Defense creates stops and key takeaways early, falls short late
Heading into Week 5, the Browns' defense preached continuing to play their brand of football and taking care of their side of the ball. By doing so, they would help Gabriel in his first start at quarterback.
In the first three quarters of the game, they did just that. On the sixth play of the Vikings first offensive drive, DE Alex Wright forced RB Jordan Mason to fumble to the ball, which S Grant Delpit recovered the give the Browns the ball back. Offensively, the Browns capitalized off the turnover and scored their first touchdown of the game.
The takeaways continued, as early in the fourth quarter DE Isaiah McGuire forced RB Zavier Scott to fumble, which LB Mohamoud Diabate recovered to give the offense another shot. The defense also had a turnover on downs after K Will Reichard missed a 51-yard field goal, and the Browns received the ball on their own 41-yard line.
It was the third consecutive game the Browns' defense has forced at least one turnover. Offensively, the Browns did not record a giveaway, and Cleveland was plus-2 in the turnover margin.
Cleveland's defense applied pressure on QB Carson Wentz and sacked him three times for a loss of 16 yards. DT Maliek Collins brought Wentz down behind the line of scrimmage twice, while Wright recorded the third sack. DE Myles Garrett also had a chase down tackle on Wentz.
Wentz finished the game completing 25 of 34 passing attempts for 236 passing yards and one touchdown, as well as 13 rushing yards on three carries.
"They had a great chip plan," Garrett said. "I think they were, especially in the second half, chipping on both sides, so that made it difficult to get there. It takes a lot to battle through two and they made sure, at least tried to make sure to get the ball out quickly and Carson is athletic, mobile, and he has an arm, shout out to him as well. I mean, the offensive line held up."
However, with about three minutes left in the game, the Vikings began their final offensive drive. Wentz threw nine consecutive passes to move Minnesota down the field, and the Browns struggled to contain the pass game. Following the two-minute timeout, Wentz connected with T.J. Hockenson for a 14-yard gain, followed by a deep pass to WR Justin Jefferson for a gain of 21 yards.
Wentz continued to move the Vikings down the field through the air, connecting with WR Jalen Nailor before finding Mason. Two more passes the later, Minnesota was deep in the red zone before Wentz connected with WR Jordan Addison on a 12-yard touchdown pass that would be the game-winning touchdown for Minnesota.
"We just got to close it out," Garrett said. "Frustration doesn't matter. The result does, so we got to be better."