CLEVELAND, Ohio – No doubt, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth by some Browns fans after Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the New York Jets.
Yes, the Browns were without four starting receivers, two offensive linemen and two linebackers.
All of that hit within 24 hours before the game, so the coaching staff didn’t have much time and one parking garage practice to prepare for this game.
Nonetheless, it was a discouraging performance because the Browns gave the Jets two outrageously easy TDs because of careless blown coverages in the secondary.
That had nothing to do with the missing players.
Baker Mayfield fumbled not once, not twice...but THREE times.
That also didn’t have anything with the missing players.
“I have to hold on to the damn ball,” said Mayfield. “I failed this team...we had what we needed to win today...this one is on me. No excuse. I put three balls on the ground.”
These were the 1-13 Jets, who didn’t have a lot of motivation to win the game.
“I got outcoached and we got outplayed,” said Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. “We did the things you can’t do. We were minus-2 in the turnover battle. You can’t do that. Penalties. Drops. Not good.“
Meanwhile, had the Browns won they would have secured a playoff spot.
But I’m not about to give up on the Browns and their playoff chances.
Because Pittsburgh came back to beat the Colts, it sets this up: If the Browns beat the Steelers next Sunday – Cleveland is in the playoffs.
No questions asked. No complicated scenarios where the Browns finish with an 11-5 record yet miss the playoffs, as many fans feared.
“Next week, we win and we’re in,” said Stefanski. “All the work we’ve put in this season, we control our own destiny.”
Period.
I like that.
Just as I liked Mayfield saying “(Some of) these guys didn’t think they were going to play. For anyone to criticize them, shame on you. Put it on me.”
Leaving after one question wasn’t great, but he was upset. He took the loss to heart. I’m not going to rip him about thinking less is more given his emotional state right after the game.
HOW IT WENT WRONG
I can second-guess some of Stefanski’s play-calling. But I also know the Browns coach was in a tough spot, but not for the reason many fans may believe.
Yes, the absence of Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and the other receivers was a major loss to the offense.
But this game showed the value of left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and right guard Wyatt Teller or Chris Hubbard. The offense line had a miserable time as those guys were out with injuries/illness.
The Browns had only 4 yards rushing on nine carries in the first half. Running the ball was hard, but I also thought Stefanski backed away too soon from the running game.
The Browns also failed to use Kareem Hunt in the passing game.
Mayfield threw 53 passes. The Jets were coming after him with a lot pressure. He was sacked four times, and officially knocked down on three other throws. It seemed like more.
But part of the problem were the breakdowns on defense, putting the Browns down 13-3 at the half and 20-3 early in the third quarter.
The secondary was a mess, looking confused as New York receivers were wide open.
WHAT COMES NEXT
The Browns and their fans need to remember their team has a 10-5 record.
It is going into the final game with Pittsburgh with a chance to make the playoffs.
That’s fun.
So often, that final game with the Steelers had this narrative, “Let’s get this over and see who gets fired – the coach, or the coach and general manager?”
I’ve been waiting for the Browns to have a big season-ending game with playoff implications against the Steelers since...I don’t know...the Boxer Rebellion?
At the start of the year, would you have settled for the Browns being 10-5 with a chance to beat Pittsburgh and make the playoffs?
“I’m going to roll with these punches,” said Mayfield. “Our backs are against the wall. We have to win to get in.”
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