Tag: Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Studs and Duds from the Browns win over the Jaguars

Studs and Duds from the Browns win over the Jaguars

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=QfXHPXR12V-1053835-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

The Browns moved to 8-3 with a 27-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. It wasn’t a great game for the Browns in eking past the one-win Jaguars, but the team accomplished coach Kevin Stefanski’s mantra of going 1-0 each week.

There were some very strong performances by several Browns players. Others had games they will not necessarily enjoy in the film room review.

Here are the studs and duds from the Browns win over the Jaguars in Week 12.

Kevin Stefanski explains why he didn’t kick the late FG to go up 2 scores

Stefanski was asked about the playcalling and decisions in the 4th quarter that didn’t go his way

Kevin Stefanski made a few questionable decisions in the Browns’ 27-25 escape in Jacksonville on Sunday. The rookie head coach had to answer those questions in his postgame press conference.

Stefanski was asked about a couple of key decisions that didn’t go his way in the game.

Instead of kicking the field goal to go up 11 with under six minutes to play, Stefanski opted to go for it on fourth down from the Jaguars 22-yard line. He explained why in his postgame Zoom,

“Those are the things I always consider,” Stefanski stated. “In the moment, you are considering that. I just felt like the plays that we had would convert. I take all of that into account – our matchups, the plays themselves and the players that are running those plays – and I felt confident in them that we could continue to move the chains and have an opportunity to score a touchdown or run a few more minutes off the clock and kick a field goal.”

There was controversy, one that Stefanski apparently still didn’t fully grasp after the game. The Browns challenged a spot on offense and the officiating crew did change the spot, but it still wasn’t good enough to attain the first down. Referee Jerome Boger mistakenly announced that the Browns lost the challenge, a situation he didn’t rectify with any clarity.

Instead of the field goal, the Browns went for it on the 4th-and-short and failed to convert. Or at least that wound up being the ruling. One official indicated Kareem Hunt clearly got past the line needed with his spot, but the official from the other side spotted it much shorter. The measuring sticks came out and Boger awarded the ball to the Jaguars despite the ball appearing to touch the stick needed to make the conversion.

“I would have to go back and look,” Stefanski said. “We were talking about it on the headset, but I do not believe I had that challenge. I got the timeout back, but I do not think I got the challenge back.”

[lawrence-related id=55712]

Injury news: DT Davon Hamilton carted off late in Jags’ loss to Browns

The Jags had another worrisome injury to happen on defense as Davon Hamilton was carted off with a knee injury.

The Jacksonville Jaguars came into Week 12’s game against the Cleveland Browns with several injuries shaping the roster and it appears they have one more to worry about after Sunday’s loss. Rookie nose tackle DaVon Hamilton had to be carted off late in the game with a knee injury, which ruled out any possible return against the Browns.

Hamilton was having a promising rookie season for the Jags after taking over as their No. 1 nose tackle when Abry Jones went on injured reserve. He graded as the Jags’ top player Weeks 8-9 against the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans, garnering an 86.6 and an 87.9 Pro Football Focus grade, respectively, in those weeks.

Only time will tell the severity of Hamilton’s situation and we won’t speculate, but Jags coach Doug Marrone stated that his injury didn’t look good from his perspective after the game. If he’s eventually deemed out for the season, it would be terrible news for the rookie who was putting together a great year despite just registering one tackle Sunday.

The Jags already came into Sunday’s game without several key defensive players, however, with them being eliminated from playoff contention there should be no rush to get anyone back. Another positive is the fact that several young players could get some late season opportunities as we saw with corners Josiah Scott and Luq Barcoo, both of whom have been inactive much (or all) of 2020.

Browns beat the Jaguars, themselves and the officiating in Week 12 win

Browns beat the Jaguars, themselves and the officiating in Week 12 win

Mission accomplished. That’s the best way to sum up the Cleveland Browns in their business trip to Jacksonville in Week 12.

The Browns prevailed over the 1-win Jaguars, 27-25, in a game that likely won’t be remembered for some of the impressive plays the Browns made.

It wasn’t particularly pretty, as is becoming the custom under Kevin Stefanski. The coach doesn’t worry about style points and his team. That’s good, because Stefanski and his team didn’t earn near enough of them in barely beating a bad Jaguars team.

The Browns made several great plays. Jarvis Landry and Andrew Sendejo in particular had their best games of the season. But rookie mistakes from coach Stefanski, unacceptable misses from Baker Mayfield, two bad plays from rookie TE Harrison Bryant and sloppy execution at some other key junctures nearly cost them the win.

Stefanski bombed in the fourth quarter with a poor decision to challenge Bryant’s drop in the end zone. Eschewing a field goal that would have iced the game and instead option to dive Kareem Hunt–and not Nick Chubb–on a critical fourth down was a glaring error from Stefanski.

Then there was the officiating. Jerome Boger’s crew made several dubious calls that all seemed to go against the Browns. From blown spots to missed holds, the Browns couldn’t get a call. The personal foul call against Olivier Vernon, one that sent social media into a virtual bottle-throwing frenzy, kept the Jaguars alive.

But in the end, the Browns made more plays. Chubb was fantastic in salting away the game. Mayfield was awesome, except when he wasn’t, in another weird outing for the young QB.

The Browns have no need to apologize for a road win, one lifting them to 8-3 on the season. But it’s a win that doesn’t engender a lot of confidence that the team is ready to compete against the few teams above them in the AFC playoff race.

Twitter erupts at the terrible officiating that goes against the Browns

Twitter erupts at the terrible officiating that goes against the Browns in the Week 12 game in Jacksonville

What would a Browns game be without some questionable officiating? The Week 12 matchup in Jacksonville proved more controversial than usual, and that’s saying something.

The worst infraction–though certainly not the only one–from referee Jerome Boger and his crew came late in the fourth quarter. With the Jaguars driving, Browns DE Olivier Vernon sacked Mike Glennon. But the 6-2 Vernon was flagged for helmet-to-helmet contact with the 6-7 Glennon on a play where his helmet literally never touched Glennon. The blown call kept the drive alive for the Jaguars, who eventually scored a touchdown on the drive.

It’s not often the volume of folks with blue checkmarks on their Twitter profiles almost unanimously attack the officiating, but that’s how bad this call was from Boger.

Watch: Mike Glennon, Collin Johnson connect for 46-yard touchdown vs. Browns

Despite having their third QB take the field Sunday, the Jags’ offense was able to score early and often in their game vs. the Browns.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense had to play various reserves due to injuries, but that hasn’t stopped them from scoring points in the second half of Week 12’s game against the Cleveland Browns. After two successful field goal attempt, they were able to find the end zone in the second quarter thanks to a 46-yard connection from quarterback Mike Glennon to receiver Collin Johnson.

In the play, Johnson lined up at the top of the formation and ran a post. After he cleared to the other side of the field, Glennon delivered a strike over the top of the coverage and the rest was history.

The touchdown temporarily gave the Jags the lead by a score of 13-10. However, the Browns would regain the lead not too soon after as quarterback Baker Mayfield hit tight end Austin Hooper for a 9-yard touchdown reception, putting the score at 17-13 before the half.

Johnson’s catch put him at two receptions for 59 yards on the day. That’s good for the Jags’ receiving high at the moment, however, they will need him to continue his success if they are to come from behind and win.

Browns inactive list for Week 12 is a short one

Denzel Ward is the biggest name sitting out for the Browns

Faced with a depleted roster heading into the Week 12 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Cleveland Browns didn’t have many decisions to make on who to designate inactive for the game.

Coach Kevin Stefanski only had to put four names on the inactive list against the Jaguars. Two of those, CB Denzel Ward and S Sheldrick Redwine, were already ruled out due to injuries. They are joined by RB Dontrell Hilliard and OL Nick Harris.

The Browns have just 51 players on the active roster due to COVID-19 issues. With five players on the reserve/COVID-19 list and only three players elevated from the practice squad, they only needed to keep four players inactive.

The Jaguars revealed their inactives, which include WR Chris Conley and QB Gardner Minshew, in video form,

Browns vs. Jaguars: Week 12 Jags Wire staff picks and predictions

The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) and Cleveland Browns (7-3) will meet at TIAA Bank Field Sunday for a game that has the potential to be competitive. However, both teams will have some injury and COVID-19 related hurdles to get past, which may not make …

The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) and Cleveland Browns (7-3) will meet at TIAA Bank Field Sunday for a game that has the potential to be competitive. However, both teams will have some injury and COVID-19 related hurdles to get past, which may not make it the easiest to watch.

Still, Week 12’s matchup feels like the it’s one the Browns should win in the eyes of the national media. That said, here are our thoughts on how the game could go as the Jags host their second consecutive competitors from the AFC North:

James Johnson (@Sportsgrind_Don): Browns 21, Jags 14

This game initially felt like one that was favorable for the Browns, and while it still is, their roster will be severely depleted (especially at defensive end) like the Jags. With that being the case, a shoot out isn’t out of the realm of possibilities, but the confidence in Mike Glennon just isn’t there for me.

That said, the Jags should rely heavily on running back James Robinson. If they do that, this will go down as another competitive game.

Phil Smith (@PhiltheFilipino): Browns 20, Jags 10

There have been times this season where the Browns have looked elite, then times where they’ve looked just absolutely abysmal. While they’ve won three of their last four, the argument can be made that none of those wins have been impressive. That being said, with Mike Glennon making his first start as a Jaguar without D.J. Chark and a veteran presence like Chris Conley, this one is probably going to be an ugly game to watch. The Browns have shown an infinity of playing down to the competition, but I still expect the Jaguars losing ways to continue.

Jacob DeLawrence (@_Jdela): Browns 28, Jags 14

The Jags are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak. During the streak, the Jags have played some of their best ball and some of the worst. I expect the trend of inconsistencies to continue when the Jags host the Browns. James Robinson will continue to be a bright spot for the team and has another solid day, but it isn’t enough to beat Baker Mayfield and company.

Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis): Browns 27, Jags 13

Another week, another starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars as they face off at home against the Cleveland Browns. This week, the quarterback happens to be former Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft pick, Mike Glennon. An already underwhelming secondary is battered and beat and doesn’t look ready for a Browns team fighting for a playoff bid. The Jaguars will once again have to call on rookie James Robinson in order to stay competitive in this one.

Will Frost (@willfrost_): Browns 27, Jags 10

Whilst their injuries aren’t as damaging as the situations in Baltimore and Denver, the Jaguars are fielding a shell of their already inexperienced roster this afternoon. With Nick Chubb back healthy and the Browns looking to secure a record of at least .500 since 2007, things could get ugly fast in this one.

Ronnie Harrison: ‘God had his hand’ in bringing the safety to the Browns

Harrison quickly got over his shock at being dealt to Cleveland

Ronnie Harrison is returning home in Week 12. The Browns starting safety played collegiately at Florida State and spent the first pat of his NFL career in Jacksonville, the site of Sunday’s game. While Harrison is happy to be going back, he’s even happier to be able to leave as a proud member of the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns traded for Harrison just before the season after second-round pick Grant Delpit was lost due to injury. Harrison was a starter for the Jaguars as a third-round pick in 2018, but he apparently didn’t mesh with their long-term plan.

The Jaguars are 1-9 and haven’t won since Week 1. Harrison now starts for the 7-3 Browns and has grown more comfortable and impactful in Joe Woods’ defense by the week.

“God had his hand on this one,’’ Harrison said in a Zoom this week about coming to Cleveland from Jacksonville. “It’s been great. I couldn’t even imagine a better place or a better fit for me. I feel comfortable, and I like it here.”

He didn’t feel that way at first. Understandably, Harrison was shocked at being traded away from a place where he was comfortable.

“Really, I was kind of heartbroken at the moment just because of how fast everything happened,’’ Harrison said. “I didn’t really know what to expect up here. I just knew it was cold. I knew they had a couple of good guys on offense and they had a couple players, especially on defense, as well. Really, I was kind of shocked in the moment. I really was not even putting too much thought into Cleveland.”

On Sunday, Harrison gets a chance to prove the Jaguars made a poor business decision in trading him away.

Browns vs. Jags: 3 keys to a Jacksonville victory

The Jags are dealing with several injuries, but have a chance to beat the Browns if their interior defensive line holds up against the run.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) limped out of their Week 11 battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers and will now be tasked with defeating another AFC North team that is playing well in the Cleveland Browns (7-3). When considering the fact that Cleveland is dealing with personnel issues of their own, too, the game is one that could be close.

If the Jags are to win, they will need several things to go their way. Here are a few keys we think could help them upset Cleveland at TIAA Bank Field Sunday:

Play keep away and get the offense going through RB James Robinson

Both the Browns and Jags will be down several key members of their rosters due to either the league’s COVID-19 protocol or injuries. That’s especially the case on defense, which oddly enough means the Browns and Jags have a chance for a shoot out.

In Jacksonville’s case, it just wouldn’t be smart to shy away from running back James Robinson Sunday afternoon, because when they do, the results aren’t all that great. He’s been phenomenal for the team, routinely breaking undrafted rookie records, and has also been the most consistent weapon for the Jags.

Robinson will enter the game with 172 carries for 762 rushing yards and five touchdowns, which is good for the highest rushing total amongst rookies and is the third-highest in the NFL. That means Sunday needs to be a 20-plus carry day for him as the Jags will be starting a new quarterback in Mike Glennon while their wounded defense is expected to allow a lot of points.

Don’t forget about the tandem of Keelan Cole and Laviska Shenault Jr.

The Jags’ receiving corps was hit hard with injuries this week as D.J. Chark Jr. (ribs) and Chris Conley (hip) were ruled out. As a result, the Jags’ receiving corps will be a group that consists of Keelan Cole Sr., Laviska Shenault Jr., Trey Quinn, and Collin Johnson.

Due to being the most experienced member of the group, Cole is going to have to rise to the occasion and lead the way — something he’s thrived at during a contract year. That shouldn’t be all that hard to do with the Browns’ pass-rush situation as Myles Garrett and Porter Gustin both are on the Reserve/ COVID-19 list.

The Jags will also need Shenault, who is coming off a hamstring injury, to help in the short passing game. Chances are Glennon will need to get the ball out of his hands quickly due to being without Andre Norwell. Who better to go to for that than Shenault, who is a monster after the catch.

The Jags interior rotation needs a strong day

The Browns’ bread and butter on offense is their run game and they will come into Sunday’s game ranked third in the league in rushing. Nick Chubb is one of the best rushers in football and will come into the game with 96 attempts for 575 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, his partner in crime, Kareem Hunt, will come into the game with an even higher rushing total of 644 yards.

Simply put, this means the Jags have a chance if they can stop the run. It will fall on rookies DaVon Hamilton and Doug Costin, as well as Taven Bryan. However, the trio will have their hands full with an impressive interior offensive line as Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, and Wyatt Teller have Pro Football Focus grades of 83.8, 79.1, and 95.6, respectfully. Simply put, that means fans would be hard-pressed to find a better group.

Hamilton and Costin certainly won’t be intimidated, though, as Hamilton looks like the Jags’ nose tackle of the future and Costin has a 71.9 PFF grade, good for 32nd at his position. If the pair can have a day much like we saw against the Houston Texans Week 9 and avoid wearing down in the fourth quarter, this game definitely could be a close one.