The Cleveland Browns had reason to celebrate after their decisive 31-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Most importantly, this victory put a stop to their three-game losing streak. The squad’s D turned in an inspired effort, creating four turnovers and recording several defensive firsts. This unexpected victory boosted the Browns’ confidence through the roof. Now, they’re prepared to take on the New England Patriots in what promises to be their toughest matchup yet!
Even Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was willing to admit how important the defense will be in this game. It was no coincidence that after the match, he awarded the whole defensive unit with a game ball in recognition of their efforts. The defense came at them with a fierce effort, notable with at least three interceptions on the day and four sacks. This gaudy display apparently hadn’t been seen since Week 3 of the 2023 season.
The Browns’ defense, helmed by superstar, game-wrecker Myles Garrett, was aggressive and jumped risky routes. Garrett expressed his enthusiasm for the performance, stating, “One win is one thing, but we’ve gotta turn this into a habit, an addiction. It’s gotta be an obsession to win and win like this. And so we gotta keep on chasing that feeling.” This optimism is echoed across the entire team’s hope to gain some real momentum heading into the next session.
The Cleveland defense did more than just force turnovers. Their defense kept the Dolphins from scoring on offense. They gave up only 28.4 passer rating in zone coverage, the lowest any defense has allowed all season. This play was a great example of their knack for seizing on the Dolphins’ mistakes, while avoiding their own in-game blunders that littered Sunday’s contest.
Stefanski’s main priority, of course, was sticking to their running game with torrential rain and severe weather predicted throughout the game. Quinshon Judkins made himself a permanent home in the spotlight. He finished with an eye-popping 84 yards and one of the Browns’ three rushing touchdowns. This commitment to running the football was key in dictating the tempo of this game.
First Dillon Gabriel, the new Browns starter, going 13-for-18 passing. This was his fewest completions in a start. He continued that trend, averaging 6.4 yards per attempt. On the plus side, he celebrated his third straight game without a turnover. Gabriel noted the team’s eagerness to improve after their win, stating: “I’m excited for the guys. There’s a lot that we will look back on, and it’s good in many areas… Definitely, like I said, winning is fun, for sure.”
Besides Judkins’ rushing breakout, cornerback Tyson Campbell put up a big play of his own with an impressive 34-yard pick-six against the Dolphins. This play further illustrated the complete domination of the Browns’ defense as well as their opportunistic style of play throughout the contest.
The Browns will get their biggest test yet when they host the New England Patriots this Sunday. Instead, they’ll be looking to capitalize on their recent success and continue in search of a more consistent narrative. The team hasn’t won back-to-back games since Weeks 16 and 17 of last season. None other than safety Grant Delpit, who earlier this month made clear his impatience with their prolonged slump, will certainly be hoping for a lasting turnaround.
Stefanski recognized that as they celebrated this win, there was plenty of room left for improvement. “There’s still things we can definitely be better [at] in the run game that we’re going to make sure we clean up,” he stated.
Leave a Reply