Jerry Jeudy's career game provides bright spot in loss to Denver | 3 ...
Dec 03, 2024 at 02:56 AM
As the Browns drove down the field with less than two minutes left in the game and down nine points to the Broncos, they made one final offensive push.
QB Jameis Winston worked to connect with different pass catchers to move the ball downfield, finding TE David Njoku and WR Jerry Jeudy to lead to a first down. Three plays later, as Winston looked to connect for Njoku, his pass was intercepted by LB Cody Barton, effectively ending the game.
"Very disappointed," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "You put a lot into these games – players and coaches – and you want to come out on the other side. And we didn't do that. We win as a team. We lose as a team. And we'll own this one. But, very, very disappointed."
The Browns now sit at 3-9 on the season following the 41-32 loss to the Broncos in Week 13 on Monday Night Football.
Here are three main takeaways.
Jerry Jeudy shows out in return to Denver
WR Jerry Jeudy knew his return to Denver for the first time would hold different emotions than any other game this season. It was the first time he faced his former team after the Browns acquired Jeudy in a trade with the Broncos in March 2024.
"High emotions," Jeudy said. "Like I said before, you always want to beat the team that you used to play for, but we came up short. We have to find a way to finish, find a way to win."
Jeudy began his NFL career in Denver, after the Broncos drafted him in the first round as the 15th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Broncos developing as a receiver.
After he was traded to the Browns, Jeudy began to establish himself as a top target in their receiving corps. Following the trade of WR Amari Cooper on Oct. 15, Jeudy stepped into a even more prominent role. Heading into Week 13, he was the top target among Browns receivers.
On Monday Night Football, Jeudy demonstrated once again his increased role. He made his presence known early in the first half on the first offensive play. Jeudy caught a pass from Winston and broke through for 44 yards on the reception. He totaled 97 receiving yards on five receptions in the first half alone. He then reset his longest pass of the game in the third quarter when he caught a 70-yard reception on a deep ball from Winston and ran into the end zone for the touchdown.
"He's phenomenal," Winston said of Jeudy. "When we got into this week, he knew what time it was. He was hungry, he was preparing. He was ready to get back here and show up and show out and he did that."
Stefanski said they had a plan going into the game to try and get Jeudy open over the course of the game. He thought their plan was solid, and said Jeudy executed the plan well to get open and make plays.
"He's a good football player," Stefanski said. "We were trying to find ways to get him the ball. He's very, very good after the catch, as we saw. He can run every route in the book. That's kind of how we're utilizing him, moving him around. It's difficult to defend when Jerry's able to line up everywhere, and I think that speaks really to his intelligence."
This was Jeudy's fifth game in a row with 70 or more receiving yards. Jeudy set a career high in receiving yards and receptions as he finished the game with nine receptions for 235 receiving yards and one touchdown. His 235 receiving yards were the fourth-most by a Brown in a single game and he joined WR Josh Gordon (twice) and WR Amari Cooper as the only Browns to surpass 200 receiving yards in a game.
Jeudy's performance against the Broncos was his second 100-yard game of the season and seventh of his career. He joined Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase (264) as the only players to reach 200 receiving yards in a game in 2024. Jeudy is leading the Browns this season with 54 receptions for 880 yards.
Yet, Jeudy also made history on league level. His 235 receiving yards are also the most in NFL history by any player in a game against his former team Jeudy broke Terrell Owens' record of 213 yards set against the 49ers in 2008.
"For his personal success, I think he did amazing," WR Elijah Moore said. "To have his career-high against his old team – look at what he does now when he is used right. He went in the first round for a reason. I've been watching him since I was little, playing with him since I was little, he's nice."
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Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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The offense during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Bri Ali/Cleveland Browns
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Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Bri Ali/Cleveland Browns
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Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Bri Ali/Cleveland Browns
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Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) and Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Bri Ali/Cleveland Browns
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Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Center Ethan Pocic (55) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) and Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Tight end David Njoku (85) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) and Safety Grant Delpit (9) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
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Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football on December 2, 2024 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns
