The Cleveland Browns lost two games in a six day span, and both of those defeats could be classified as gut-wrenching.
Playing with a third string quarterback a week ago Monday, the Browns took the lead late, only to lose on a game ending field goal.
Then on Christmas Day, a possible fourth quarter comeback against a favored Green Bay Packer team fell short on an interception/missed pass interference call.
Of course, as is the custom when the Browns lose, there were criticisms of both the quarterback and the coaching staff. The latter seems a little iffy though.
We say that because even though both games were very close, we have to remind folks that Cleveland played both games with a roster ravaged by COVID-19. Both contests were played with a makeshift offensive line and several key players missing defensively.
And they still wound up with a chance to win each game! If that isn’t the definition of coaches getting the most out of their roster, we don’t know what is.
One reason for the criticism is fans judge coaching by one thing, play calling, and there are questions about Kevin Stefanski’s play calling against Green Bay. Cleveland was dominating on the ground, with Nick Chubb gaining 126 yards on 17 carries, and it is valid to wonder why they threw so much.
However, if you take out the interceptions (yes, we know about Butch Davis), it’s not as though Green Bay was stopping the air attack either. Dustin Colquitt punted just once during the game.
The point is even with a short-handed roster, the Browns’ coaching staff had them ready to play both games, and with a single play in each contest, they could have emerged with a victory in either, if not both.
If you thought the Browns were going to go 12-5 or 11-6 this season and cruise into the playoffs, we get this season is a disappointment for you. And certainly, the expectations were high going into the season.
Even with all that has gone wrong this season, with two games remaining in this season, Stefanski and his crew still have a chance to get into the playoffs for the second straight year.
They need help for sure. The Chiefs need to win this week against Cincinnati in the Queen City, which is possible. Kansas City is still chasing a first round bye with the best record in the AFC and the Bengals have had issues putting two good performances together back-to-back.
They also need the Rams to triumph over Baltimore, who are currently reeling.
Since the AFC North has been a schizophrenic division all year, both the Bengals and Ravens could win and make the division moot.
And the Steelers are basically in the same boat as the Browns, so no matter what happens on Sunday, the Monday night game will be no walk in the park. Cleveland needs to play well, and somehow, must figure out how to run the ball against the Steelers
Things happen in an NFL season, and the Cleveland Browns haven’t received a lot of breaks this season. There are many NFL teams who can say the same thing, so it is not as though the world has been against the team.
However, it’s not a bad team either. They don’t need a new coach, and replacing the quarterback won’t be as easy as people think.
The front office will not view the season emotionally, which is the correct thing to do.
But there is still a chance for this team. Hopefully, the cards fall properly, and Monday night is a big game for the Browns
Cleveland Sports Perspective 