Browns vs. Packers: 5 takeaways from Cleveland's Week 3 victory

1. Quinshon Judkins is a dude.

Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins announced his arrival in the NFL with an electrifying performance against a formidable Packers defense. While the offense as a whole struggled to find its rhythm, Judkins was a consistent bright spot. He finished the game with 94 rushing yards on 18 carries, including a career-long 38-yard burst that jump-started a crucial scoring drive.

He capped off his day with his first career touchdown, a game-tying score that demonstrated his power and determination. Judkins has already proven he can handle a heavy workload and get better as the game goes on, and he’s clearly the Browns’ lead back moving forward.

#Browns rookie RB Quinshon Judkins casually laying out Micah Parsons 😳 pic.twitter.com/qIBy4CGvdH

— Grant Puskar (@grant_puskar_) September 21, 2025

2. This defense has the potential to be one of the greats

The Browns’ defense has been excellent through the first three weeks of the season, and their performance against the Packers was nothing short of legendary. They held Green Bay to just 10 points and 204 total yards, harassing quarterback Jordan Love all afternoon with five sacks.

They were opportunistic, too, with Grant Delpit securing the team’s first takeaway of the season on a game-changing interception late in the fourth quarter.

This defense is fast, physical, and disciplined. Led by a dominant front and an athletic secondary, this unit has all the makings of a truly special group that could be mentioned in the same breath as the most dominant defenses in modern NFL history.

3. The team has each other’s backs.

In a game where the offense was struggling, the defense and special teams stepped up and carried the load. This was a true team victory. After Delpit’s interception gave the offense a short field, Judkins punched in the game-tying touchdown. Then, after the Packers got into position for a potential game-winning field goal, the Browns’ special teams unit came up with a huge blocked kick by Shelby Harris.

The offense, which had done little all game, then managed to move the ball just enough to set up kicker Andre Szmyt for the game-winning 55-yard field goal. This was a team that trusted one another and was willing to do whatever it took to win, regardless of which side of the ball was making the plays.

4. The Offense Needs to Find Its Rhythm

While the defense and special teams were magnificent, the offense still has work to do. Quarterback Joe Flacco struggled for much of the game, and the unit was unable to sustain drives. The running game showed promise with Judkins, but the passing game needs to be more consistent.

With a defense this dominant, the offense doesn’t have to be spectacular, but it does need to be able to put together more scoring drives. This win, however, could be the spark they need. A victory like this, built on resilience and teamwork, can ignite a team and lead to a more confident and effective offensive unit moving forward.

5. Redemption is sweet.

Andre Szmyt’s game-winning kick was a moment of redemption for a player who had been under intense scrutiny after a rocky start to the season.

The first-year kicker had missed some crucial kicks in previous games, and many were questioning his place on the roster. But in the biggest moment of his young career, Szmyt delivered. The kick was a perfect 55-yarder, a sign that he has the mental fortitude to handle the pressure.

Another look at Andre Szmyt’s game-winning field goal and the #Browns‘ celebrations on the field after. What a moment. pic.twitter.com/jW32oOPwfk

— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) September 21, 2025

His teammates swarmed him after the kick, a clear indication of their faith in him. This moment of redemption was symbolic of the entire game a team that had been down and out found a way to rally and come out on top.