The Cleveland Browns improved to 2-1 on the season with a win over the Chicago Bears. Here are the studs and duds from the Week 3 win.
After another slow start, the Cleveland Browns were able to get things rolling as they wound up knocking off the Chicago Bears in Week 3.
Now at 2-1, the Browns are in great shape in the AFC North and they have another battle against an NFC North team in Week 4 as they head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings.
Before moving on to that game, we take one last look at the win over Chicago with these studs and duds from their latest victory.
Stud: Myles Garrett, EDGE
Following a rather quiet game in Week 2, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ended up having a great game against Chicago. He started out on fire as he had 2.5 sacks in the first half, including back-to-back series ending sacks on third-down.
His first was when he and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had a shared sack to set up a third-and-long. Not content with the half-sack, Garrett then took Fields down on third-and-15 to force a punt. The very next series also ended with a punt thanks to Garrett sacking Fields on a third-and-five play.
Dud: Jedrick Wills, Left Tackle, and the medical staff
It was clear for the second week in a row that Jedrick Wills shouldn’t be playing football right now. The 2020 first-round pick was carted off the field in Week 1 and somehow suited up against the Texans — but was eventually pulled for Blake Hance since he was still hampered by the injury.
In this one, he didn’t look much better. Wills had hampered lateral movement and again shared time with Hance. Yes, Wills is their best option at left tackle but he shouldn’t be on the field until he’s 100 percent. The Browns medical staff needs to make the call to sit him until the injury is no longer an issue.
Stud: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Linebacker
He got the start on Sunday and it didn’t take long to realize he deserved it. Rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was all over the field from the first drive. After the Browns failed to convert a fourth-down conversion, Chicago moved it to the Cleveland 29 where they had a third-and-two.
That was the first big play from JOK who stuffed David Montgomery for no gain on the play to force the kick. What was most impressive on this play was how he shed a block from Jason Peters with ease on the play.
On the next drive, the Bears were facing a second-and-20, courtesy of a sack from Jadeveon Clowney, and JOK again blew up the run. This time, he took Montgomery down for a one-yard loss to set up a third-and-21
After another tackle for a loss the following drive, he again blew things up as he shared a sack with Myles Garrett to set up a third-and-14 following the Browns first field goal of the game. Justin Fields was sacked by Myles Garrett on the next play as well, forcing another punt.
Dud: The rest of the offensive line
Often touted as one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, the Browns big men up front struggled in this one. The issues were first seen when they gave up a sack on fourth-and-five from the Bears 38 which ended the Browns first drive.
Even after that, Kevin Stefanski elected to go for it on fourth-and-one the very next series, and again, the blocking never gave Mayfield a chance as Khalil Mack came in untouched for a sack.
There was also a flag on Jack Conklin which ended up being a 10-yard penalty after Kareem Hunt initially ran a first-down early in the second quarter — although it looked as though Wyatt Teller was the player who actually held the defender. This play set up a third-and-15 which was nearly picked off when Mayfield threw it deep for Odell Beckham.
Stud: Kareem Hunt, Running Back
How good is the Cleveland Browns rushing attack? They had nearly 90 yards in the first half and head coach Kevin Stefanski said they needed to be better. They also had over 100 yards after three quarters and it felt as though they weren’t really doing anything special.
Then in the fourth, Kareem Hunt started to show off some of that ‘special’ talent that we are all used to. Hunt turned a play that should have been a four-yard loss into a 29-yard touchdown. Hunt was also integral to the Browns putting up a field goal before the half as he was moving the ball through the air.
Nick Chubb is the top back on this team but when he gets slowed down — as he did by the Bears front seven — Hunt can take over. This was the best game of the season for Hunt as he finished with 81 yards on 10 rushes and 74 on six receptions. Add all that up and Hunt was one of the main reasons the Browns won this game.
Stud: Odell Beckham Jr., Wide Receiver
His numbers might not exactly jump out but the simple fact that Odell Beckham, Jr. was back on the field for the first time since Week 7 of the 2020 season was a reason to celebrate. And even more importantly, he looked like himself as he was running clean routes and caught everything that was within reach of his long arms.
OBJ caught the first completion of the game for the Browns, on a nice double-move for a 13-yard gain. He finished with 77 yards on five receptions and also added a 10-yard run.
There was a time when some believed the offense was better without OBJ but he showed in this one just how much of a difference he can make by simply being on the field.