Even though the Cleveland Browns couldn’t hang on for a win in Dillon Gabriel’s first career start, Myles Garrett praised the effort of the rookie quarterback in Sunday’s 21-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Garrett said Gabriel was “composed” throughout and gave them a chance to win.
“[Gabriel] looked like he usually does. Composed, making the plays that we know he can make,” Garrett said. “He put us in position to win. We’ve got to help ourselves out.”
One of the reasons that the Browns made the change at quarterback to Gabriel from Joe Flacco was turnovers. Flacco was tied for the NFL lead with eight turnovers (six interceptions) through the first four weeks.
Gabriel solved that problem, for at least one game, with no turnovers. He finished 19-of-30 for 190 yards and two touchdowns. It was the first time a Browns quarterback had multiple touchdown passes without a turnover since Jameis Winston in Week 11 last season.
The Browns took a 17-14 lead in the third quarter on Gabriel’s nine-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku. They held that advantage for most of the fourth quarter before the Vikings engineered an 80-yard drive that was capped off by a Jordan Addison touchdown catch with 25 seconds remaining.
Even though the Browns failed to reach the 20-point threshold for the fifth consecutive game to start this season, this was the first time their offense really looked like a competent NFL operation.
The combination of Gabriel and Quinshon Judkins, who ran for 110 yards on 23 carries, has given fans in Cleveland something to hold their hat on going forward.
Gabriel will lead the Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Week 6 looking for his first victory as a starter in the NFL.
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