There’s Just Something Different About These Cleveland Browns

With their 33-31 statement victory over division rival Baltimore on Sunday, the Browns have entered an uncommon realm.

The script has been viewed far too often by Browns supporters.

A pick-six to get things started. expensive penalties that either prevent drives or leave them open for their opponent to exploit. sour punts. Absent PATs. In the past, Cleveland has lost games due to just one of those errors. The game against Baltimore on Sunday featured all of those elements and more.

However, the Browns managed to find a way. Hours after the final whistle, the scoreboard at M&T Bank Stadium read 33-31 Browns. What?

From the beginning, the Ravens simply dominated Cleveland. After two plays, the score was 7-0 as Kyle Hamilton, who was blitzing, intercepted Deshaun Watson, tipped the ball to himself, caught it, and entered the end zone. The Browns quarterback experienced déjà vu all over again, having experienced a similar situation against the Steelers in Week 2.

These tough Browns were able to “shake through.” following

the play. After five minutes of the game, they were behind 14-0. after they continued to use penalties as a means of self-defeating. after a misplaced kick. even following a failed PAT.

Undoubtedly, Watson played a significant role in that. After a terrible 6-of-20 performance for 79 yards in the first half, the Browns signal caller was flawless in the second half, going 14-of-14 for 139 yards and a touchdown. Fans had been anticipating this Deshaun performance for a long time.

In this league, exceptional quarterback play is crucial, and when Watson gave Cleveland that, it somehow erased any negative vibes the remainder of the game brought. After the game, Myles Garrett could not stop talking about Watson.

Garrett contributed to this declaration of victory as well. As soon as posts on social media began to appear asking “did Myles Garrett even make the trip?” the former All-Pro scored his first half sack of the match. and soon after that added another one.

The defense really only gave up 17 points, including 7 in the second half, when you consider that the Ravens scored on a pick-six in one instance and a short field inside the red zone after a mishandled punt in another. They countered the pick-six by the Ravens with one of their own. They recorded three sacks, eight pressures, and six quarterback hits, making Lamar Jackson’s life in the pocket a living hell.

What’s still most amazing about Sunday’s 33-31 victory over the Browns? They exerted every effort to lose it, but they were successful nonetheless. There’s just something different about this team, but that’s not typical for this franchise. Deshaun Watson stated the following regarding this group:

Jerome Ford’s 12-yard run on the game’s last drive, which resulted in a caravan of his Browns teammates escorting him to a first down, best embodied that unity of spirit. Kevin Stefanski referred to it as his favorite play of the match.

As things stand, the 6-3 Browns are in the thick of a fiercely competitive AFC North, with the division title still very much up for grabs. But this team has higher aspirations, and this game might have just been the official declaration of those aspirations.

The “same old Browns” of the previous 20 years are not this group. This is a legitimate team. Everyone is aware now.