Five Browns whose stocks jumped following Cleveland’s 27-25 win over the Jaguars.
The Cleveland Browns improved to 8-3 following a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, as the Brownsensured they won’t lose more than they win for the first time since 2007.
Here’s five Browns whose stock is up after the team’s third straight win.
1. Jedrick Wills
The rookie didn’t get beat at all, according to PFF. The website describe the Alabama product as a “stalwart” in pass protection.
It all hasn’t been smooth sailing for Wills in his first year, but that was to be expected, considering he didn’t have a typical offseason to adjust to life in the NFL. And while he hasn’t been perfect, no one’s looking for a new left tackle. The position has been dramatically upgraded from the last two seasons and looks set for the next 10 years.
As for his performance against the Jaguars, Wills held his own against a defense that had only 9.0 sacks entering the contest. While Wills wasn’t exactly blocking the Steel Curtain, his clean outing is certainly better than making a name for himself for getting beat by a lesser defense.
2. Nick Chubb
What’s left to say about Nick Chubb that hasn’t already been said? When he’s in the lineup, the Browns are a different team.
Chubb missed three games due to injury earlier this season, which makes what he’s doing even more remarkable. He’s still atop the leaderboard in runs that have gone over 20 yards. Plus, he entered the game ranked 13th in rushing, which is crazy, considering the four games he missed. He added to his total in Week 12, ripping off runs of 29 and 27 yards.
With Jacksonville boasting Myles Jack, PFF’s second-highest graded linebacker against the run, Chubb upped his game, rushing for 144 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.
Kareem Hunt added 62 yards on the ground and continues to be invaluable in spelling Chubb–something Kevin Stefanski has done a masterful job of handling.
Chubb’s legs always seem to be fresh in the fourth quarter, and his running over and through opposing defense has been what’s carried Cleveland to victory.
3. Jarvis Landry
In the first game in a month that Baker Mayfield’s really been able to form an aerial attack, Jarvis Landry was the prime beneficiary.
Landry caught eight passes for 143 yards and a score marking his first 100-yard receiving game since Week 12 of the 2019 campaign.
Landry’s touchdown also marked his first score of the season.
Perhaps the combination of the weather being ripe for throwing and Baker Theory enjoying some mild success had something to do with his stellar showing. Either way, it was a game Landry really needed.
He’s been battling injuries, but has said he’s been saying he’s healthy, lately. Those words were hard to believe considering how unproductive he’s been for most of the season.
4. Baker Mayfield
Obviously, the throws Baker Mayfield missed were bad. Really, really bad. He missed touchdown throws from 8 and 6 yards. The most glaring error came when he overthrew a WIDE open Rashard Higgins in the end zone. He notably missed Kareem Hunt on a short pass that would’ve sealed the victory up sooner.
And while Baker wasn’t perfect, the third-year veteran did a lot of things well in the contest. He was 19-of-29 for 258 yards, two touchdowns. Plus, he didn’t turn the ball over.
Both of Mayfield’s touchdown throws came off play-action passes, which speaks to the success Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt had in the rushing attack. It’s also a reminder that if play action is effective, the Browns have a shot to score 25-30 points.
The question of whether or not Mayfield is a franchise quarterback has yet to be answered and while his detractors will throw his misses in his face, the former Heisman winner still has time to prove he deserves an extension.
A win in the playoffs would go along way in helping Mayfield make his case.
5. Andrew Sendejo
Your reading it and you don’t believe it. I wrote it and I don’t believe it. That said, credit to Andrew Sendejo with a pass breakup in the first half, which saved a touchdown. The Jaguars had to settle for a field goal on the drive.
That’s a huge deal in a game won by two points.
Sendejo’s pass deflection was his first of the season. Yes, his first. He hasn’t missed a game and didn’t get a hand on the football until his 675th snap.
The veteran also intercepted the Jaguars failed attempt to convert the two-point conversion at the end of the contest, but those stats aren’t counted.
The stock up list was pretty offensively oriented, so I wanted to shed some light on the defense, and Sendejo gets the nod. The line showed how much it missed Myles Garrett because there wasn’t a ton of pressure being put on Mike Glennon.
Olivier Vernon was relatively quiet. The Jags were thrilled to run right at Larry Ogunjobi. Ronnie Harrison got hurt on the first play of the game.