5 players who stepped up against the Bengals in the season finale

The Cleveland Browns defeated the Bengals in part due to these five players.

The Cleveland Browns got to end the season on a high note against the Cinncinati Bengals, even if the Bengals didn’t come to Cleveland to win. Having clinched their spot in the playoffs and having a large portion of players already out due to health and safety issues, the Browns were met with mostly Bengal backups.

Yet, it’s the NFL and just because you’re playing the B and C-squad doesn’t mean they aren’t trying to win. Many of those players that faced off with the Browns were fighting for a potential roster spot in the playoffs and the 2022 NFL season.

So it’s not that surprising the Browns won by a slim margin and needed every tackle and yard provided to them by these five players.

Five Cleveland Browns players who stepped up against the Bengals

D’Ernest Johnson

With Nick Chubb nursing some abdomen issues, and the Browns making the decision to protect Chubb over getting a meaningless win, all eyes were on D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton. Felton didn’t do much but did get a touchdown off of a pass from Case Keenum, but it was Johnson who did the work, putting up 123 yards on 25 carries while scoring a touchdown. He was a great player for the Browns all throughout the season but many believe he’ll find richer pastures elsewhere.

Nick Chubb/Demetric Felton

The Browns like to use running backs to change the pace at times, and they combined that position up nicely on Sunday with Chubb and Felton. Chubb only put up 58 yards rushing but did it on just nine carries. With how over-reliant the team was on rushing, that isn’t half-bad. Felton for his part had two receptions for18 yards and a touchdown. If Chubb and Felton served as the team’s change-of-pace backs for Johnson, they did a good job.

Jarvis Landry

Jarvis Landry looked solid against the Bengals’ second-team defenders, catching six balls for 75 yards and scoring a touchdown in what might have been Jarvis Landry’s last game in Cleveland as a member of the Browns.

Jacob Phillips

Largely forgettable in 2021, Jacob Phillips had a game to remember against the Bengals. He had nine tackles, eight of which were solos stoppages, while also having two tackles for a loss and a sack.

Jadeveon Clowney

Making up for his Austin Power’s shoe-throwing moment the week before, Jadeveon Clowney was really all the pass-rushing pressure the Browns had with Myles Garrett limited. Clowney finished the game with two sacks and a tackle for a loss, helping him register his second-best season ever in sacks.