The Cleveland Browns made the Cincinnati Bengals look like a bunch of amateurs during Thursday night’s game between the teams, and they forced Andy Dalton into a historically bad night.
Dalton posted a 2.0 passer rating, becoming just the first quarterback since 1983 to throw at least 30 attempts and post a passer rating of 2.0 or less. Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby said after the game that the Browns were inside the opposing quarterback’s head.
“We knew what was coming, so we were all over it,” Dansby told the Akron Beacon Journal after the game.
“We knew exactly what they wanted to do, how they wanted to do it, when they wanted to do it. We’re calling out screens. We’re calling out run plays. We’re calling out everything right there on the field. When he audibled, we knew exactly what he audibled to.”
Dansby credited his team’s preparation and film work for gaining the edge on the Bengals.
In the game, the Browns’ defense held the Bengals to just three points and 165 total yards. Dalton went 10/33 for 86 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. He was sacked twice.
The Browns are now fourth in the NFL in points allowed per game (19.1) and first in interceptions (13). Their offseason investments in defensive personnel is definitely paying off, as is their film study. Thursday’s performance was masterful.
Helmet smack to Shutdown Corner
