Browns 1st and Goal Report: Will Winston spark the offense against Ravens?

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Cleveland Browns face the Baltimore Ravens in a Week 8 AFC North Division battle. Will it really be a battle? The Browns are coming into the game with a 1-6 mark on the season while Baltimore comes into Cleveland with a high-flying offense and an MVP QB in Lamar Jackson.

It could get ugly down on the lakefront tomorrow for our Browns. Coach Kevin Stefanski decided suddenly to give up play calling, handing the duties over to his offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. Is this the end of Stefanski’s reign as the head coach? Many are speculating that this could be the end if his team can’t get a win by the bye in Week 10.

There’s a lot to speculate on at this point in the season so let’s look at a few things for the Browns that everyone will be paying attention to in this segment of 1st and goal.

1st Down: Can Jameis Winston be the spark to charge up the Browns offense

The Browns haven’t come closer to scoring 20 points this season. That’s a new low for Cleveland football and something that needs to change soon or Stefanski will be getting his walking papers.

The good news is that Jameis Winston, the new Browns starting quarterback, has the ability to give this team a boost. Last week in garbage time against the Cincinnati Bengals he got his team into the endzone, something his predecessor Deshaun Watson rarely did. Watson was injured last week and likely has played his last down for the Browns.

This is “Winston Time” and Cleveland fans may start to cheer more for the offense. Look for this team to score points now. It may not be enough to score a win but it’s a start. In the last 10 games Winston has started dating back to 2021, he has a 6-4 record. He threw 18 touchdowns to eight interceptions and had four multi-touchdown performances in those games.

2nd Down: Nick Chubb returns and will pass up Mike Pruitt to No. 3 all-time

The heart and soul of this team returned to the field of play last week and it was a great moment. He carried 11 times for 22 yards and scored a touchdown. It wasn’t spectacular but having him return after a horrific season-ending knee injury a year ago was something special to witness by Browns fans.

He sits at 6,533 yards overall in his career which is only eight yards from overtaking Mike Pruitt on the all-time Browns rushing leaderboard. Leroy Kelly is No. 2 on that list with 7,274 yards. With 10 games remaining on the team’s schedule, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities that Chubb could catch Kelly as well.

3rd Down: Kevin Stefanski gives up the Denny Menu

After four and a half seasons, Stefanski abruptly gave up playing calling this week. While some will say that Stefanski made this decision on his own I believe this was a call from above and has Stefanski squarely on the hot seat. His job is on the line, and this was a move to try and save it.

There are plenty of backup plans on the coaching staff including Mike Vrabel and Jim Schwartz. If this team can’t win over the next two games look for Stefanski to be fired. Yes, Stefanski has been coach of the year twice in his Cleveland tenure, but this one-win team is not going to cut it for the team’s owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam.

4th Down: Win this one for Jim Donovan the voice of the Cleveland Browns

Jim Donovan, the long-time radio broadcaster of the Cleveland Browns died Saturday after a lengthy battle with cancer. He certainly will be missed by the team and its fans.

He was one of the best and captivated Cleveland fans with his numerous calls on the radio. His “run William run!” call when former Browns running back William Green ran away for a key touchdown in a game against the Atlanta Falcons in 2002.

Then there’s the famous “Chubba Wubba Hub” call when running back Nick Chubb ran for a 92-run touchdown run back in 2018.

All these classic calls will live in our memories and that’s something special that Donovan had the power to do in his time as the radio voice of the team.