A team victory

Well, whatta ya know. The Browns actually do have a defense. Without it, they stood a very good chance of losing at home Sunday to the Washington team formerly known as the Redskins.

Hats off to coordinator Joe Woods' defense, which created five turnovers, four of which were converted into three touchdowns and a field goal, en route to a 34-20 victory in spite of an offense that played erratically most of the afternoon. 

The victory gave the Browns a 2-1 record after three games for the first time since the 2011 season. That team under head coach Pat Shurmur finished 4-12. It is also means they enter next Sunday's game in Dallas at or above .500 for the first time since Dec. 14, 2014, a span of 85 games.

Both sides of the football stepped up when needed and made plays in this one. When the offense struggled, the defense was there to pick them up. When the defense had occasional problems, along came the offense for the rescue. Truly team football.

The defense kept getting the ball back for the offense, recovering two fumbles and intercepting Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. thrice, each time setting up two touchdown runs by Nick Chubb and the first of Baker Mayfield's two touchdown passes, this one to Kareem Hunt.

It seemed as though the odd-numbered quarters baffled the offense. Twelve plays for 34 total yards and two punts in the first quarter. Six plays resulted in minus-12 yards and two punts in the third quarter. 

Quite the contrary in the even-numbered quarters. Twenty plays for 102 yards, two touchdowns and a Cody Parkey field goal in the second quarter; 24 plays for 139 yards, two more touchdowns and another Parkey field goal in the fourth. All the turnovers were produced in the even-numbered quarters.

The defense handed numerous short fields to the offense, The two second-quarter touchdown drives began at the 28- and 24-yard lines, respectively. Each possession lasted three plays. The second touchdown of the fourth quarter also took just three plays from 35 yards out. 

The offense took only 10:17 off the clock in the odd-numbered quarters, but recovered to remove 25:26 in the even-numbered. It was kind of Jekyll-Hyde like at times, the Browns looking like they were throwing two different offenses out there within the four-quarter framework.

It was almost as though they were teasing Washington in quarters one and three, giving the ex-Redskins a false sense of security. When clutch plays were needed, though, they were made. They were made by strong safety Karl Joseph, outside linebacker Malcolm Smith and middle linebacker B. J. Goodson, picking up the club's first interceptions of the season.

Defensive end Myles Garrett joined the turnover brigade, strip-sacking Haskins -- his second of the season -- late in the fourth quarter, setting up Parkey's second field goal. The new Cleveland placekicker must think he has joined an offensive juggernaut, the Browns scoring 69 points in his first two games since replacing Austin Seibert.

The first two games of the season produced just two turnovers, both fumble recoveries. No interceptions until Joseph started the parade midway through the second quarter with a spectacular 49-yard return that nearly ended disastrously when he fumbled. Cornerback Tavierre Thomas was there to recover.

Chubb then gave the Browns their first lead of the afternoon three plays later, banging 16 yards for the first of his two touchdowns on a cutback. He was hit four times en route. Business as usual.

The Cleveland offense staggered in the first and third quarters, squandering a 17-7 margin as Washington rallied to take a 20-17 lead with 5:08 left in the third quarter. And that's when the defense slammed on the brakes and made Haskins look less than ordinary 

It's also when the offense strung together its only sustained drive of the afternoon, traveling 75 yards in 11 plays in just a little more than six minutes to regain the lead for good at 24-20, Mayfield connecting with rookie tight end Harrison Bryant from three yards out after scrambling to avoid a sack.

The offensive line, which had all kinds of problems in the odd quarters, hiked it up several notches in the evens, in particular guards Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio. Both delivered key blocks to spring Chubb loose at the point of attack, as well as in the secondary.

It was a game that played out somewhat like the Bengals' victory in that Mayfield was not relied on to provide magic with his arm. His worst throw --- he made only 23 for the second week in a row -- nearly resulted in another interception on his lone deep throw of the afternoon.

Odell Beckham Jr., looking more like a safety than a wide receiver, made a spectacular play on Troy Apke, knocking a certain interception away from the Washington strong safety early in the second quarter. It preserved the possession, which wound up with Parkey's first field goal. 

Otherwise, Mayfield looked ordinary, which on this afternoon was acceptable. Both of his sacks were of the coverage variety, the third-year quarterback often experiencing difficulty finding an open receiver. He was 16-of-23 for the second week in a row, throwing for just 156 yards; he threw for 219 against Cincinnati. 

Head coach/playcaller Kevin Stefanski called only eight pass plays in the second half, probably because the offensive line was successful in wearing down a Washington defense that was missing rookie defensive end Chase Young, who departed in the second quarter with a groin strain. Chubb and Hunt pounded out 99 of the club's 158 yards in the second half, all but four in the fourth quarter.

Now it's on to an October schedule that will see the Browns, probably feeling pretty good about themselves right now, on the road for three of four games, their only home appearance against Indianapolis in two weeks.