Brownies and Frownies for Week 7: Browns can’t overcome Bengals in Battle of Ohio

First Battle of Ohio 2024 Edition goes to the Bengals as Browns can’t overcome mistakes

The “Battle of Ohio.” This year, that should be changed to the “Bust of Ohio.” Both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals have been pretty bad this season. Still, the loser of this game will claim the basement of the AFC North Division outright.

Neither club has a good offense and their defenses are pretty good just have to be on the field for what seems forever in each game.

At the final gun, the Bengals outlasted the Browns 21-14.

So who played well for the Browns? Who didn’t?

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BROWNIES

RB Nick Chubb – His return was supposed to spark this offense, but sadly, did for only a short burst on his touchdown run. Happy to see the caped crusader back out on the field, but in “football shape” he struggled a bit. He gained 11 yards early in the second quarter and you could hear the venue rock. Scored with just 56 ticks on the clock before halftime and the stadium literally moved three feet. 11 carries for 22 yards is the pedestrian version of Chubb especially his single catch for 10 yards. Welcome back!

P Corey Bojorquez – It is a sad sight that every week your team’s punter is one of the stars of the game. Bojo had four punts in the first half alone and finished with seven for 355 yards with three inside the 20 including one in the third quarter that was downed at the three. 50.7 yards per punt average with a long of 58 yards.

CB Denzel Ward – Was odd that Ward wasn’t on Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase for most of the game. Had his share of pass breakups that would have been large chunks of real estate. Slapped the ball away from WR Andrei Losivas on a key third-and-eight in the second quarter to force a punt. Right before the half Ward stuffed the larger TE Mike Gesicki for only a two-yard gain. With 12:02 remaining in the game facing a third-and-nine and Cincy trying to move downfield to ice the game, a long pass to Tee Higgins was caught by the receiver only to have Ward swipe it away on the descent to the turf. Three total tackles.

LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah – Another active day for the linebacker who is playing at a Pro Bowl pace. Led all tacklers with seven. When S Greg Newsome lost Higgins across the middle midway through the first stanza it was JOK who chased him down after a 17-yard gain. The Bengals could not run up the middle with JOK and LB Jordan Hicks filling gaps for short gains. In the final period with a third-and-seven, JOK hit RB Chase Brown for a three-yard gain which forced a punt.

TE David Njoku – I guess one playmaker is better than none, as Njoku filled that void. Had several good catches that moved the chains. Had a nice 13-yard grab as time was dwindling before halftime for a first down. Was overthrown several times as well as he was open.

CB M.J. Emerson – He had the responsibility to cover Chase who gained just 55 yards with just five catches. That in itself is a glorious day. Chase did score, but it was Newsome who could not cover him tightly. After that, it was Emerson’s job then Chase had a quiet day. Finished with six tackles and two batted passes.

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FROWNIES

OT Jed Wills – Absolutely the last year in a Browns’ uniform. Had no answer to DE Trey Hendrickson all game. With 8:43 left in the game, Hendrickson went straight into his gap and Wills just reached out a hand without another defender to block on the outside shoulder. The result? Of course, another sack that DTR threw to Wills. An intentional grounding penalty was added to the huge loss. Hendrickson’s other sack was on Wills as well in the first quarter as he simply leaned wide and broke loose from Wills who then stood and watched the defensive end explode on Watson. Had a decent day run blocking.

Penalties – Seemed like a lot of good plays were being called back including the first attempt for Chubb to get into the end zone. 10 accepted flags for 80 yards?

Receivers Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore – With Amari Cooper now gone, should both of these highly-drafted players take control for that WR1 spot. Where are these guys in the game plan? Anyone? Jeudy one catch? Moore had 41 receiving yards. These are supposed to be stud pass catchers, right?

Rushing attack – The Bengals came into this game ranked #27 against the run, yet the Browns ran the ball 21 times for 77 yards – combined. Does that make any sense? Didn’t Chubb return? 44 of those yards were on improvised runs by DTR once he was flushed from the pocket. Yeah, it was that bad.

K Dustin Hopkins – What in the world happened? One of the league’s best kickers, and he shanked a field goal attempt wide left with only a slight breeze after a very good 10-play drive led by Watson. Has missed very few PATs in his career, yet sailed one today. Was that a tackle attempt on the opening kickoff or playing freeze tag?

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Milk Bones – The beginning of the holiday shopping season for women is Halloween. The beginning of the holiday shopping season for men is Christmas Eve Eve.

QB Deshaun Watson – Had some good moments with just two good drives, the final one during the play in which he became injured. Few incompletions as he went 15-17 for 128 yards. Those two were air-mailed. Sacked just twice but the pressure was on repeatedly as he was able to dodge defenders and still find receivers. Impressive 10-play drive that ended with the missed field goal on their second possession. Not the greatest day, and certainly not his worst. Had a 98.0 QB rating.

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson – Came in and initially had a good drive that featured some excellent runs. Was sacked early in the third quarter and never saw it coming. As the game continued, his passes became more erratic with several he just heaved in the direction of the intended receiver. The end result was an interception and a miss on a wide-open Njoku that would have been a first down. The second INT was over the head of WR Jerry Jeudy and then not even close to WR Elijah Moore as it sailed. 11 of 24 for 82 yards, two picks and a 19.8 QB rating.

QB Jameis Winston – The big question remains: why wasn’t the veteran the first one off the bench when Watson was carted off? He was signed during the off-season in case something happened, and when it did, he was still sitting there with his neatly arranged corn rows (which took forever to do). Has played 10 years with 80 NFL starts and has tossed for over 22,000 yards, yet was standing along the sideline as DTR looked like a scared rabbit. Then Jameis simply orchestrated a 12-play 60-yard drive that ended not only with a touchdown but the subsequent two-point conversion. So, the Browns could have had this type of play all game and chose two other QBs?

WR Ced Tillman – Led all receivers with 81 yards, but was the invisible man in the first half. Began to find his rhythm in the second half as he became a dependable source for DTR.

DE Isaiah McGuire – Decent work day with six tackles. Had a half-sack as he got to QB Joe Burrow as DT Mo Hurst had gotten around his man. Is working into a decent pass rusher.