Browns v. Jaguars observations

The Browns held off the Jaguars 31–27 to improve to 8–5 on the season and inch closer to the playoffs with four more games left. Below are my observations from the game.

• This was a crazy game, so many turnovers, insane plays, head scratching decisions, multiple emotions in one play or another. In the end the Browns got on the right side of the bracket and improved to 6–1 at home. As written in earlier blogs, the Browns needed to reset everything at home and they did. It’s possible they could’ve ended this game earlier, but late in the season with a lot on the line, Jags weren’t going down easy.
• Game balls go to Njoku; Emerson; Greg Newsome; and Joe Flacco. It’s insane how well Flacco is playing considering he’s been here for like 5 minutes. There were quite a few tweets out there wondering why Flacco is playing this well already and it took multiple games for Watson to look even remotely good. Granted 15 yrs experience helps, but kinda makes me wonder if this team just needed a savvy vet to guide them through with how good the rest of the units are playing. Anyways glad things are coming together and this team didn’t do anything dumb near the end of the game and self-implode. Baby steps!
• Thought the Browns made this game close due to turnovers — Cooper’s fumble when he bizarrely switched hands after breaking a tackle (I’ve never seen that before) and then Flacco missing a slant read when he had Cooper wide open down the sideline. There was also the strip sack when the Browns could’ve ran the ball, etc,etc. The Jags couldn’t move to the ball until it was late in the game and they absolutely had to. I think if the Browns played a clean game this is at least a 20 point win. So Browns dominated this game. Granted one can say the Jags play a clean game, maybe they win, but felt there turnovers were right to us. Seriously Emerson’s two picks he was playing offense, Newsome’s pick he was basically the receiver. So it was a sloppy and wild game. Glad the Browns played clean enough at the end.
• The 4th down call to David Bell for the TD was crazy. I wanted them to go for it but it sure looked like a disaster. Until of course Bell was wide open and ran for an easy TD (his first pro one!!) and was basically smiling the last 20 yards. Stefanski called a solid game, but the Browns run game or lack thereof was and is troubling. Maybe if Dawand Jones was healthy it could’ve gone better, who knows. But I really liked the playcalling overall. The two Njoku TDs were fantastic as well!
• Moving forward, the Browns have 4 games left, Bears/Texans/Jets/Bengals. Really anything can happen, but Browns gotta go 2–2 at least. That gives them 10 wins and might just be enough. Bears did win big today, but I still think they stink and its in Cleveland. Texans could be an interesting one as CJ Stroud got hurt and also looked horrible against a Jets defense that’s pretty good but not Cleveland good. Then there’s the Bengals where anything can happen and Bengals have played pretty well the last two weeks. So Browns have chance to win out the rest of the season. If the playoffs started now, I believe they would play Jags anyways. That might be the best bet if they can’t get the division. Ravens won luckily in OT so they are still 2 games ahead. For the Browns that gotta win and get in and take nothing for granted. The injuries arent getting any better, but every other team is banged up too. I don’t see a team around that’s really hitting a stride moreso than anyone else. Texans and Colts losing today helped the Browns as they are now #1 in Wild Card. Just keep the pace Browns and you’re in the postseason despite everything going on. GO BROWNS!