{"id":175031,"date":"2023-01-02T13:06:05","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T13:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/takeaways-from-the-browns-win-over-the-commanders-ashley-bastock\/"},"modified":"2023-01-02T13:06:05","modified_gmt":"2023-01-02T13:06:05","slug":"takeaways-from-the-browns-win-over-the-commanders-ashley-bastock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/takeaways-from-the-browns-win-over-the-commanders-ashley-bastock\/","title":{"rendered":"Takeaways from the Browns win over the Commanders: Ashley Bastock"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CLEVELAND — It wasn’t a pretty first half for the Browns in their 24-10 win over the Commanders on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Cleveland trailed 7-3 going into the locker room at halftime. Ten offense, it was ugly as Deshaun Watson was sacked four times and had only three completions over the first 30 minutes. The Commanders’ final drive of the half also of them controlling the pace — they possessed the ball for 11:27 on a 21-play drive late in the second quarter.<\/p>\n

But to the Browns’ credit, in an ugly game, they responded. The defense stopped Washington from the dreaded \u201cdouble dip\u201d — when teams score at the end of the first half and beginning of the second, like the Saints did to the Browns last week — and the offense finally got into a rhythm in the pass game, offering a glimpse into the future.<\/p>\n

The Browns may not have playoff hopes, but those glimpses are not meaningless.<\/p>\n

Here are three takeaways from the game.<\/p>\n

Recommended Browns stories<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n

1. The Cooper connection was great — but don’t sleep on Peoples-Jones<\/b><\/p>\n

Amari Cooper had a great game, even after not being targeted in the first half. He ended the afternoon with 105 yards and two touchdowns (from 46 and 33 yards) on only three catches and four targets.<\/p>\n

But sandwiched in between those two Cooper touchdowns was one from Donovan Peoples-Jones — the No. 2 receiver who has developed quite a rapport with Watson since the QB’s 11-game suspension ended. On the 13-yard, third-quarter touchdown score, Watson found Peoples-Jones underneath. The wide receiver dove across the goal line, giving the Browns a 17-7 lead.<\/p>\n

The Cooper throws were great, but Cooper did a lot of the leg work on them picking up yards after the catch. When it came to his best throw of the game, Watson cited the Peoples-Jones touchdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were actually talking about that on the sideline,\u201d Watson told reporters after the game. \u201cHonestly, I think it was probably the DPJ one. It’s just both the crosser and the out route was good and that was all Amari after that, making a catch. But I think the DPJ one was really good because that was a red zone possession. That was a possession where he was a backside read and everything on the front side was developing. I read the coverage right and that was something that we worked on all week and we knew that they were going to be in that. So pre-snap, I kind of knew I was going up to 11 and it opened up just like we wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Grant Delpit continues to show growth<\/b><\/p>\n

It was a rough start to the 2022 season for Grant Delpit.<\/p>\n

The third-year safety — really only playing in his second NFL season after an Achilles injury kept him out for the entirety of his rookie season in 2020 — was seemingly involved, or at the very least, became the scapegoat for, a lot of the big plays and miscommunications that occurred in the Browns’ secondary early in the season. This was especially true in Cleveland’s blown-lead loss to the Jets in Week 2. He’s also struggled with missed tackles this season.<\/p>\n

But very quietly, Delpit has improved in the second half of the season, and we’ve really gotten a taste of that over the last two weeks when he’s recorded three interceptions now with his two against Washington on Sunday.<\/p>\n

It’s clear with his big 6-3 frame that he can over ground and did so on both of his interceptions Sunday. One of those came in the second quarter and the other, a deep end zone shot by Carson Wentz in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

He’s got a nose for the ball, and now it’s about whether he can build on a strong individual finish this season.<\/p>\n

3. Browns want to play spoilers<\/b><\/p>\n

The Browns have nothing to play for as far as playoff chances go, but they are creating their own motivation in playing spoiler for those teams still in the hunt.<\/p>\n

Against the Commanders they did just that. Washington had a chance to clinch or be eliminated today and up being the latter wound as the Browns came out victorious and the Green Bay Packers defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 41-17. Cleveland may have a chance to play spoilers again next week when they head to Pittsburgh — although, at the time of writing this, it’s unclear as the Steelers and Ravens face off on Sunday Night Football.<\/p>\n

If given the chance, the Browns would love the opportunity to knock their hated division rival out of contention.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, we’d love to do that,\u201d Myles Garrett told reporters after Sunday’s win. \u201cWe consider them our rivals. And divisionally, if we can’t make it, no, we’re definitely going to make sure those guys can’t. We’re going to do everything in our power. Much respect to them for being in this position. But we live for times like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hopefully at this time next year the Browns will have more to keep fighting for.<\/p>\n