Another Sunday, another loss for the Cleveland Browns, who dropped their sixth straight game in the Meadowlands, 24-13 to the Jets.
Today’s defeat had a typical twist, with WR David Nelson, deemed not good enough to make the Browns in training camp, caught two touchdown passes (6 and 5 yards) to exact revenge on the guys who cut him.
Defensively, once again, Ray Horton’s crew couldn’t stand prosperity. The Browns took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, and really, at that point in the game were dominating the Jets. The score would’ve been 17-0 because the offense couldn’t score after having a first down inside the NY five yard line.
As soon as Cleveland finally did get in the end zone on a 5-yard run by Edwin Baker, his second rushing touchdown in two weeks with 6:47 to go in the half, the defense allowed QB Geno Smith and the Jets to march right down the field for a touchdown in 13 plays, including four key third down conversions. There was 1:18 left in the second quarter.
The coaching staff decided to keep the ball in the air instead of running the clock and going into the locker room with a 10-7 advantage.
On the first play after the punt, the defense allowed RB Bilal Powell to run up the middle for 39 yards into Cleveland territory and gave Rex Ryan’s team a new lease on life. Three plays later, including an unnecessary roughness penalty on Tashaun Gibson, and the Jets’ Nick Folk kicked a chip shot field goal to tie the game at halftime.
The defense, who had been stout against the run all season long until last week, was gashed again and again, allowing 209 yards on the ground. Considering the plan should have been to make Smith throw the ball considering his 21 interceptions on the season, this was totally unacceptable.
This week when Horton gets his time with the media, he shouldn’t be spouting numbers showing how well his unit is really playing. The past two weeks, they have been battered. And once again, the defense didn’t sack Smith, which more often than not has been the case recently.
Offensively, there was the obligatory dropped passes, including one in the end zone by Greg Little, who should thank the coaching staff every week for their patience, because it’s hard to believe he would get this much of an opportunity with any other team in the NFL.
QB Jason Campbell didn’t have a good day either, but the drops didn’t help. He hit on just 18 of 39 throws for 178 yards and one interception. You would think because Campbell didn’t play well, Rob Chudzinski and Norv Turner might mix in the run more.
Well, you’d be wrong.
Baker carried just 17 times for 64 yards, almost four yards per shot, and in total, Cleveland averaged 5.5 yards per running play.
Even though it’s a passing league, you still have to run the ball in the NFL to win. The front office and coaching staff simply have ignored this part of the game.
WR Josh Cooper subbed for Davonne Bess and played like the organization expected the veteran to play, grabbing four catches for 26 yards.
This is another example of the different agenda the organization has had all year. They traded for Bess, and he was going to get every opportunity to show what he could do.
So, with one game left at Pittsburgh, the Browns are staring at seven straight loss to end the season in the face.
Until everything done in this organization is about winning and winning now, nothing is going to change in Berea. No matter who they take in the draft, Joe Banner has to turn around the attitude, one that he and his staff came into the year with.
Stop looking to next year!
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 