The Browns left Denver with not only a win, but a scenario in which they could actually win the division.
Baker Mayfield — Image Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
The Cleveland Browns traveled to Denver to take on the Broncos in a national televised game, Saturday night. This was a time for the whole world…well, the whole sports world to see that these are not the Browns of old. No sir! These new Browns were playing a meaningful football game in December, with actual playoff implications.
The Dawg Pound has waited so long for meaningful football games in December. Usually, at this point in the season, NFL analysts and Browns fans alike would be discussing whom they might draft with the 1st overall pick in the 2019 draft. This year however, the Browns Number 1 draft pick, Baker Mayfield, has the Browns sitting at 5-7-1 going into Denver. A win against the Broncos and the Browns will be in position to win the AFC North Division.
Unfortunately, the Browns haven’t won their division since 1989, when it was still the AFC Central Division. Browns fans knew how meaningful this game was and they showed it by showing up at Broncos Stadium at Mile High to support their beloved Brownies. And Dawg Pound, the Browns did not disappoint. They did something they hadn’t done since the 1990 season…won in Denver, 17-16.
At the start of the game, the Browns looked like they came to play!
Their defense opened the game by forcing back-to-back 3 and outs on Denver’s first 2 possessions. On offense, Baker lead them right down the field. He capped the opening drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Breshad Perriman as he snatched the ball off the outstretched hands of Broncos cornerback Tremaine Brock Sr at the goal-line, landing into the end zone. On Denver’s 3rd offensive drive, Case Keenum lead the Broncos down the field and into the red zone. The Browns defense was looking to get another goal-line stance as they did last week against the Panthers. It was going to plan until on 3rd and goal, Keenum escaped out of a shoe string tackle attempt by Myles Garrett and dove into the end zone for a touchdown. That score tied the game at 7–7.
The fire that the Browns came out with at the start of the game seemed to all but flicker out as Baker began to miss throws. He also threw an interception that ended a possible scoring drive, and penalties started to rear its ugly head again. Luckily the defense made it tough on the Broncos as well. The play of the first half was made by Browns safety Jabrill Peppers as he showed his range, sprinting from the middle of the field to the left corner of the end zone. Peppers high-pointed the ball and snatched it out of the Denver night sky, just before it hit the waiting hands of Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, preventing a touchdown. With each team only managing to kick a field goal, halftime came with the score knotted at 10-10.
It Wasn’t Pretty But A Win Is A Win
I wish I could say the second half offered a more stellar performance, but I can’t lie to you Dawg Pound.
Denver turned up the pressure on Mayfield in the third quarter forcing him to rush some throws. Although he improved his throwing accuracy, a sack and forced fumble ended the best-looking drive of the third quarter.
But Cleveland’s defense clamped down on the Broncos late in the fourth quarter. Peppers picked up a key sack on Keenum to help seal Denver’s fate. Peppers, who had missed a sack earlier in the game, made sure he didn’t miss this one. What a way to end the game.
The Browns won this game without playing their best football,but you have to be able to win these type of games to get to be a playoff team.
The Browns left Denver Saturday night with not only a win, but a scenario in which they could actually win the division. Unfortunately, at the time of this article, the New England Patriots let the Dawg Pound down because they couldn’t beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. So now there is no way the Browns can win the division, but there is a VERY slim chance they can claim the last Wild Card spot in the AFC. Playoffs or not, I can honestly say that the Dawg Pound is extremely happy with the progress of the Browns this year and with 2 games left, we are looking forward to finishing the year out on a winning note and coming back next year with this foundation set and ready to truly contend for a division title…and more!
GO BROWNS!!!!!!
Anthony D. Stevenson is not only our latest addition to the Baseline Perspective team, he’s born and bred from the “HARDLAND OF AMERICA”, Cleveland, Ohio! Anthony’s passion for football has always been there as far back as he can remember and so has his love for the Cleveland Browns.
While in the U.S. Air Force, Anthony played cornerback for the Bitburg Barons CSC football team in Europe. He then played cornerback for the Tri-Country Gamecocks semi-pro football team, in South Carolina.
Anthony offers not only his insight, having played, but also his passion as a fan! It’s only right then that a “dawg pounder for life” gives you his weekly FANS PERSPECTIVE on the 2018-19 season for the Cleveland Browns.
