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          DT Maurice Hurst II's interception helps Browns grab lead over Seahawks

          • Jake Trotter, ESPN Staff WriterOct 29, 2023, 08:52 PM
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              Jake Trotter covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2011 covering college football. Before that, he worked at The Oklahoman, Austin American-Statesman and Middletown (Ohio) Journal newspapers. You can follow him on Twitter @Jake_Trotter.
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          SEATTLE -- Desperate for a touchdown drive to get back in the game, Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski dialed up a nifty touchdown play. Quarterback PJ Walker faked a handoff to Pierre Strong Jr., then faked a screen left to Elijah Moore followed by another fake screen back to the right to Strong. With Seattle's defenders pushing further up field with each fake, Walker then dumped off a pass in the middle to tight end David Njoku, who dashed 18 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Seahawks' lead to 14-7.

          According to Next Gen Stats, Njoku had a cushion of 7.3 yards when he caught the short slant pass. And safeties Quandre Diggs and Julian Love couldn't get Njoku to the ground before he crashed into the end zone.

          Maurice Hurst II's big man interception set up Cleveland's first lead of the game. On Seattle's third-and-6, Hurst dropped into coverage from defensive tackle. Hurst batted Geno Smith's attempt intended for tight end Noah Fant into the air. And then, he turned around and found the ball. With one hand, Hurst corralled the interception while going to the ground in traffic.

          The interception gave Cleveland the ball at the Seattle 39-yard line. And the Browns eventually kicked a 27-yard field goal to take a 20-17 lead.