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Browns continue to stack fourth-quarter game-winning drives | News & Notes

The Browns’ offense established an effective auxiliary rushing attack in Week 7

NewsNotes_10.26.26

With a dramatic 27-24 walk-off win over the Titans, the Browns are at the top of the AFC North with a 5-2 record. They will travel to Pittsburgh next to take on the Steelers on Nov. 1, looking to remain in first place in the division and sweep the season series. With each of the Browns wins this season coming on go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter, the team is establishing confidence in late-game situations. 

"I think our players have a belief in each other," head coach Todd Monken said. "And I think they've done a great job of playing the next play irrespective of the score or what happened during the series or play, or where we're at in the game. I think they've done a very good job of that."

Here are the main pieces of news and notes entering Week 8.

Browns continue to stack fourth-quarter game-winning drives 

For the fifth time this season, the Browns' offense orchestrated a late go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. QB Deshaun Watson and the offense marched the ball 55 yards in under a minute to set up K Andre Szmyt's 32-yard game-winning field goal in Week 7, which sailed through the uprights with no time left on the clock. 

"I'm proud of Deshaun, the way he's battled back in games at times and found a way to take us down the field and give us a chance for victory," Monken said. "And the whole offense in general, and there's been times our defense has made big stops. It's given us opportunities."

As the Browns have continued to be a part of close games, they have established critical experience in those situations. The familiarity they have built in those crucial, late-game moments has translated to the results on the field. 

"Everyone on offense, defense, special teams, and just the whole team in general, when we're in those situations, we feel very confident that we're going to be able to knock down the opportunity and get it done," G Zion Johnson said. "It's very unique to be a part of a group that, in those situations, has the confidence to go out there and knock down the opportunity."

Offense establishes effective auxiliary rushing attack 

The Browns tallied a season-high 183 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in their win over the Titans in Week 7. Watson and WR KC Concepcion Jr. were critical in the Browns' auxiliary rushing attack, accounting for 42 combined yards on six carries with one touchdown.  They were used to compliment RB Quinshon Judkins and RB Dylan Sampson in the run game, who combined for 141 rushing yards and two touchdowns. 

To cap off their 8-play, 71-yard fourth-quarter touchdown drive, the Browns turned to both Concepcion and Watson in the run game. Concepcion bounced off multiple defenders on a an 18-yard jet sweep to the Titans' 9-yard line, while Watson found the end zone on a read-option on the following play.

"I thought we did a great job with our auxiliary run game," Monken said. "I think it's hard. If you're going to try to get, say, anywhere to 130 to 150 yards, I think it's really hard to get that on normal run plays. I think if you're trying to be one of the better rushing teams, you have to have auxiliary yards, be it by a quarterback, be it by some of your skill players, multiple touches."

Watson has 215 rushing yards through the first seven weeks of the season, which ranks as the third most amongst quarterback in the NFL, per ESPN. He also has 48 rushing attempts this season, tied for the most amongst quarterbacks. Meanwhile, with 23 yards on three carries against the Titans, Concepcion now has 34 rushing yards on nine attempts this season — tied for the fourth most yards and tied for the most carries amongst wide receivers in the league, according to ESPN. 

Utilizing Watson and Concepcion could help in Week 8 against a Steelers' defense that has allowed only 91 rushing yards per game on the ground to opponents, the seventh fewest in the NFL.

Cleveland aims to put together faster starts on offense and defense

For the second straight week, the Browns allowed points on their first two defensive drives. Less than seven minutes into the game against the Titans, they found themselves down two touchdowns. The Browns have now been outscored in the first quarter in six out of seven games, which Monken noted that they must continue to work on heading into Week 8. 

"We all have to improve, starting with our play design, our game plans, how we execute, how we communicate to the players, what's expected, what we think we'll see," Monken said. "We've all been inconsistent, coaching and playing."

On offense, the Browns have not scored in four of seven games in the first quarter to start the season. Against the Titans, though, Cleveland found the end zone for the first time this season in the opening quarter. 

The Browns will have a chance to display improvement against the Steelers in Week 8. Cleveland was unable to score in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh in Week 4, but they responded with a season-high 21 points in the second quarter, providing an opportunity to put together a fast start in the key divisional matchup.

Browse action photos from the Browns' 2026 Week 7 game against the Tennessee Titans, featuring top plays and moments.

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