Should the play have worked?
Cleveland Browns fans were ecstatic after P Corey Bojorquez had a punt go out of bounds at the 2 yard line, followed by DE Alex Wright recording a safety, to give the Browns an 18-13 lead with 1:44 remaining. Cleveland then recovered the onside safety kick (via a fair catch).
The game wasn’t over, but with the Jaguars having only two timeouts, Cleveland could, at the very least, drain half of the clock. Cleveland began with two rushing plays that gained four yards, setting up a 3rd-and-6 at the Jaguars’ 38 yard line with 1:37 remaining, and no timeouts for Jacksonville.
What is the right play call? Running the ball definitely takes time off the clock, but you might not get a first down to seal the game. What teams often do in this situation, especially if they have a mobile quarterback, is to run a playaction pass, hoping to find a wide open receiver. If they’re open, it’s money, and you throw it. If they aren’t open, the quarterback either runs it or takes the sack, and then you punt.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski opted to try throwing the ball. Fans were aghast at the result, because based on the camera angles, all you could really see was Watson running a playaction fake, seeing a defender in his face, and him trying to make a throw instead of just taking the sack. Let’s break down what happened in the All-22 clip below.
#Browns QB Deshaun Watson said that he didn’t take the sack on the final play against #Jaguars because he was thinking TD to WR Cedric Tillman. Judge for yourself. pic.twitter.com/0c2Vc1553K
— Dawgs By Nature (@DawgsByNature) September 19, 2024
There is only one receiver on the play: WR Cedric Tillman. He sells the block, then breaks into his route. The concept works, because the defensive back has his eyes in the backfield as Tillman streaks by him. If Watson doesn’t immediately have a man in his face, then it’s a quick decision to throw it out for him. An accurate throw would have either resulted in a touchdown, or a catch for a first down. Either way, it would’ve sealed the victory.
However, Josh Hines-Allen makes a nice play to apply pressure on Watson. Do we give blame to LT James Hudson for not buying Watson more time? Would Jedrick Wills or Jack Conklin being in there have resulted in this being a big conversion? Jake Burns on Twitter doesn’t blame Hudson for the call, noting that it is very challenging for the backside tackle to make that block, and that you’re more so crossing your fingers that the rusher (Hines-Allen) bites for the run, allowing the naked boot to be successful.
Given the fact that Watson faced pressure, though, he should’ve known that the play was dead and to take the sack. Instead, of took a big risk of either fumbling, or throwing a duck that could’ve been intercepted. Here is what Watson said when he was asked about the play on Wednesday:
“I saw a touchdown, but you got to give (Josh Hines-Allen) Allen a great play. Credit making a great play. (Cedric) Tillman, he did his job of selling the block. We got outside and he ran a corner, the corner popped open, but Allen beat me to my spot to where I wanted to throw it and that’s pretty much it.”
Watson’s decision-making was much sharper in Week 2 than it was in Week 1. However, this was one play in which he needed better awareness.
What do you think about the play and the call, Browns fans?