Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) — Image Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Usually the sequel is not as good as the original…right? Well not in this case Dawg Pound. In the Browns vs Bengals feature, the sequel was just as good as the original.
This time Cleveland was the setting as the Browns had an opportunity to sweep the season series for the first time since the 2002 season. Earlier in the week, Baker Mayfield – the Browns often outspoken rookie Quarterback, challenged Browns Nation to show up and show out at First Energy Stadium for their final home game of the season. Browns fans did just that. They showed up and they were loud.
Browns radio play-by-play analyst Jim Donavan said that it was the loudest he’s heard First Energy Stadium, in December, in a long time. The television broadcast did not do it justice for how loud the stadium was on Sunday. If you go to ClevelandBrowns.com and watch the highlights of the game, that video gives you a sense of just how loud it was. So Browns fans did what Mayfield challenged them to do and he and the Browns did not disappoint them.
Browns fan were treated to a 26-18 victory in the home finale. After a slow start, the Browns offense started clicking in the second quarter and never looked back. They had both the passing game and running game working; though not to perfection, they were pretty efficient.
Cleveland kept the Bengals defense on their heels with some creative play-calling from interim Offensive Coordinator Freddie Kitchens.
He used a lot of misdirection and even called a Wide Receiver pass in which Jarvis Landry unleashed an absolute dime down the sideline to Breshad Perriman for a 63-yard gain. Baker was his usual solid self as he went 27/37 for 284 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Oh, and once again, no sacks. So, kudos to the offensive line. Nick Chubb ran the ball very well, to the tune of 119 yards on 19 carries. That means he averaged about 5.9 yards per carry…again, kudos to the offensive line.
The Browns defense played lights out as well. They actually held the Bengals to -15 yards passing in the 1st quarter. The defense was actually pitching a shutout through 3 quarters as the Browns led 23-0 going into the 4th quarter. They had some breakdowns defensively and on special teams in the 4th quarter that started with a blocked punt by the Bengals.
Those breakdowns allowed the Bengals to get back in the game by scoring 18 points, closing the gap to just 8 points with just over two minutes left in the game. Then Browns tight end, David Njoku, sealed the win with a 66-yard catch and run.. From there, three kneel downs by Mayfield and game over.
Cleveland Browns — Image credit:Jason Miller / Getty Images
BROWNS WIN!!!! Man I can get used to saying that!!
If you’re a Browns fan, then you have seen the worst that a football team can show you. But what I saw in Sunday’s game, and all year actually, gives me hope for the future of this team.
It’s the “EFFORT” plays!!! Those that have played this wonderful game will know exactly what I’m talking about when I say that.
Whether it’s as subtle as Nick Chubb leading the NFL in YAC (yards after contact) or the splash type of play of Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins, when he took a short hot-read pass from Baker Mayfield, cut across the field, stiff-armed a Bengal defender and dove towards the end zone from the 6-yard line, hitting the inside of the pylon to score a touchdown early in the 3rd quarter.
Any Browns fan would agree that we just didn’t see THAT type of effort the last couple of seasons. That feeling of imposing your will on the opponent. I must say that it has been fun to watch this season.
I always said that the Dawg Pound has been void of any true dawgs on the field for a while now, but things are changing in Cleveland. We have dawgs at every level, both on offense and defense with Baker being the lead dawg!
Look Dawg Pound, it’s week 17 in the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff lives are in our hands. They are actually rooting for the Browns to beat the Ravens this week. That right there is a sign that things are indeed changing in Cleveland. GO BROWNIES!!!!
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.
