The Cleveland Browns recorded a huge win in Week 9 over their Ohio rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals.
The final score was 41-16.
A win after this tumultuous week was just what the doctor ordered for this team.
To be honest, the entire Browns team stepped up and played an outstanding game so selecting three players is difficult, but here it goes.
1. Baker Mayfield
Mayfield directed any emotions he had from the OBJ saga this week in the best possible way.
He spread the ball around to 8 different receivers with Donovan Peoples-Jones repeating his excellent habit from 2020 of catching a touchdown pass against the Bengals.
David Njoku caught the other Mayfield touchdown pass.
On the day, Mayfield completed 14 out of 21 passes for 218 yards.
He played inspired knowing that the eyes were all on him today, and the Browns fans who made the trip to Cincy gave him props at the end of the game.
Massive ovation for Baker Mayfield coming off the field from the #Browns fans in Cincy pic.twitter.com/hh4JHOhYcE
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) November 7, 2021
2. Denzel Ward
Ward collected a pick 6 at the best possible time.
When Joe Burrow and the Bengals were driving and down in the red zone, Ward stepped in front of the receiver and took it to the house for a 99-yard touchdown.
Ward had not scored a touchdown since 2019.
For all of the ups and downs in Ward’s career and the myriad of injuries, he got a little redemption today with this huge momentum-changing play.
99 YARD @denzelward PICK-6!
📺: #CLEvsCIN on CBS
📲: Browns mobile app pic.twitter.com/SwyBwHJWxE— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 7, 2021
3. Nick Chubb
As Chubb goes, the Browns go.
Today, Nick Chubb had an enormous day with 14 carries for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Chubb is the perfect antidote to the climatic Browns week.
He is calm, cool, focused, and all about football.
It is safe to say there will never be off-the-field drama surrounding Chubb so the fact that he picked this game to have one of his best outings of the season feels almost like poetic justice.
HAVE A DAY NICK CHUBB pic.twitter.com/NNZXx5Mtc3
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 7, 2021
Honorable Mentions
As I said, there were a lot of players that stepped up.
This was a total team victory.
Greg Newsome II
I now understand why he is called Greg Newsome II…
There must be 2 of him because the guy is everywhere.#CLEvsCIN #Browns #CLE #NFL pic.twitter.com/1eLF9Lan7Z
— Browns fan UK (@brownsfanuk) November 7, 2021
The defensive effort of Greg Newsome II on Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has to be mentioned.
Chase has been on fire in his rookie season.
He has 7 touchdowns through the first 8 games of the Bengals season.
Chase was targeted 13 times in this game.
He caught only 6 passes for 49 yards and did not get into the end zone.
Kevin Stefanski
It goes without saying this has been a difficult week for the Browns.
Many were concerned that the Browns would be distracted and not up to the task against the Bengals.
Coach Stefanski deserves a lot of credit for getting this team ready for this game.
#Browns safety John Johnson III said team’s ability to block out the noise starts with coach Kevin Stefanski
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) November 7, 2021
They were on point and never in jeopardy of losing this game.
For all of the weeks where his play calling and other actions have been critiqued, this was the week where everything came together and worked well.
The Browns desperately needed this win and got it, but they can not rest on their laurels.
Coach Stefanski, at some point, told the team that this season is 17 separate marathons.
This marathon resulted in a win, but it is time to build upon it and keep the momentum going into Week 10 as Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots await the 5-4 Cleveland Browns.
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