3 Takeaways from Browns win over Jaguars

The Browns excelled on the defensive side of the ball from the beginning of the game, as they limited the Jaguars to only a field goal in the first half. They forced Jacksonville into two three-and-out situations in the first half. After a 33-yard run by QB Trevor Lawrence, the Browns kept the Jaguars from scoring a touchdown and forced them to settle for a field goal. Cleveland limited Lawrence to 5 of 11 pass completions for 16 yards in the first half.

Cleveland’s defense gave up a big play at the end of the third quarter as Lawrence threw a 66-yard pass to WR Brian Thomas Jr. that set up RB Travis Etienne Jr. for four-yard rushing touchdown. CB Greg Newsome II tackled Thomas in the one-on-one situation. It was the Jaguars only touchdown of the game.

“It wasn’t perfect. The first half was a lot better overall than the second,” DE Myles Garrett said. “We let some big plays happen and let it get close. So, we got to make sure that we are dominate all throughout. We can’t let those big plays slide, (Lawrence) get time in the pocket like that, and making sure that we do everything we can. If a guy goes up and makes a play, they get paid, too. But, if we allow them to that, whether it’s by our communication or by a missed assignment or lack of attention to detail, we can improve on that. We had a couple of those, and we can continue to sharpen them.”

The Browns secondary made their presence known in coverage, with three total passes defensed in the first half, and five total. CB Denzel Ward got his hands on a pass but could not come up with the interception. CB Martin Emerson Jr.also almost came up with an interception but recorded a pass defensed.

The front seven had just as much of an impact. Garrett recorded his second sack of the season in the third quarter, as he got the strip sack on Lawrence and forced the Jaguars to attempt a field goal – which bounced off the uprights and was not good. DT Quinton Jeffersonrecorded a sack in the fourth quarter to drop Lawrence for a loss of eight yards, as well as LB Jordan Hicks making his first sack of the season in the third quarter.

The Browns sealed the game with a safety with 1:44 left in the game. After a punt from P Corey Bojorquez put the Jaguars on the 2-yard line, DE Alex Wright broke through and sacked Lawrence in the end zone for the safety.

“That was huge for us,” Garrett said. “We needed that kind of cushion. Us being able to work together, rush together like that. Him working off me, me going high and then him going underneath to make that play, that’s exactly how we draw it up. He’s going to make many more of those plays.”