Cooper would finish with over one hundred yards receiving and the Browns would intercept Washington quarterback Carson Wentz three times in the win that lifted the Browns to 7-9 on the season with one game remaining- in Pittsburgh next Sunday against the Steelers.
Brownie Bits
1) Washington entered the game with playoff hopes but it was the Browns that played harder and with more passion.
Cleveland could have thrown in the towel after a pretty bad first half but instead dominated the second half to earn a victory that meant little in the standings or draft position.
2) I've always been a believer in Grant Delpit and even when Delpit was badly beaten at times earlier in the season, I still thought Delpit could be a standout with his ability if used properly.
Delpit was drafted as a ball-hawking Ed Reed type to play center field and run to the ball, yet wasn't being utilized as such until late, and Delpit had only two interceptions in his career before the loss to New Orleans.
Delpit intercepted one pass against the Saints and added two more vs Washington, one of those in the end zone and seems to be starting to make a move toward being a standout for next season.
3) DeShaun Watson struggled in the first half but led the Browns to three consecutive touchdowns in a row in their first three second-half possessions.
The arm is still there for Watson and he still needs plenty of snaps before next season but I think that Watson will only get better after a training camp and should be where he needs to be for the opener in 2023.
4) Nick Chubb ran for over one hundred yards and did this on only fourteen carries.
Browns fans often talk about not using Chubb enough and maybe that argument would be a winner with Chubb averaging over seven yards a carry against the Washington run defense.
5) Amari Cooper only had four passes thrown to him but caught three and two for touchdowns.
Cooper still needs some help on the other side at wide receiver for next season and should Andrew Berry land such a threat, the Browns could have just what DeShaun Watson needs to move to the next level.
6) Cooper's touchdown of forty-six yards saw him break tackles and elude Commanders as he ran down the sideline for a score.
I thought for a minute that the Commander's defense looked like the Browns with such poor attempts at tackling!
7) The Browns are still taking things very slowly with DeShaun Watson and he threw only eighteen times (completing nine) but the second half seemed a little (just a little) more open in the play calling to loosen up the offense.
8) Watson was sacked five times by Washington's talented defensive front and that makes me think of a key decision coming up on left tackle Jedrick Wills in the off-season.
Wills will come up for the team to pick up his fifth-year option in the summer and the team has a big decision to make.
Wills hasn't really improved since a strong rookie season but left tackles are expensive on the open market and without first-round picks in 2023 and 2024, it is unlikely the Browns can address this position in the draft.
Cleveland may be forced to activate the option whether they really want to or not.
9) Washington's one touchdown was a ninety-eight-yard drive that saw over eleven minutes removed from the clock.
That drive alone is what accounted for the lower-than-usual offensive plays from the Browns.
10) Washington held their playoff destiny in their own hands entering the game.
A win over Cleveland and a win next week over Dallas and Washington would be playoff bound.
Instead, the loss combined with other results saw the Commanders eliminated from contention..
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