It wasn't pretty for the Browns on Sunday, but it doesn't matter. Thanks to some key defensive plays and Corey Bojorquez's clutch punt late, the Browns got their first win of the season, 18-13 over the Jaguars in Jacksonville .
There will be plenty to take away from this game — namely honing the offense amid offensive tackle issues. But the Browns are now 1-1 and go into a stretch of games that includes the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders.
Here are the winners and losers from Sunday's game:
Winner: Myles Garrett and the Browns defense looking legit again
The Browns defense was arguably the best in the NFL last season. They struggled at times against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 this season, but against the Jaguars they looked like their 2023 selves. The Browns gave up just 13 points to the Jaguars and former first overall pick Trevor Lawrence. Defensive end Myles Garrett, who is playing through a foot injury, was especially effective on Sunday. Garrett had a sack and three tackles against the Jaguars. More importantly, his pressure on a fourth-quarter play made Lawrence move around in the end zone and get sacked for a safety by Alex Wright.
Winner: NFL player safety with the Guardian Cap
On Sunday, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah became the first Browns player to wear a Guardian Cap on his helmet during a regular-season game. After watching Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffer a scary concussion against the Buffalo Bills, any safety measures to benefit brain health should be pursued.
Winner: The Browns laughing at a poor start to the season
The Browns would have been in trouble had they lost this game and fallen to 0-2 for the season. Since 1990, only 31 of 279 teams that started the regular season 0-2 made the playoffs. That's just 11.1 percent. Last NFL season, nine teams started the season 0-2. None of them made the playoffs.
Winner: Browns fans watching the game at home
Tom Brady wasn't a bad color analyst on the Browns game last week. He was just staggeringly blah . Getting Jason McCourty on the call from CBS was a big upgrade.
Loser: The NFL's new dynamic kicking rule
In the second quarter, the Browns had a chance to put the game away early. After a field goal to go up 10-0, the Browns forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. The problem? Kicker Dustin Hopkins crossed the 50-yard-line before the ball entered the landing zone. That caused a replay of the kick, which was a touchback. On the ensuing drive, the Jaguars scored a field goal.
Winner: Kevin Stefanski's offense in the first half
In the first half, the Browns were efficient and aggressive. They had 11 first downs, rushing for 92 yards and passing for 103. They had 18 rushing attempts compared to 15 pass attempts. All told, they had the ball for 20 of the first 30 minutes of the game.
The second half wasn't as good. The Browns had only 33 yards rushing and 69 yards passing in the final two quarters.
Loser: The NFL record for penalties in a season
The Browns had the second-most penalties in the NFL last season with 115. Last week they had 11 penalties against the Cowboys. Against the Jaguars there were 13 more. The NFL record for penalties in a season is 163 by the Oakland Raiders in 2011. The Browns are on pace for 204 penalties.
Winner: Jameis Winston
Say what? Jameis Winston came into the game on three fourth-down situations. He converted a first down each time. Just as important, it kept Watson from getting battered on quarterback sneaks on fourth-and-1. Winston converted two of the first downs on sneaks. On another, the second of the three, Winston handed it off to Jerome Ford for a 36-yard run.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns winners, losers vs Jaguars: Myles Garrett stars in first win of season
Local News
Comments / 0