Browns' KC Concepcion looking to keep 'stacking weeks' after Titans win
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. ― Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson let rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion know about it after a would-be touchdown was dropped.
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"The biggest thing was ‘I need that,'" Watson said after the Browns' 27-24 win at the Tennessee Titans. "That was the first thing I said, man. ‘KC, I need that, you owe me one.’ But after that, hey, onto the next drive, on to the next play. I'm going to keep coming to you.’"
The play Watson was referencing came on the Browns' first third-quarter possession. They had a third-and-5 from the Titans 48, and Concepcion had beat his man down the left sideline.
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Watson threw one of the best balls of the day, on a day where he threw several good passes. The problem was, Concepcion couldn't quite bring the pass in, and it fell to the ground.
Opportunity lost. Although, it was one of the few times it was with Concepcion on a day where he caught eight of the 10 passes thrown his way for a career-high 129 yards.
"I've been working so hard up on my drops and I let that one get away from me. It wouldn't have been my first one of the season. But I felt like I did a great job not dwelling on the play, not being too focused on the drop and moving on. And then up on the end-around, I finally got my number called again and I made a play."
What's funny is that Concepcion had already well established himself in the game as the guy who could make a play. In fact, it was because of the plays he had made that the Browns' offense had started to come alive at that point, taking a 17-14 halftime lead.
Concepcion had all eight of those catches in the first half. It was when Watson started hitting him on slants and other routes in the middle of the field that they really got into a rhythm.
That rhythm allowed Watson to complete 25-of-36 passes for 308 yards, his highest passing total with the Browns. However, he also had to make sure he wasn't just force-feeding it to the rookie.
"No, it's just you got to walk that line," Watson said. "It depends on the play. It depends on the play and the concept. And then within the play and the concept, it depends on what the defense is doing. … So those are the things, being a young receiver and still building that confidence and that chemistry with each other that it'll get better for sure."
The big game against the Titans is just the latest step for Concepcion to showcase himself to the NFL. He's now up tp 30 catches for 315 yards, although he's still waiting for that first touchdown.
Beyond that, Concepcion was a presence in the run game. He gained 23 yards on three carries, including an 18-yard run to set up Watson's fourth-quarter four-yard touchdown run.
All of that, however, is still merely scratching the surface.
"To be honest, I enter every week expecting to have a game like this." Concepcion said. "This week it was my breakout game. So I just can't wait to keep stacking weeks."
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' KC Concepcion looking to keep 'stacking weeks' after Titans win
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