First Half Notes: Browns and Bengals in Rainy, Defensive Slug Fest
Aided by rainy conditions, defenses are have dictated the pace of the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals through one half. The quarterbacks are struggling, but the Browns have a 10-0 lead.
The defense the Browns built in the offseason has paid immediate dividends. Za'Darius Smith had a pass deflection and hit on Joe Burrow on the first play of the game while Ogbonnia Okoronkwo had the team's first sack, two of the players added in the offseason.
Burrow struggled to find grip and combined with a relentless pass rush and blanketed receivers, has just 36 yards on 6 of 14 passing through two quarters of football.
The Browns have the lead, but the offense has been unable to capitalize on multiple opportunities to blow this game open. The Bengals defensive line has controlled the line of scrimmage on the other side of the ball, which is putting the ball in the hands of Deshaun Watson.
Watson has made a few plays with his arm and his legs, totaling 117 yards along with a rushing touchdown and the Browns have had him take multiple shots down the field, but he's missed multiple opportunities he knows he has to hit. He did rally on the last drive of the half with a handful of perfect passes, setting up a rushing touchdown.
The Browns shifted to quads to the right and with the middle of the field open, Watson took off to through to the left behind a block from Amari Cooper to score with under 30 seconds left in the half. Cooper is also leading the team with 37 receiving yards on three receptions, including one explosive play of 20 yards.
The Browns have consistently been at midfield or in Bengals territory for most of the half. Up until the Watson touchdown, the biggest play of the game to this point was a forced fumble by Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt on running back Jerome Ford, giving the Bengals the ball at the 13-yard line. That could still come back to haunt the Browns in the second half.
Despite speculation of his usage, Nick Chubb continues to be a featured part of the offense. He's leading the team in receptions with four to this point as well as generating yards 10 carries for 57 yards along with 21 yards receiving gives him 78 total yards at 5.5 yards per touch.
The good news is the Browns, after starting out gaining nothing on the ground, have been able to find some running concepts that are giving Chubb breathing room. The bad news is Jack Conklin left the game with a knee injury, which will likely keep him out a significant portion of the season, if not all of it. Rookie Dawand Jones is in at right tackle.
Additionally, the Bengals are gaining some momentum with their running game and were able to get onto the Browns side of the field before being repelled near the end of the half. The Bengals are working much harder to gain yardage while the Browns have created multiple opportunities for big plays and haven't been able to complete them.
After poor coverage on the opening kickoff return, new special team's coordinator Bubba Ventrone's unit has provided the Browns a boost and certainly been better than the Bengals in that area of the game. Along with Jim Schwartz coordinating the defense, the Browns have seen an immediate lift from their new coaching additions.
If Watson can carry the momentum he showed late, that could allow the Browns to take control of the game. He's making good decisions and finding open targets. If he's able to hit them consistently, the Browns will be difficult to stop. Chubb may find additional running room on the ground.
As for the Bengals, they need to keep finding running room on the ground until Burrow can find his form in this weather. Given the way the game has unfolded, a key turnover could mean the difference in this one.
And new Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins has hit both a field goal and extra point.
