Nick Chubb rushed for 141 yards and Kareem Hunt scored a rushing touchdown as well as a receiving one to lead the Cleveland offense.
The Browns will host the 0-1 New York Jets next Sunday in their home opener.
Brownie Bits
1) Cade York might have finally given the Browns the weapon in the kicking game that they have lacked since the departure of Phil Dawson and showed why picking a kicker in the draft makes sense-IF (like every other position) you pick the right kicker.
2) Cleveland had tried on two other occasions to draft the problem to their placekicking solutions (Zane Gonzalez and Austin Seibert) since losing Phil Dawson but York seems different as he brings the dimension that Baltimore's Justin Tucker adds to the Ravens- the ability to add ten to fifteen yards longer than a normal kicker's range to give you a chance to win or tie in late game situations.
3) Jacoby Brissett was okay in his Browns debut but far from spectacular as he overthrew three receivers in the first quarter, most notably Amari Cooper on a pass pattern that would have likely resulted in a touchdown or a minimum of a first and goal situation.
4) Still, Brissett avoided the big mistake (zero turnovers) and while the overthrows are a concern that will continue as the Brissett era moves forward, this is the type of performance that Cleveland hopes will result in keeping the team afloat during the absence of DeShaun Watson- Basic and avoid mistakes.
5) The Browns did finally use some formations that used Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the backfield at the same time and it proved to be effective.
The key to this working is Kareem Hunt and his ability to disguise himself as the halfback or the fullback.
Hunt will usually be the fullback in these alignments but if Hunt can keep defenses wondering what he will do, it should open up some huge opportunities for Nick Chubb.
6) Speaking of Nick Chubb, Chubb averaged 6.4 yards per rush in this game and much of that was pure effort in dragging Panthers downfield.
Chubb reminds me of the backs of yesteryear that could outrun you but would rather run over you and while those types of backs often don't have a long-term shelf life, they are very fun to watch while you have them!
7) Cleveland's defense played well except for two massive exceptions and those were almost enough to cost them the game.
Blown coverages set up a second-quarter score as Baker Mayfield hit Ian Thomas for a fifty-yard gain to the one-yard line and the fourth-quarter seventy-five-yard strike to Robby Anderson for a score kept Carolina in the game.
Otherwise, the defense was fine but those two blown coverages have to be stopped when you play against better teams than Carolina and better passers than Baker Mayfield.
8) The defensive line tormented Baker Mayfield all game and in the first half, the Browns seldom allowed him to get an uncontested throw away without a tip, deflection, or a hurried pass.
Myles Garrett finished with two sacks and the Browns generally proved the point that Mayfield isn't good enough to be a quarterback to build around.
Mayfield did hit on those two blown coverages which a normal quarterback should but he otherwise didn't dazzle or look too much better than Jacoby Brissett did.
9) The officials may have blown two roughing the passer calls, one for each team, although the Carolina penalty cost them fifteen vital yards on the Browns last possession.
Carolina's Bryan Burns was called for roughing Jacoby Brissett on that play and it was at least an arguable call but it was no worse than the obviously awful call on Taven Bryan, who forced Baker Mayfield to hurry a throw and would have forced a punt from Carolina's own end zone.
10) Carolina was upset about intentional grounding not being called late in the game on Jacoby Brissett as he spiked the ball to stop the clock.
Brissett appeared to pump his arm as he took one step back and flags were thrown but after consultation, Brissett was ruled to be allowed to take the step as the rule states that the passer's step does not disqualify the passer from spiking the ball.
Matt Rhule didn't like the call and I might not have either but it was the correct call.
11) I thought Grant Delpit might be taking a step forward this season as a ball-hawking safety and it was Delpit that grabbed the only interception of the day on Baker Mayfield.
The Browns have lacked that type of player for so long and I believe Delpit will fill that role well.
12) Donovan Peoples-Jones led Cleveland with six catches for sixty yards and was targeted eleven times.
Peoples-Jones made several tough catches over the middle and bailed Jacoby Brissett out of a few jams with some excellent grabs.
13) Where does this put the Browns?
They had to have this game and the next game against the Jets.
Beating bad teams is a must until the return of DeShaun Watson and after dominating Carolina for the first fifty minutes, Cleveland allowed the Panthers back into the game with sloppy play.
That trend cannot continue as I'm convinced that Cleveland needs to be at least 3-1 after the first month if they have any playoff hopes.
They almost gave a game away that was well in hand, they are not good enough to do that against good teams and it's a bad habit to start to get into...
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