by The Cleveland Browns rolled into Las Vegas today where they met a team actually worse then them in the Raiders who they soundly defeated 24-10. The win was thanks in part to a Raider O-Line that had no clue how to stop a blitz as the Browns defense tallied up 10 sacks, only 1 away from tying a franchise record. The defense was so stout that they held rookie sensation Ashton Jeanty to just 50 yards on 17 carries.
The Browns defense has been the shining point all season, and no one can deny that. Time will tell if their latest signal caller Sheduer Sanders will pan out, but the young man became the Browns first rookie quarterback to win his debut start since Eric Zeier in 1995. Sanders was decent today, not great and not bad, just decent as he finished 11 of 20 for 209 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 pick.
The one touchdown was a tiny screen pass to Dylan Sampson that the rookie tailback took the next 66 yards to score. The same play they ran earlier in the game that went for a loss of seven and almost became a pick six. Browns fans can be happy for the win, but Sanders was not impressive and attempted more then a few dangerous throws that should have been picked and would have been picked by an even a remotely decent team. The Browns had to punt 8 times and were not exactly and offensive machine or even what I would call efficient, but the defense put them in a position to win and they did.
Still, even with that said, the Browns rookie class has been one of the shining points of this season. Rookie running back Quishon Judkins has nearly 700 yards with 7 touchdowns while fellow rookie tailback Dylan Sampson has shined in a short sample size with sparks as well. Sampson, seems to be a possible threat out of the backfield as a pass catching back with his burst of speeds in open field.
Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr came into the Raider game leading the team in receptions with 44 for 422 yards in a season where moving the ball in the air has been next to impossible for this team. Without pretty much every other member of the offense struggling, these 3 rookies have been the bright spots.
On defense, no one can argue the Defensive Rookie of the Year for the Browns and possibly even the NFL has been Carson Schwesinger who leads the team with 85 tackles with 2 interceptions and 2 sacks. First round pick Mason Graham has also been effective as a run stopper in the middle.
Finally, the rookie kicker who blew week one, has been brilliant ever since as Andre Szmyt is now 16 of 19 on Field Goals, with only 1 miss since that dreadful debut. He is also 18 of 19 on extra points.
The Browns will be picking in the top 10 once again this year, and if GM Andrew Barry can match the success he had last Spring, the Browns will only get better.
