by Game Ball #1 Cleveland Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanksi
His game preparation and creative play calling in the first half was brilliant. Kevin Stefanski had nearly 5 months to plan for this game and it showed with a remarkable first half. The Browns scored on their first three drives of the game, and 3 of 4 in the first half. They controlled the clock as well, having possessed the ball for nearly 16 minutes and running 32 total plays.
They moved the ball at ease as Mayfield opened up with 231 yards on 13 of 17 passing with no picks, and only getting sacked once. The play calling was creative as well, with numerous playmakers touching the ball. In the first half alone, the Browns had 4 different ball carries, two of which were wideouts. Mayfield ran as well, but that was not by design. Mayfield also spread the ball around as well in the half as 6 different Browns caught the ball.
The first half would end with the Browns up 22-10 as Cleveland went 2 for 2 on fourth down and also converted a two-point conversion. They were creative, they were hungry, and it showed on the scoreboard as they went to the half with 318 yards of offense in the opening 30 minutes.
He continued to call a smart game in the second half as well, it is not his fault his punter dropped the ball. You also cannot blame the coach if his star wideout OBJ was too banged up to play. These are all things that will get better with time, just not today.
Game Ball #2 Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes
He showed me again today why he is the best quarterback in the NFL and one of the best athletes in sports. I still have no idea why people are so quick to underrate him, he is a winner. Mahomes balled out today for 337 yards passing while throwing three touchdowns. He also ran for 18 yards and a touchdown. Not bad for a guy who barely saw the field in the first half while the Browns dominated the ball.
Game Balls 3 & 4 Kansas City Wideout Tyreek Hill and Tight End Travis Kelce
Say what you want about his checkered personal life and how he conducts himself off the field, it doesn’t change the fact that he is incredible on it. Hill went off today for 197 yards on 11 catches with a 75-yard touchdown. His running mate Travis Kelce had himself a day too, with 6 catches for 76 yards and 2 scores. The new look revamped Browns defense picked the wrong team to have a debut against.
Game Balls 5 & 6 Nick Chubb & Kareem Hunt
Nick Chubb had over 100 total yards and 2 touchdowns, but all fans are going to want to do is complain about his fumble. Chubb looked incredible today and constantly hit the right wholes with a great speed burst and little hesitation.
Kareem Hunt didn’t see much action, but when he did, made the most of it. Hunt only touched the ball 9 times, but managed to combine receiving and rushing yards for 61 yards, while also scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion. He averaged over 10 yards every time he touched the ball and gave the Browns a spark several times.
Why didn’t they change from a zone (prevent) defense in the second half when they could not stop any underneath passes?
It appears we seem to come out in the first half and cannot connect in the second half! Even though the Browns lost they are still my team and proud of them!
We had to find a way to win that game