Dec 17, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) celebrates his touchdown run with wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports © Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Amari Cooper's Week 16 Performance Keeps Getting Better

Originally posted on Cleveland Browns on SI
By Anthony Moeglin | Last updated Dec 27, 2023 10:50 AM ET

Amari Cooper set a new Browns single-game record with his 265-yard outburst in Houston on Sunday. After watching the tape, he was incredible all afternoon and it is clear that he and Joe Flacco have built up a quick rapport.

Pro Football Focus released a new stat on Wednesday that makes his performance even better.

Of Cooper's 265 yards, 211 yards were through the air. The 211 air yards are the most in the Pro Football Focus database which started tracking in 2006.

The Flacco to Cooper connection was on full display on Sunday. They were connecting on deep throws, they were on the same page in the intermediate passing game and they were precise on all of their limited short connections. Cooper's 11 catches came on just 15 targets. An efficient and explosive day.

The offense that we saw on Sunday for the Browns was operating at its optimal level. They were using the run game to set up the pass and they were capitalizing.

The most air yards ever recorded in the PFF database

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— PFF CLE Browns (@PFF_Browns) December 27, 2023

For the fourth straight game, the Browns had more than eight receivers have catches. Against Houston on Sunday Cleveland had nine different pass catchers and 11 different guys get a target.

Going forward, this has to be the way for the Browns offense to be successful. The run game has suffered thanks to all of the injuries that the team has suffered.

With the Browns becoming primarily a dropback team, Flacco and all of the pass catchers have been unlocked. Cooper is leading the league in receiving yards since week 10 and David Njoku has had four touchdowns in the last three games for six on the year good for second-most among tight ends.

The Cleveland offense is finding its stride and becoming a formidable attack, one that could make a deep playoff run.

This article first appeared on Cleveland Browns on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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