The Browns struggled to close out their matchup against the Vikings, as they fell 21-17 to Minnesota in Week 5.
Cleveland heads back to the United States with a 1-4 record following the loss, with positive moments to take away throughout a majority of the game but specific areas of improvement to be addressed – including the penalties.
“Obviously extremely disappointed not come away with a win there,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said, “Just we need to do a better job closing out. And that’s an offensive thing, defense, special teams, coaches, players, you name it. We got to come away and be at our best in those moments, and we’re not. And that’s the disappointing, frustrating part for me. But we’ll keep grinding. We’ll get back and get back to work.”
Here are three takeaways from Sunday’s 21-17 loss to the Vikings.
Offense showcases mobility with Dillon Gabriel’s poise in first start
Following the Browns making the switch at quarterback from Joe Flacco to Dillon Gabriel, the rookie quarterback took the field against the Vikings and played with a level of poise. After the first offensive drive stalled, Gabriel helped move the Browns down the field and to put points up on the board first against the Vikings.
In the first quarter after a defensive takeaway, in which DE Alex Wright forced a fumble and S Grant Delpit recovered the ball, Gabriel took the field again. They utilized RB Quinshon Judkins in the run game to move the ball down into the red zone before Gabriel connected with TE Harold Fannin Jr. for a 1-yard touchdown.
Even as the offense dealt with penalties that pushed them back behind the sticks, Gabriel demonstrated his own mobility. In the second quarter as the Browns were backed up at their own 11-yard line, Gabriel scrambled to evade pressure and took off for a gain of eight yards to give P Corey Bojorquez space to punt.
Gabriel finished his first regular-season start with three scoring drives – with two touchdown drives and one field goal. Late in the third quarter they went on a 13-play, 69-yard drive that ended in a touchdown when Gabriel found TE David Njoku in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass.
“Dillon has a lot of composure. He’s very poised. You see him scramble throughout the pocket a lot,” Judkins said. “He was great in his communication with calling all of our plays. He did the whole nine yards. So, he had a really good day. I just always believed in him.”
Gabriel finished his first game completing 19 of 33 passing attempts for 190 yards and two touchdowns, with his longest completion of the day for 22 yards.
Be the first to comment