The Browns came to Landover, Maryland today with their playoff hopes already gone. Unfortunately, this has become a familiar position for Browns fans; weeks left in a season only to play meaningless football. While there weren’t playoff implications for the Cleveland side, this was a must-win game for the Washington Commanders. Additionally, the Browns needed to get a promising performance out of Deshaun Watson and the offense. After a few weeks of playing stagnant on offense, questions have been circling from media and fans about the future of the team.
First Quarter:
In the first quarter of the game the Browns defense came out and gave the Commanders quite a bit of trouble. A little more than halfway through the quarter Ward picked off Wentz which resulted in the Browns settling for a thirty-seven-yard field goal. Browns led 3-0 with 9:26 to play in the first quarter.
On the following drive the Commanders, near the Browns forty-yard-line, decided to go for it on fourth down and yard to gain. The Browns managed to get a stop and force another turnover. After a few rushing attempts by Nick Chubb resulted in decent gains the Browns settled for a short field goal. However, after an offsides call which, the Browns accepted. The field goal was called back, and the Browns decided to go for it on fourth-down and four yards to gain. The fourth-down play Stefanski and the offense decided to go with was a QB draw. The play ended in Watson being gobbled up by the Commanders defensive line at about the two-yard line.
Second Quarter:
The majority of the second quarter was centered around a twenty-one-play drive by the Commanders that started at their four-yard line. The drive saw multiple third down conversions and was capped off with a fourth and goal play with less than a yard to gain. Wentz kept the ball himself and used his 6’5 frame to leap over the line and get the ball across the goal-line. Commanders scored the first touchdown of the game with twenty-one seconds remaining in the half. Commanders would head into halftime with a 7-3 lead.
As mentioned above, the Browns offense continued to look stagnant. Deshaun Watson finished the first half with just twenty-three passing yards.
Third Quarter:
The third quarter opened with a drive by the Washington Commanders that resulted in a punt. The Browns regained possession with just under thirteen minutes to go in the third quarter. After struggling to complete passes in the first half, Watson completed his first pass of the second half for seven yards to Harrison Bryant. Following that pass the Browns continued working the ball down field mixing in pass, run, and a QB draw. Eventually, Watson completed his second pass of the half, this time to Amari Cooper for what would be a forty-six-yard touchdown. Browns regained the lead at 10-7.
Amari Cooper goes all way for 46 yards!
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Following the Browns scoring drive the Commanders found themselves in a third down and eight yards to gain situation. The down took place at the fifty-yard line. After Carson Wentz took a few steps back to set for a pass downfield the play was quickly blown up by Myles Garrett who recorded his fifteenth sack of the season and his seventy-third in orange and brown.
The Browns regained possession relying heavily on the rushing attack. With five of the first six plays on the ground. The drive would finish with Watson finally looking comfortable in the QB1 role. Watson completed three passes on the drive the first two for more than twenty yards each. Watson’s final completion of the drive would be a thirteen-yard pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones in the middle of the field resulting in a touchdown and extending the lead to 17-7.
The Commanders would takeover following the Browns touchdown with only thirty-six seconds remining in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
The fourth quarter saw the Commanders continuing their drive ultimately resulting in a forty-three-yard field goal bringing the score back to a one score game at 17-10.
The Browns would get the ball back with just over ten minutes to go in the game. Watson continued looking comfortable as the game progressed into the final minutes. This drive would last nine plays and go seventy-five yards downfield ending with a thirty-three-yard touchdown pass from Watson to Cooper. This would once again extend the lead for the Browns, moving the score to 24-10, which would be the final score of the game.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, Watson played a strong second half of football. There were a lot of questions going into this game and the first half looked equally concerning. However, the second half was something to build on. Hopefully next week, the final week of the season, we will see more of this second half and finish off the season on a high note.
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