. Denver had virtually 100 rushing lawns in the initial fifty percent alone, suppressed the Dallas run video game, battered the Cowboys' selection of receivers, and also held the round for 41:12(!). The score was 30-0 with less than 10 mins to play. Not sure if this was some type of statement ready Denver after trading Von Miller, but couple of in the organization would have seen this coming, as well as it certainly makes the AFC West extra fascinating with the Raiders stumbling at the Giants.
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