But the mistakes on offense continue to prevent the Browns from even reaching 20 points.
Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 4 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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QB: I had one big gripe about Deshaun Watson this week, and that was that on the final offensive play, he didn’t just throw it up as a mini-Hail Mary, so-to-speak. Yes, the line didn’t hold up, but I always believe that for any quarterback, if it’s the final play, never take a sack (unless it’s a blindside you didn’t see) — I don’t care if a receiver is triple covered, just try it.
Beyond that, this was a solid game for Watson, and by far his best of the season. His two best plays somehow ended up in negative plays — a strike to Amari Cooper that unfathomably became an interception, and then an 82-yard touchdown taken off the board due to a very questionable holding penalty on Nick Harris. Watson was a bit more decisive this week, and he also ran 8 times for 32 yards to help pick up positive yards and make those conversions easier. He was graded as the Browns’ top player on either side of the ball with an 86.0. - RB: Jerome Ford got a lot of touches this week, although still not many carries against what was the worst run defense in the NFL. His rushing stats were boosted by a 30+ yard carry on the team’s final drive. I also approve of him being a checkdown receiver and trying more screen passes — even if those gain just two yards at times, it puts the team in better second- or third-down conversion situations. Ford graded out to a 74.3 by PFF, the team’s second-best grade on offense. D’Onta Foreman’s workload has now been minimal in 3 of 4 games.
- WR: There was very little involvement for Elijah Moore this week, and Charles Tillman didn’t have a ball thrown his way in 9 snaps. The team did utilize their tight ends (snap-wise) a bit more. Jerry Jeudy had a solid day, but all eyes were on Amari Cooper again. You hate to say that players can’t make mistakes, but it just seems to be popping up for Cooper regularly, as a strike from Watson in the second half led to an interception. He appeared to have redemption on the 82-yard touchdown later, but it was called back. Cleveland has to stick with Cooper — as frustrating as it’s been, he will redeem himself.
- TE: The Browns used their three tight ends equally this week. Blake Whiteheart caught a touchdown pass and received a nice grade of 83.9 from PFF.
- OL: The right side of the Browns’ offensive line was a liability again, as Dawand Jones (42.5) and Zak Zinter (45.4) both graded poorly. Nick Harris had to play for the injured Ethan Pocic and had two plays go against him in a big way — the hold on the touchdown that was called back, and then the early snap on the final drive that set the offense back to a 2nd-and-16.
