3) The Future is Bright
In that vein, this game served as more than just confirmation that Mayfield is growing into the franchise QB this organization has longed for. It was a statement from a young team that while the 2018 season hasn’t gone their way, the future is very bright on the shores of Lake Erie.
Rookie running back Nick Chubb continued to prove general manager John Dorsey right for moving on from Carlos Hyde and getting him more touches. The second-round pick ripped off 176 rushing yards on 20 carries, good for an 8.8 yards per carry average. None were bigger than the one he busted for a 92-yard touchdown with nine minutes left in the third quarter. It was the longest run in Browns franchise history, the second-longest run by a rookie in NFL history.
Definitely worth re-watching…
92.
Yards.
To.
The.
House.#ATLvsCLE pic.twitter.com/O4hCSxzwiV— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 11, 2018
Chubb also caught a touchdown from Mayfield and finished with three receptions on the day. Then there is veteran RB Duke Johnson, who followed up his nine catch, two TD performance last week, with a four catch, one TD outing against Atlanta. Every single time Mayfield has targeted Johnson the last two weeks, he has caught the pass. Just another thing Kitchens has figured out that neither Haley or Hue Jackson could: how to use Johnson. This Chubb and Johnson Browns backfield has a case for best running back tandem in football for years to come.
As much as there was to be encouraged about on the offensive side of the ball, the defense was equally as impressive despite all the injuries that unit has sustained this season. More on this later, but younger talents like linebacker Joe Schobert, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, cornerbacks Denzel Ward and T.J. Carrie were very impactful today. These young Browns are no joke. They haven’t put it all together yet but they are well on their way
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