The Browns intercepted Dwayne Haskins three times and outscored Washington 17-0 in the fourth quarter to eliminate a 20-17 deficit entering the period.
Nick Chubb rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns and Baker Mayfield threw two touchdowns to lead the Browns offense in the victory.
The now 2-1 Browns begin a difficult three-game run next week when they travel to Dallas to meet the 1-2 Cowboys before a home game against Indianapolis and a visit the following week to Pittsburgh.
Brownie Bits
1: Yes, it's the Browns first 2-1 start since 2011 and first winning record since late in the 2014 season,
so it's hard not to at least be a little optimistic about the state of the team.
2: BUT let's keep this mind before getting too high for the two wins- both wins were at home and against the two worst teams in the league last year as well.
These are the games that teams that are building a program need to win- beating teams that are on your level or below, especially when you get them at home.
3) Washington came into the game with a heralded pass rush and even though they lost Chase Young to a groin injury in the first half, Washington still made Baker Mayfield hurry his throws all afternoon and the Browns good fortune was that none were intercepted, especially one pass that Odell Beckham was forced to play defensive back to stop an interception.
4) The Browns offensive line allowed only two sacks and the WFT did seem to be in Baker Mayfield's face all day, but in crunch time, Cleveland was able to run the football effectively for most of the game, third-quarter excluded.
5) Five turnovers and committing zero will go a long way in getting a victory.
One of those was a meaningless fumble at the end of the half, but on each of the three drives following interceptions of Dwayne Haskins, the Browns would score touchdowns.
When you are able to make teams pay on the scoreboard for turning the ball over, you won't lose many football games.
6) As for the former Buckeye, Dwayne Haskins was a player that I really liked leaving Columbus, but having played just one season, it was pretty clear to see that he had a lot to learn and wasn't a plug and play passer.
Quarterbacks can be ruined when pushed before they are ready and Haskins was definitely a player that needed seasoning before being placed into the lineup.
Going to a Dan Snyder owned franchise with the consistent uproar that follows every year wasn't going to be a place where Haskins was going to mature and it's proven to be true.
Washington rushed Haskins before he had the talent surrounding him and before he was ready to play and they may have lost him before he really had a chance to succeed.
7) The Haskins fumble that essentially ended any Washington comeback hopes wasn't on him either as Myles Garrett made the type of play that you expect when he is able to pin his ears back and get the quarterback.
Haskins never saw Garrett coming, Garrett stripped the football from Haskins, and with Haskins on the ground, the falling football bounced off Haskins shoe and into the waiting arms of Garrett.
Garrett had a sack earlier in the game and forced a fumble for the second game in a row.
8) But the final shot that ended the game was the type of mistake that the Browns usually make and this time it was made by Washington.
On a fourth and four and under four minutes to play, Cleveland attempted to get Washington to jump offside.
Ryan Kerrigan obliged, the Browns were then able to run the clock down to one minute and ten seconds before Cody Parkey's field goal from thirty yards away.
9) Both of Nick Chubb's scores were the type of run that reminded you of those old Earl Campbell scores where he bounces off tacklers, shoves them aside, and then gets into the end zone like Pat Healy in Something About Mary.
10 ) A battered Browns secondary did return Kevin Johnson for the game, but Denzel Ward, who was listed as questionable entering the game, was only able to play in the first half.
Other than Myles Garrett, Ward is the defender that the Browns can least afford to play without, and with teams on the horizon that have big-time receivers, the Browns will have to hope Ward can heal quickly.
11) For all the questions about the secondary, Karl Joseph played a very good game at strong safety.
Joseph delivered a highlight-reel hit in the first quarter and his interception and long return set up a Browns touchdown, although he did fumble the ball at the end of the play and the Browns were fortunate to recover.
12) The Browns moved to white pants for this game and they were good enough.
But I still prefer the orange version worn against the Bengals.
As for the Washington uniforms, they reminded me of the road uniforms of the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Or Minnesota State in the Hayden Fox years with a little more burgundy than the Screaming Eagles purple.
13) The final note is on the return game where JoJo Natson left with an injury.
No word on his status, but should he miss the game against Dallas, could this be the debut for Donovan Peoples-Jones?
DPJ can return kicks and punts, but has been inactive for each of the first three games.
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