The Washington Commanders remain hot with their fourth consecutive win, dominating the Cleveland Browns 34-13.
Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels overcame a first-quarter interception to throw for 238 yards and a touchdown. He also added 82 rushing yards.
Meanwhile, Browns veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson continued to struggle. He got sacked seven times and never quite had command of the offense.
Here’s how the Commanders claimed victory over the hapless Browns:
The Commanders’ defense set the tone for the opening drive. Cleveland’s first drive led to a 4th-and-1 and the game’s first significant moment. The Browns opted to substitute Watson out for backup QB Jameis Winston. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski chose a trick play that quickly went awry.
Winston pitched the ball to running back D’Onta Foreman. However, Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu fought through a block upfront to trip Foreman up in the backfield, causing a turnover on downs.
The Commanders’ offense also started shaky, going three and out on their first possession. The drive ended with a 3rd-and-11 sack, as the Browns’ defensive line collapsed the pocket. Cleveland’s edge rusher Za’Darius Smith got through to sack Daniels.
Brian Robinson breaks the scoreless tie with TD
The first offensive breakthrough occurred midway in the first quarter when Washington’s star wide receiver Terry McLaurin atoned for an earlier drop by hauling in a beautiful throw on the run by Daniels for 66 yards. The Commanders were inside the five-yard line, looking to score. Yet, the Browns defense shot down any chance of a touchdown when linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah picked off the rookie for an interception.
The Browns offense couldn’t muster any momentum backed against their own end zone. Washington forced another three and out, leading to a 15-yard punt return by Olamide Zaccheaus deep into Cleveland territory.
One 4th-and-2 from Cleveland’s 14, Commanders running back Austin Ekeler picked up ten yards on a jet sweep for a first down. Ekeler’s backfield mate, Brian Robinson Jr., finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown on the next play after breaking a tackle.
Washington 7, Cleveland 0
Dustin Hopkins kicks a 51-yard FG against his former team
Cleveland and Washington traded three and outs before Watson and the Browns got their first productive drive. Cleveland drove inside the Commanders’ 25-yard-line. Yet, Luvu made another play, sacking Watson on 3rd-and-15. The Browns settled for a 51-yard field goal by former Commanders kicker Dustin Hopkins, who hilariously received boos from the Northwest Stadium crowd ahead of the kick.
Cleveland 3, Washington 7
Austin Ekeler sets up the Commanders’ field goal with back-to-back big plays
Ekeler continued to be instrumental for the Commanders. After taking the kickoff 20 yards, the veteran running back broke loose for a 50-yard pickup to the Browns’ 23-yard line on the drive’s first play.
Daniels converted a 3rd-and-1 with a two-yard scramble to his right. A pass to tight end Zach Ertz was near disaster. Initially, officials ruled Ertz fumbled into a turnover. However, review assistance quickly overturned the call into an incomplete pass. Daniels targeted Ertz again on third down yet was short of the first down.
Washington settled for a 27-yard field goal by Austin Seibert.
Washington 10, Cleveland 3
After a defensive stop, Daniels and the Commanders’ offense had the ball. Daniels faced a 4th-and-3. Owusu-Koramoah got through to Daniels on a blitz. Yet, Daniels made him miss before scampering down the field for a 34-yard goal to Cleveland’s six-yard line. A Browns’ defensive holding penalty placed the ball at the three.
After getting stuff on first-and-goal, Robinson pushed through for his second touchdown of the game on second down.
Washington 17, Cleveland 3
Dyami Brown sighting on TD just before half
Cleveland’s struggles amplified after the offense punted following another three-and-out. A fire blitz got to Watson, who got sacked by Luvu and fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner. Wagner pushed running back Jerome Ford into Watson, leading to the sack.
Not wanting to rest on a 14-point lead at halftime, the Commanders’ offense stayed aggressive despite receiving the ball to start the second half. Daniels called his shot, hitting seldom-used wide receiver Dyami Brown for a 41-yard touchdown on a go-route. Brown ran right past Browns defensive back Martin Emerson.
Washington 24, Cleveland 3 – Halftime
Commanders defense causes a chaotic second half for the Browns defense
It’s a good thing the Commanders were aggressive, getting a third touchdown at the end of the first half because disaster struck on the first play of the third quarter. McLaurin ran the ball, but Owusu-Koramoah made a great play, punching the ball out of McLaurin’s arm. Emerson recovered the loose football for a turnover, giving the Browns good field position at Washington’s 30-yard line.
Cleveland reached the two-yard line before the drive stalled. First, a false start pushed them back five yards. Then Watson took a brutal hit by Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong for a sack.
Excellent coverage in the end zone forced back two straight Watson incompletions. On 4th-and-goal, Watson wanted a timeout due to the play clock winding down. However, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski chose not to burn a second timeout on the drive and elected to take a delay of game penalty.
Despite the turnover and field position, the Browns leave the field with only three points.
Cleveland 6, Washington 24
For the second straight week, Daniels took over the game just as there was any chance of momentum shifting. He found McLaurin with a strike for 23 yards. On the next snap, he scrambled for another 23 yards.
A sack didn’t deter Daniels. On 3rd-and-7, he connected with Brown for 16 yards and a first down. Daniels picked up another six yards with his feet, setting up a 3rd-and-2 from the three. Backup running back Jeremy McNichols punched through for a touchdown — his third in two games.
Washington 31, Cleveland 6
The Commanders’ defense put the finishing touches on the ensuing drive. Wagner made his presence felt again, stripping Watson of the football on a sack. Luvu recovered the loose football at the 50-yard line.
The turnover led to a second field goal make by Seibert.
Washington 34, Cleveland 6
Jayden Daniels rests fourth quarter
The Commanders’ defense stalled the Browns to zero yards for the first three plays. A holding penalty and a Watson scrambled set up fourth-and-one, but Ford picked up the first with a carry.
The Commanders closed out the next drive with its sixth and seventh sacks of Watson. Luvu got him on first down. Then, facing 3rd-and-long, Dante Fowler Jr. wrapped Watson up as he tried to escape the pocket.
The stop also signified the end of Jayden Daniels’ day. The rookie QB was all smiles on the sidelines as he rested the entire fourth quarter en route to his fourth win. Backup Marcus Mariota, who was activated off injured reserve this week, took the game’s final snaps for Washington.
Watson tossed a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, finding tight end Jordan Akins.
Cleveland 13, Washington 34
The Commanders will remain atop the NFC East with a 4-1 record. Washington is 2-0 against the previously vaunted AFC North, sweeping through the state of Ohio.
Coupled with last week’s 42-14 win at Arizona, the Commanders have won back-to-back games by 20 or more points for the first time since 1997.
The Browns fall to 1-4 — three of their losses against the NFC East. Cleveland has a series of questions moving forward, starting with their quarterback and offense.
A showdown against reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens is next for Daniels and the Commanders.
Key Player Stats
Washington Commanders:
- Jayden Daniels (QB): 238 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 82 rushing yards
- Austin Ekeler (RB): 67 rushing yards, 1 TD; 30 receiving yards
- Terry McLaurin (WR): 4 receptions, 112 yards
- Dyami Brown (WR): 2 receptions, 57 yards — 41-yard TD
- Frankie Luvu (LB): 2.5 sacks, seven tackles
- Bobby Wagner (LB): 1.5 sacks, six tackles
- Defense: 7 sacks, 212 total yards allowed
Cleveland Browns:
- Deshaun Watson (QB): 125 passing yards, 1 TD
- Jerome Ford: 47 rushing yards
- Amari Cooper (WR): 4 receptions, 60 yards
- Jermiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB): 1 INT, 1 sack
