So, what do you think of the Browns after their big win against Arizona?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of NFL fans. All year long, we ask questions from the most devoted Cleveland Browns fans and people across the country.
The Browns got back on track in Week 9 when their defense turned out the lights again and Deshaun Watson returned to action and headed his ball high in the right direction.
However, all of this happened against the worst team in football: a win is a win, but what matters most is what happens this week against the Ravens.
That’s why, in addition to the confidence poll, we’re sticking with one more question: “What do you expect from the outcome of the Browns vs. Ravens game?”
The Ravens are climbing the rankings after several very dominant wins, including over established Lions and Seahawks Power Rankings. Can Cleveland make a statement and regain control of the AFC North?
Browns NFL Power Ranking: Cleveland moves up one spot, but Bengals move up heading into Week 10
This week’s game between Cleveland and Baltimore will have major implications for the rest of the season.
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The defense just dominated the Cardinals by shutting them out with seven sacks. They didn’t really need Deshaun Watson back, even if he played.
Non-QB MVP: DE Myles Garrett
Garrett went from perennial All-Pro to a leading candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He is tied for second in the league with 9.5 sacks and leads one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Last month, Garrett became the first player this millennium to finish a game with two sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal, almost single-handedly leading the Browns to victory over the Colts.
Despite several injuries on offense, Cleveland is in the middle of the playoffs. Garrett is the main reason.
The Browns had five scoring drives against Arizona, but the starting locations on the TD drives were the Arizona 49-yard line, the Arizona 11 and the Cleveland 44.
That final drive featured a 49-yard dime from Deshaun Watson to Amari Cooper; they previously tied for 59.
Those two passes accounted for nearly half of Watson’s passing yards Sunday, but they’re the plays that offer hope that this Air Raid can evolve with the playoffs clearly in sight.
The AFC North is a real bear, with each team playing more than two games above .500 and each boasting a good defense.
The Browns know their passing game will be tested over the next two weeks (in Baltimore, against the Steelers). It’s a good time to show that they can pitch to win.
The Browns got Deshaun Watson back from his shoulder injury and while he didn’t do much, he did enough to allow for a run game and a walk fed by the defense.
He should play much better next with Jackson and the Ravens. It’s hard to say anything about the Browns’ performance because the Cardinals were absolutely miserable.
The good news is that Deshaun Watson looked healthy. As long as there is no setback, he should stabilize Cleveland’s offense.
Cleveland’s blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals came with an asterisk: The Redbirds were ravaged by injuries on offense and produced a rookie quarterback making his first career start. Still, Week 9 was encouraging, and not just because the Browns won.
Cleveland’s $230 million quarterback was back in action, and Deshaun Watson had one of his best games since joining the franchise.
Watson’s numbers weren’t brilliant: 19 completions in 30 attempts for 219 yards and two scores. But he was efficient and showed no ill effects from the shoulder injury that sidelined him for part of the season.
Watson told reporters it was nice to be with his teammates again.
“This is what I prepared and trained very, very hard to get back to,” he said. “Just to go out there and play freely and be able to be really close to myself and go out there and compete and have fun with my teammates. That’s what today brought.”
Cleveland’s ground game remains inconsistent without Nick Chubb; the team averaged just 2.8 yards per carry.
But the defense was once again dominant, and if the Browns can keep their starting quarterback on the field, they can be a real force in the AFC North during the second half of the season.
“The Browns have bounced back well from their recent loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Specifically, the league’s top-ranked defense performed well after giving up 818 total yards in consecutive weeks,” Sobleski said. “Granted, last weekend’s win came against the hapless Arizona Cardinals, who opted to debut a rookie quarterback in the fifth round.
Still, Cleveland went about its business despite growing concerns about an offense that still lacks consistent quarterback play and lost left tackle Jedrick Wills to injury for an extended period.
However, the Browns defense continues to make the difference.
