Across the Shield: Joey Bosa Ruins the Browns, Braxton Miller Has Career Day & Michael Thomas Returns to the End Zone

Joey Bosa Ruins Browns

Nearly two years ago, the Cleveland Browns passed on Joey Bosa in the draft.

If the Browns didn't regret that enough decision already after watching Bosa immediately emerge as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL already, and arguably the best ever at his level of experience, they sure did on Sunday as he was ruining their team.

I present this game-sealing strip-sack as evidence:

The Cleveland Browns passed on Joey Bosa in 2016. Today, he ended them. pic.twitter.com/fNTccM5ziE

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 3, 2017

Bosa finished the game with a team-high seven total tackles while adding two tackles for a loss, a sack and a quarterback hit. The performance earned him an 84.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus – the team's fourth-best performance.

Here's PFF's analysis of Bosa's game:

Bosa has been dominating tackles all season and this game was no different. He finished with three hurries rushing the passer, as well as the strip sack that essentially sealed the victory. His pass-rush grade of 84.5 led either team. Bosa also had a solid 78.3 run-defense grade thanks largely in part to the three solo run stops that he made.

Rest assured, Cleveland fans, there will be plenty more Buckeyes for the Browns to pass on this draft.

Braxton Coming Alive

It's hard to be too critical of Braxton Miller since less than three years ago he wasn't even a wide receiver and now he's asked to be one at the highest level possible, but he's had some undeniable struggles since entering the league and into this season.

Miller had just five catches over the first six games of this year and has been a healthy scratch for Houston multiple times this season.

Recently, however, Miller seems to have put it together. The former Buckeye quarterback-turned-receiver more than doubled his season output in the past three weeks, catching 11 passes for 128 yards.

Miller's performance this week was the best of his career so far. He caught four passes for a career-high 71 yards, including a career-long 57-yard reception which nearly went for a touchdown.

@BraxtonMiller5 pic.twitter.com/9cOVakmpab

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 3, 2017

The Texans are even giving Miller a chance at returning punts. This week, he got one return for eight yards. Put something tells me that if he continues to get that chance, it's only a matter of time before he takes one to the house.

Michael Thomas Returns to Zone-6

In just his second year in the league, Michael Thomas has emerged as a legitimate star at the receiver position. Depending on who you ask, Thomas is considered a top-10, top-8 or even top-5 player at his position and is off to a historically good start to his career.

Michael Thomas has 151 catches in 24 career games. @Cantguardmike is already 1 of only 3 players in NFL history with at least 150 catches in his 1st 25 career games.

The others: @OBJ_3 (176) & @AnquanBoldin (154) pic.twitter.com/LjAwb6Jrm1

— Randall Liu (@RLiuNFL) November 15, 2017

Thomas is comfortably leading New Orleans in receptions with 75 and receiving yardage with 875. Through just 12 games, Thomas already has eight games where he's accounted for over 70 receiving yards and 11 games where he's caught at least five passes.

Given those numbers, it's somewhat shocking that entering this weekend, Thomas had only scored two touchdowns on the season and hadn't found pay dirt since week four, going seven-straight games without a touchdown catch.

That changed on Sunday when Brees found Thomas for a 10-yard touchdown reception.

Thomas, who scored nine touchdowns last year, is not exactly used to not scoring and was rather pleased with this development.

The Drought is OVER #shhhh #blessed pic.twitter.com/z3B2dYJuLO

— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) December 4, 2017

Ohio Against the World

Folks, it's over.  We came close a few times, but for the second year in a row, I'm going to finish 0-13.

If not for Ezekiel Elliott's suspension, an uncanny number of injuries and Mike Nugent never landing a consistent job, I maintain that I could have won at least one game this season.

But I understand that winners make results, not excuses. You all deserve better and I will be better.

Here's one last carnage report.

I chose not to start Braxton Miller and he decided to have a career game. It wouldn't have given me the win, but it's still not how you want to go out.