Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Surprising player earns game ball after Browns win vs. Titans

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb didn't suit up for the team's Week 3 blowout win over the Tennessee Titans, but still earned the game ball from head coach Kevin Stefanski.

The four-time Pro Bowler suffered a season-ending knee injury during Cleveland's Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on "Monday Night Football."

Without their best offensive player, the Browns put together perhaps their most impressive and balanced effort of the year against Tennessee, limiting Titans stud running back Derrick Henry to 20 rushing yards on 11 carries.

In Chubb's place, 23-year running back Jerome Ford struggled against Tennessee's stout defensive front -- gaining 18 yards on 10 carries -- but he added a pair of receptions for 33 yards and had one score through the air and one on the ground.

Cleveland not only limited an AFC foe to three points for the second time in three weeks and posted a season-high in points, but also had their best mark of the month in first downs (23). Quarterback Deshaun Watson bounced back from his horrific Week 2 performance with by far his best game of the campaign, going 27-for-33 for 289 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 123.4 passer rating.

Stefanski and the rest of the group know that their franchise wouldn't be anywhere close to perennial contention without Chubb though, which led to the special honor on Sunday night.

Since their infamous 0-16 season in 2017, the Browns have gone a respectable 41-43-1 with Chubb as their leading rusher in six straight years (including 2023) and broke an 18-year playoff drought in 2020.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Pacers collapse down the stretch as Celtics sweep ECF
Hall of Famer, beloved broadcaster Bill Walton dead at 71
Jason Robertson leads Stars to comeback win over Oilers in Game 3
Despite recent form, Rafael Nadal's legacy is still gold standard for tennis
Bengals coach offers significant injury update on QB Joe Burrow
MLB officials expect automated ball-strike system to be implemented in 2026
Vikings reportedly considered Justin Jefferson trade during NFL Draft
A matured Kyrie Irving is finally proving to be the star we all knew he could be
Insider: Sixers 'a threat' to sign LeBron James in free agency
Week 14 NASCAR rankings: Larson's no-show shakes up the running order
Three hitters Braves should target after losing Ronald Acuna Jr.
Shohei Ohtani shares major update on his pitching rehab
Status of Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton revealed for Game 4 of ECF
Martins designate right-hander for assignment
Dave Pasch pays heartfelt homage to longtime broadcast partner Bill Walton
Rangers' Jacob Trouba fined $5K for elbowing Evan Rodrigues
Eagles players gush over leadership qualities of Saquon Barkley
NFL considering regular-season games in Dublin, Paris
Nationals designate former top prospect for assignment
Browns running back shares when he expects to return from torn ACL

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.