The Cleveland Browns scored a huge Week 14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
This is the first time the Browns defeated the Ravens in over 2 years.
The game was the tale of two halves but ultimately after making it a nail biter, the Browns pulled out the season-saving victory.
Check out my TikTok discussing the game.
@brownsspice
Here are the three things we learned in the victory.
1. Donovan Peoples-Jones Was Sorely Missed
DONOVAN PEOPLES-JONES 🤯
— Action Network NFL (@ActionNetNFL) December 12, 2021
Ah, how the Browns offense has missed DPJ!
He came up big today with five receptions for 90 yards including a long 34-yard play.
His season has been odd with a groin injury that started in pregame warmups in Week 7.
He missed three games in total with the injury as he ended up reaggravating it.
DPJ is a good security blanket for Mayfield.
Getting him healthy for the final stretch of the season is a big plus for the Browns’ offense.
2. Browns Defense Was Fantastic
In addition to playing lights-out football in the first half, the Browns defense made plays when they needed them particularly in the second half.
It was a total team effort so perhaps Myles Garrett needs to talk about focus more often since good things happened since his Friday comments.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah continues to play great.
Jadeveon Clowney says that Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah makes some of the best plays he's ever seen as a linebacker.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) December 12, 2021
Also, Grant Delpit, and Greedy Williams made big plays today.
The two defensive players who saved this game were Denzel Ward and Jadeveon Clowney.
Both played well during the entire game but saved the best for last in the Ravens final possession of the game.
Ward played clean and tough to prevent a fourth-down completion.
Fourth down stop for the win!#ProBowlVote + @denzelward!
📺: #BALvsCLE on CBS
📲: Browns mobile app pic.twitter.com/VqK1QFbP7x— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 12, 2021
#Browns Denzel Ward and Jadeveon Clowney just saved this game.
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) December 12, 2021
Sheesh Jadeveon Clowney 😤
What a sack!#Ravens #Browns pic.twitter.com/YGo4lvtLMW
— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) December 12, 2021
Clowney sacked backup quarterback Tyler Huntley to keep the Ravens out of field goal range.
#Browns Jadeveon Clowney today:
• 3 tackles
• 1 for loss
• 1.5 sacks
• 1 pass deflection
• 2 QB hits pic.twitter.com/KdBHxOfqqd— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) December 12, 2021
During the first game against the Ravens, Clowney struggled and looked frustrated.
#Browns DE Jadeveon Clowney on defense having to go back on the field after Ravens recovered onside kick: "I just felt like our defense was good enough to go out there and make a stop. We did what we had to do to win."
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) December 12, 2021
Reflecting on that final drive in the postgame, Clowney said:
“I just felt like our defense was good enough to go out there and make a stop. We did what we had to do to win.”
3. It Is Time To Rethink Who And How The Hands Team Is Working
It is not a minor thing that the Browns hands team looked ill-prepared for the onside kick.
Everyone had to expect it, but yet it looked like they had not practiced onside kicks the entire season.
The composition of the hands team is questionable also.
HOW IS THE BROWNS HANDS TEAM A BUNCH OF FULLBACKS AND LINEBACKERS??!?!?!?!
— DollarDog Nick (@DollarDogNick) December 12, 2021
Fullbacks and linebackers seem to be the members.
Isn’t this a better place to put D’Ernest Johnson, JoJo Natson, and other players who regularly handle the ball during the course of a game?
If this game had come down to an ill-played onside kick, this would have been a terrible upcoming week.
Baker said he “truly wasn’t worried” after the onside kick because of the way the #Browns defense is playing
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 12, 2021
It was not always pretty, but a win is a win.
Enjoy Victory Monday Browns Fans!
The next Browns game is just 6 days away; the Raiders will be in town next Saturday.
NEXT: Baker Mayfield Hints At Internal Discord In Browns Building
