Browns Beat Vikings, Fall to 1-3

  • Posted By: Andrew Zimmel
  • October 3, 2021 @ 4:28 pm
  • Local Sports
img_7221

After last weeks convincing win to open their three game home stand, the Vikings couldn’t put together a winning streak falling to the Cleveland Browns 14-7 in a game that was no where near as normal as the final score indicated.

The atmosphere was buzzing in US Bank Stadium. The fans that I spoke with before the game were more worried about what might happen outside the confines of the the playing field rather than what would happen in them. It was Legends Weekend with former Viking coming back home for the induction of former Defensive Tackle Kevin Williams into the Vikings Ring of Honor.

Williams played 11 seasons for the Vikings going to six Pro Bowls, setting the team rookie record with three sacks in a game as well as being named to the NFL Hall of Fame All Decade team. The brand of football he played was hard nosed, and tough. Something this Vikings team would need against the Browns.

Cleveland was coming off a good week of their own, dismantling the Chicago Bears 26-6. The Browns made rookie Quarterback Justin Fields look so bad, some were asking if Nick Foles should get a chance to start. Defensive End Myles Garrett recorded 4.5 sacks by himself in the beat down.

Cleveland’s offense was even more vaunted. Even with receiver Jarvis Landry on the IR with a knee injury, the Browns had all world WR Odell Beckham Jr. as well as arguably the best running back room in football with Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb. The Browns won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.

The Vikings offense to start looked to pick right up where they left off against Seattle, using a mix of short passes and directional runs to weave through the Browns defense. Something I noticed right away, almost all the runs were sent away from Garrett.

Dalvin Cook, who was a last minute addition after being questionable all week with a knee injury that held him out of last week’s contest, looked good. The Vikings were able to get into the Red Zone after Kirk Cousins connected with Adam Thielen for 22 yards. Then on a fourth and one from the Cleveland nine yard line, the Vikings decided to play aggressive in front of their home crowd, sending fan favorite CJ Ham up the middle for the first down.

On first and goal from the Cleveland eight, the stadium erupted in cheers after Cousins connected with Justin Jefferson for the first score of the game. Those cheers quickly turned to0 boos as the officials called the play back due to Cousins being over the line of scrimmage.

On third down, the Cousins and Jefferson were successful in their connection, scoring from 12 yards out this time and giving the Vikings a 7-0 lead- their first and last lead of the game. The touchdown pass was also Cousins’ 100th in a Viking uniform. He joins Fran Tarkenton, Tommy Kramer and Daunte Culpepper to be the only QBs in Vikings history to do that. So fans, if you enjoyed Williams Ring of Honor, wait till you see Cousins back here in 15 years.

The Browns used Chubb and Hunt they way running backs should be used in today’s game. Both are duel threat guys and both got an almost equal number of carries. Chubb had 21 carries for 100 yards, Hunt with 14 carries and 69 yards.

Neither running back felt a ton of pressure from the Vikings defense. The Browns were able to rush for 184 yards, and while they only had two more third down conversions than the Vikings it felt like a lot more when the Browns were eating up clock.

When Everson Griffin returned to Minnesota before the year, I had mixed emotions. I loved the guy, but could he still brining it? With the Browns knocking on the door to score points to end the first quarter, on a fourth and for from the Minnesota six- Mayfield dropped back to pass. Griffin was able to fight through a block and sack the former number one overall pick for a turnover on downs. I’ve never heard the crowd so excited for a sack in the first quarter.

Before he was the Head Coach of the Browns, Kevin Stefanski was the Offensive Coordinator for Minnesota. Maybe Stefanski influenced Klint Kubiak, the current Minnesota OC, or maybe Klint’s Dad Gary Kubiak influenced Stefanski first, point is both of these offenses look very similar when it comes to game scripting.

The Vikings continued to play very aggressively. On 4th and 6 from the Browns 36 they went for it again, going to Thielen for a second straight time and being broken up by Browns’ Denzel Ward for a second straight time. Ward, probably the second best DB on the Browns, he shadowed Thielen to moderate success most of the afternoon. When it’s a rout over the middle, Ward is the defensive back you want- when it’s anything outside the numbers, he gets burned down the field. 

In today’s league, more and more teams are being aggressive. No more punts, no more field goals- only two point conversions and fourth down attempts. To the Vikings credit, play aggressive in this game wasn’t the reason they lost. Sure, would a field goal help with 9:59 left in the half, sure. But hindsight is always 20/20.

The Browns were able to take the ball on a turnover on downs and drive, converting four third downs. On fourth and goal from the Vikings two, Baker Mayfield threw and incompletion while being pressured to his right- only for the play to be called by after the officials hit Vikings Linebacker Eric Kendricks with defensive holding. From there, the Brown’s Hunt was able to get into the end zone.

To add insult to injury- a defensive delay of game by Minnesota after someone (I say someone because we never officially got told WHO cost the Vikings this penalty) called an extra time out- giving the Browns a chance go go for two. Andy Janovich, the Fullback, was able to get in giving Cleveland a 8-7 lead with 1:16 left in the half. 

After a quick three and out, the Vikings gave the ball back to the Browns with under 45 second left in the half. Mayfield and the Browns made Minnesota pay, going to Kareem Hunt on the ground and setting up 48 yard field goal to make it 11-7 at half time in favor of the Browns.

In the second half, it was a lot of the same from Cleveland. Using Chubb and Hunt in the run and pass game while also chewing up clock on short routs to tight ends. The take away for me as the Browns moved down the field was how athletic Mayfield is out of the pocket. Those first few season in Cleveland by himself with no help made him appreciate having weapons. You can tell though when he’s pressured that he still has the athleticism to run the ball if need be.  Remember that for next week when the Vikings fans Sam Darnold, who leads all QBs in rushing TDs.

With 6:16 left in the game, the Browns were able to drive down and kick a 53 yard field goal to make it 14-7. The Vikings still had a ton of time to make something happen. All three time outs, plus no time running off the clock on the touchback. That’s when the clock struck midnight and the carriage that was “Captain Kirk” turned back into Kirk Cousins.

The Vikings did have other chance to make something happen. After forcing Cleveland to punt after the turnover, the Vikings had the ball at their own 12 with 3:45 and the two minute warning-and it looked promising. Dalvin Cook even came back into the game.

Cousins was able to connect with Justin Jefferson for a 31 yard completion on third and six and put the Vikings into striking distance from the Browns 40, but then Minnesota called a run up the middle with Mattison and a short pass to Thielen? The play calling down the stretch was suspect at best.

The Browns weren’t able to do anything with the ball either in this one. It was really a battle of who wanted to lose this one more with both teams giving the other plenty of chance to close it out. In the end, the Vikings proved to be the champion of shooting themselves in their own foot.

Next week, the Vikings kickoff for the last game of their three game home stand as they take on the Detroit Lions (0-4) at Noon. Same time, same place.

Previous Story
Next Story