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Dillon Gabriel's 1st start showcases positives even in loss to Vikings | The Huddle 

Gabriel threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns in first NFL start

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When Dillon Gabriel took the field for his first NFL start at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, a new chapter of the 2025 season began.

Their 2025 third-round draft pick stepped into his new role to lead the offense, and while the Browns fell 21-17 to the Vikings in Week 5, Gabriel's first game in his position highlighted positives in which they can build on moving forward.

Yes, the NFL is a results-based business and wins in the win column matter. The Browns are now 1-4 heading into their third AFC North matchup this season when they face the Steelers in Week 6. However, as the Browns sort through offensive concerns, seeing those definitive traits of Gabriel's game on display is a steppingstone in their progression.

"A lot of positives. Obviously can always better, and certainly we as an offense have to better and score more to help this football team," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "But for a young player in that environment versus that defense to take care of the ball, make the plays he made, I thought was a lot of positives with plenty to clean up. And that's what he will do. And that's the mentality he has, certainly to be a player that continues to get better week in and week out."

From his first offensive drive, Gabriel played with a level of poise and confidence. He 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. With the final 2:30 left in the first half, the Browns began to drive down the field. They utilized both the run and the pass game, as Gabriel connected on short passes to WR Jerry Jeudy, WR Isaiah Bond and RB Jerome Ford to move down the field. A few incompletions and an offensive penalty stalled the drive, but the Browns were within field goal range, and K Andre Szmyt made the 31-yard field goal to give Cleveland a lead heading into halftime.

Then, late in the third quarter, Gabriel drove the Browns down the field once again, as they went on a 13-play, 69-yard drive that ended in a touchdown. Gabriel found TE David Njoku in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass.

Even when he was sacked on an offensive drive early in the fourth quarter that forced the Browns to punt, or after a three-and-out drive late in the fourth quarter, Gabriel continued to take the field each offensive drive and rely on his process late in the game.

Gabriel finished his first NFL start completing 19 of 33 passing attempts for 190 passing yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked twice for a loss of eight yards but did not throw an interception.

The Browns struggled to convert on third down, going 3 of 15 on third-down attempts, and Gabriel noted the importance of those third downs to extend drives. He felt a level of responsibility and said those plays start with him, but that it also takes the offense coming together to convert on third down. Stefanski also described those missed conversions each resulting from a combination of factors.

"I thought by and large he was getting through progressions," Stefanski said. "There are things that I know he can do better, that he knew when he was walking off the field. So, he's got very good self-awareness and those types of things. But that was a very good pass defense that we were facing, both from a coverage and a pass rush standpoint. So, I thought he did a good job of taking care of the football, moving in the pocket when he needed to."

Gabriel's performance in Week 5 paralleled his preseason start against the Eagles, demonstrating the same level of poise and process-driven approach he illustrated then. He used his preseason start, as well as when he entered Week 2 and Week 4 late in the fourth quarter, as turns that he built on to be comfortable and confident in certain situations.

Now, as he enters into a more normalized schedule in preparation for the Steelers in Week 6 on the road, Gabriel is taking the lessons he learned from his first start with him.

"I think there's always something to build on," Gabriel said. "No moral victories whatsoever, but I think regardless of result, week to week, there's a process. And the more time you spend around anyone, you're going to get more continuity. That's key with your receiver, that's key with your running back, that's key as a whole unit coming together really and getting comfortable with our unit."

Browse action photos from the Browns' 2025 Week 5 game against the Minnesota Vikings, featuring top plays and moments.

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