Cleveland Browns: 3 good things and 3 awful things from Week 1

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 13: Kareem Hunt #27 of the Cleveland Browns runs in front of Chuck Clark #36 of the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

Good

The pass blocking

You cannot say that the Cleveland Browns did not look better with their pass protection. The offseason additions made immediate dividends and were even able to help cover up Jedrick Wills’ shotty play. Jack Conklin didn’t just look good in the passing game but the team got most of their best plays running off of him.

Great ability to gain yards on the ground

Between Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb, the Browns owned the ground. When Kevin Stefanski wanted to run the ball, that is. Much like with Freddie Kitchens, the “run-heavy” attack that Stefanski and the media hyped up all week was nonexistent. It felt like last year’s Browns all over again with 39 passing plays to 27 rushing plays. Yes, the Browns being in a hole caused some of this but the team went away from the run when it was only 24-6.

Which is baffling considering how easy it was for Hunt and Chubb to cut up the Ravens rush defense. They had 132 yards combined between them, on just 23 carries for a whopping 5.7 YPC.

David Njoku and Jarvis Landry made plays when the team went to them.

Despite having a camp, David Njoku had a good game. Three receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. The only one that was thrown all day. Like Njoku, when targeted, Jarvis Landry had a good game, five passes on six attempts for 61 yards. Clearly this wasn’t just a game where Baker Mayfield struggled, this was also a gameplan that got away from head coach Kevin Stefanski.

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