The 18-year playoff drought that ended for the Browns in 2020 when they beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh in a wild-card game made the season a success, even though they lost to the Chiefs, 22-17, in a divisional playoff game.
Winning just one playoff game this time will produce no satisfaction, running back Kareem Hunt said after the Browns beat the Jets, 37-20, on Dec. 28 to clinch at least a wild-card spot in the AFC.
Hunt scored two touchdowns against the Steelers and one against Chiefs in the 2020 postseason. He was not on the Browns’ roster to start the 2023 season, but he was re-signed by his hometown team on Sept. 19 — one day after Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury playing the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Hunt leads the Browns with nine rushing touchdowns.
“It was sweet going to the playoffs the first time,” Hunt said. “But now we’re not just trying to make it to the playoffs. We’re trying to go the whole way.”
Losing Chubb to a major injury so early in the season was a major setback for the Browns. But instead of moping, Coach Kevin Stefanski used the injury as a rallying point.
The #Browns have their eyes on the big prize now that they’ve clinched a playoff spot, says running back Kareem Hunt. pic.twitter.com/KxrVaBdufF
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) December 29, 2023
Jerome Ford took over as the No. 1 back and leads the Browns with 807 rushing yards on 201 carries. He has scored four rushing touchdowns and five through the air.
Ford’s talents were on full display in the “Thursday Night Football” victory over the Jets when he carried the ball 12 times for 64 yards and scored on two touchdown passes from Joe Flacco. One was a 50-yard scramble drill when it seemed Flacco would be sacked.
“(Ford) was running hard,” Stefanski said Dec. 29 on a Zoom call. “I thought the guys did a nice job of moving that defensive front, which again, is very, very good against the run. But Jerome ran hard. I thought all the runners ran hard.
“And then the play Jerome made at the end of the half is incredible. Joe, to get out of there, get him the ball, and then the rest was all Jerome. He just would not be denied.”
Kevin Stefanski praises running backs Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt plus the blocking that paves the way for them. #Browns pic.twitter.com/6V0RTN4SVk
— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) December 29, 2023
Ford, a 2022 fifth-round draft pick from the University of Cincinnati, credits Chubb and running backs coach Stump Mitchell for the way he has developed in his second season. Ford is quick around the corner and he accelerates when he gets into open territory. But he also shows patience to allow the blocks to develop when he runs inside. That is something Mitchell preaches to all the running backs.
“I think with the help of Coach Stump in the running back room, I’ve been able to grow on a mature level, like as a person, not just as a player, but my maturity level, how I handle myself, how I take notes,” Ford said. “Just being behind Nick and watching him, I’ve pretty much been able to grow a lot, I feel, and my approach to the game, and I feel like that’s been translating to on the field.”
Ford carried the ball eight times for 12 yards last season.
Browns add QB Driskel
The Browns signed veteran quarterback Jeff Driskel off the Cardinals practice squad on Dec. 29. Defensive end Sam Kamara was waived to create a spot for Driskel on the 53-man roster.
The Browns were down to Flacco and P.J. Walker as their only quarterbacks after placing Dorian Thompson-Robinson on injured reserve on Dec. 26 because of a hip injury.
Driskel (6-foot-4, 235 pounds) is in his eighth NFL season. Originally a sixth-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2016 from Louisiana Tech, Driskel has appeared in 23 career games with 11 starts with the Bengals (2018), Lions (2019), Broncos (2020) and Texans (2021-22). He has completed 216 of 365 career passes for 2,228 yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He is 1-9 as a starter.
Driskel has rushed for 384 rushing yards with three touchdowns in his career. He made two starts for the Texans in 2022 and has spent the majority of this season on the Cardinals’ practice squad.
Moore home from hospital
Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore is resting at home after being hospitalized when he was concussed in the game with the Jets.
“I don’t have a ton of other information other than to say that he’s doing better, he’s home,” Stefanski said on the Zoom call. “I’ve been texting with him. Those are always scary, as we all know. But I will say this about him. I’m very proud of him. He was getting going. I thought the route he ran for that touchdown was outstanding. He’s done a great job for us.”
Moore caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown against the Jets. He has 59 catches for 640 yards and two touchdowns this season.