Josh Gordon Immediately Improves Cleveland Browns
By Ryan Ratty
@RyanRattyNFL
Getty Images
After sitting out for the first 11 weeks of the season, Josh Gordon finally returned for the Cleveland Browns in Week 12 against an Atlanta Falcons team that was in desperate need of a victory. After the Browns lost last week to the Houston Texans, Cleveland also needed to keep pace with the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North by getting a win, and they did just that.
Thanks to the return of Gordon, Brian Hoyer and the rest of Cleveland’s offense significantly improved. Because of the top-tier receiver on the outside, the Falcons needed to adjust their game plan to stop Gordon. Instead, Gordon was unstoppable.
He finished the day with eight catches for 120 yards, but his presence makes the supporting cast on this offense better.
Receivers Andrew Hawkins and Miles Austin saw one-on-one coverage throughout the day and both took advantage. Hawkins caught five passes for 94 yards, while Austin caught six passes for 64 yards. Although Hoyer threw three interceptions, Gordon gave Hoyer another target (one of the best in the league for that matter), and it made it easier for the rest of this receiving group.
The Browns put up over 450 yards of offense against a bad Falcons defense, but this gives them great momentum going into the last five games of the season, two of which will be against divisional rivals in the Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns are now 7-4 and they kept pace with the Bengals for first place.
Now that the Browns have Gordon for the remainder of the season, this team has to be seen as a serious threat.
Ryan Ratty is a featured writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RyanRattyNFL or add him to your network on Google.
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