5 Browns players who escaped COVID and impressed against the Raiders

The Browns lost to the Raiders on Monday but these players stepped up.

It’s hard to bask in the glow of a moral victory, it’s like having a light-up campfire log in the middle of a snowstorm. Sure, it looks like it’s hot, but it isn’t. The Browns had a moral victory on Monday and that’s not something to be happy about. The Browns nearly overcame COVID, the NFL, and a game Raiders team but when you’re missing 20 players sometimes close is the best you’ll get.

The Browns should be proud of their game, they lost by two on a last-second field goal. The defense did their jobs, mostly, and had the special teams had a few better punts, while not missing that first-half field goal, the team would’ve won. Then again, if the offensive line had been healthy all year, the Browns may not have had any need to win this game in the first place.

So there’s that.

That said, there were some players who did a great job and stepped up nicely against the Raiders and these are the five I’m going with.

Five players who impressed against the Raiders

Sheldon Day

It doesn’t matter when Malik McDowell returns to the Browns, he should be returning to the bench. Sheldon Day has been outplaying him all season and did so again against the Raiders. He was tied third on the team with seven tackles, and a half-sack, all while posting a season PFF grade of 71.9. Much higher than McDowell’s season grade of 49.8.

M.J. Stewart

Filling in nicely for Greg Newsome was M.J. Stewart who had 11 tackles on the day, eight of which were solo grabs. As the Raiders live and die on their passing attack, Stewart was tested regularly during the Raiders game and while he didn’t stop every pass that went against him, he at least mitigated the damage. The team did hold the Raiders to 16 points, a feat considering how many key defensive players were still out.

Sione Takitaki

Maybe not so much in the second half but in the first half, it seemed like Sione Takitaki was making plays right and left. He finished the day with six tackles and one for a loss and really helped take away the middle of the field in passing downs, forcing Derrek Carr to go underneath or over the top more often.

Nick Chubb

It’s hardly possible to blame a running back for a bad day, as that’s usually a sign of the offensive line not doing their job. Chubb only had two rushes of 10+ yards but he still ground out 91 yards and a touchdown despite an offensive line failing to do their job.

Nick Mullens

Nick Mullens is someone I’d be comfortable starting in the event of a Baker Mayfield injury. A more serious Mayfield injury, apparently. Unlike Case Keenum, Mullens has the arm strength to test defenses deep, but unlike Keenum, he doesn’t have the same touch. Sure, there were some drops but there were plenty of throws that were just off target. If he had more time, who knows, maybe Mullens does a bit better but all in all, he did well enough given the circumstances.