When wide receiver Amari Cooper caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Flacco on the first play of the game, Cooper did something unprecedented in Cleveland Browns history.
The 53-yard touchdown set up the Browns’ first score of the game, giving the Browns a 7–0 lead with 13:18 left in the first quarter.
Cooper entered the game with 61 receptions for 985 yards, including three touchdowns.
Additionally, Cooper is averaging 16.1 yards per reception. With just 15 yards remaining, Cooper became the first Browns receiver to reach 1,000 yards in a second straight season.
In 2022, Cooper had 1,160 yards on 78 receptions. After the game, Cooper now has 72 receptions for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns.
Cooper had a day in the first half. After the touchdown, Flacco hit Cooper for a 75-yard touchdown with 12:08 left in the second quarter.
Cooper was intercepted on the play but caught the ball. Cooper had three receptions for 150 yards in 12:08 of the first half.
But Cooper wasn’t done yet. Cooper posted the best game in Browns history with 265 receiving yards on 11 receptions, including two touchdowns previously held by Josh Gordon.
“He was very special,” Kevin Stefanski said. “Is a good person.”
Cooper led the Browns by 15 points late and the day was over until Stefanski returned a kickoff and Cooper caught a 13-yard pass on fourth down to tie the score at 1.
Cooper said he didn’t realize he was so close to the record until Alex Van Pelt told him he needed 10 yards.
Cooper said, “I didn’t know Josh Gordon’s record, but I wondered if there was any reason not to go for 300 (yards).”
Cooper said it was special to reach the record and go over 1,000 yards. “It feels really good,” Cooper said. “I’m not taking anything for granted.
“In Browns history, 13 players have had 14 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
No Browns receiver has recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in franchise history since the team’s inception in 1946, including Dante Lavelli, Mack Speedy, Paul Warfield and Ozzie Newsome. Ravelli has never had a 1,000-yard season in his career.
When asked about Cooper on Friday, Kevin Stefanski said no Browns receiver has ever had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.”Correct?” “Wow.” Stefanski said.
Stefanski was asked if Cooper exceeded his expectations when he traded him. “I don’t know,” he said. “I mean, he’s been very productive wherever he’s been before, in high school, college and pro.
So I can’t say that Amari’s success is a surprise to me. I have enjoyed working with Amari over the past few years.
He’s a great guy, works really hard at his craft, and like I said before, he’s a great trail runner.
But I was amazed at the way he worked and how that applied on the football field as well.”
In addition to induction into the Hall of Fame, the Browns have had many great receivers with 1,000-yard receiving seasons in history, including Webster Slater, Kevin Johnson, Antonio Bryant, Terrelle Pryor, Josh Gordon, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and Gary Barnidge. . I did. , Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham.
However, neither has reached 1,000 yards in back-to-back years.The closest player to back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons is Landry, who had 976 yards in 2018 and 1,174 yards in 2019.
The only Browns player to have a 1,000-plus-yard season was Newsome, who had 1,002 yards in 1981 and 1,001 yards in 1984.Gordon set the record for most receiving yards in a season in 2013 with 1,646 yards.
Last Sunday against the Bears, Cooper had four receptions for 109 yards, including a 51-yard run in the fourth quarter. Cooper has 34 100-yard receiving games and 58 touchdowns.
In 2023, he crossed 100 meters four times.Cooper said he was surprised no other Browns receivers accomplished the feat.
“It’s a little surprising, but at the same time, it’s not,” Cooper said. “Obviously, there were a lot of guys here that had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
But extenuating circumstances arise and the boys suffer.”So it’s not an easy task for me.
It’s just being able to come here every day and be consistent for my teammates and the team.”Cooper, 29, has reached 1,000 yards in six of the last eight seasons. Stefanski was amazed at what Cooper did.
