Backups Lead Cleveland Browns to a Win Over the Denver Broncos, 17-14

The Cleveland Browns beat the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football, 17-14, with their backup players stepping up and carrying the team.

Running back D’Ernest Johnson and quarterback Case Keenum were excellent while covering up the Browns’ starters, and were the most important pieces in Cleveland’s winning puzzle.

Keenum replaced Baker Mayfield, who was out because of the left shoulder injury, and did well. The veteran threw 199 yards, 21-for-33, recording a pass for a touchdown.

Meanwhile, Johnson tore up the Broncos’ pretty reliable defense, rushing for 146 yards and putting the spotlight on himself. He had 22 rushes, one touchdown, and was the unstoppable force in the last five minutes, once Browns ran down the clock keeping the ball in their possession and not allowing the guests to have the chance to win.

Johnson had the ball in his arms seven times on that last drive, rushing for 52 yards and presenting an enigma for the Broncos’ defense.

“The last drive was very frustrating,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said. “We loaded up against the run and we couldn’t stop them.”

Cleveland was quickly up 10-0, in the first period, with Johnson breaking the ice and scoring the opening TD. Chase McLaughlin would then make a 52-yard FG to lift the hosts to a two-possession game.

Midway through the third, Melvin Gordon caught Teddy Bridgewater’s pass for 10-7, but Johnny Santon responded with 30 seconds to go inside the same sequence, cathing a TD pass from Keenum.

At 5:23 before the end, Javonte Williams’s TD reception pulled the visitors from Mile High to 17-14, but that is when Johnson stepped on the scene to close the match.

“He got a game ball, and it was a good moment,” Keenum said on Johnson. “I mean, there was lots of cheering, lots of water, and everything being thrown.”

The Browns’ receivers didn’t have too much workload. Austin Hooper had 42 yards on two receptions, Jarvis Landry 37 in five, Odell Beckham 23 in two. Myles Garrett had 1.5 sacks, while Jadevenon Clowney recorded half a sack.

On the other side, Teddy Bridgewater was 23-for-33 for two touchdowns and one pick. Courtland Sutton posted 68 receiving yards in five receptions, Noah Fant had 39, and Javonte Williams 32.

What was the main problem for the Broncos was their rushing game, which generated only 41 yards, which was simply too low to endanger the Browns. Williams had 20 on four rushes, and Melvin Gordon 18 on eight, which pretty much says enough about the guests’ game on the ground.

An even bigger problem than the defeat is Von Miller’s injury. The veteran linebacker and an eight-time Pro Bowl selection injured his ankle, and that will be a big blow for the Broncos if it turns out that the injury is long-term. We don’t need to explain what kind of an impact Miller brings on the field.

The Franchise from Denver will host the Washington Football team in a must-win game next week. The Broncos are 3-4 right now, and a loss in this one would be devastating for their playoff plans. After that, they visit the Dallas Cowboys before welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles and the LA Chargers.

As for the Browns, they are preparing to host the division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, next week, and after that to visit one, the Cincinnati Bengals. After these two matches, Kevin Stefanski’s boys are going to Foxborough to face Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.