Another Sunday, Another Browns Loss

Sometimes you watch the Cleveland Browns play, and it seems like the movie “Groundhog Day”, where every game seems to be the same. This one was a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Last Sunday’s game was kind of a microcosm of the recent tenure of Kevin Stefanski, at least on the offensive side, and to us, it seemed like a difference in coaching results.

The Browns got off to a great start on the first drive, moving the ball 65 yards for a touchdown. Unfortunately, those yards on the opening possession accounted for 22% (they gained 294 yards for the game) of the offensive output.

On the other side, the Bills spent the entire first half shredding the Browns’ defense taking a 20-10 lead at the half. However, Jim Schwartz did some different things and held the visitors to just three points in the second half.

To be fair, Schwartz has more talent at his disposal than Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.

We thought we were going to get a holiday miracle with the special teams, but on the last play of the half, a bad snap thwarted a makable field goal attempt that could have made it a one score game going into the second half.

FYI, the Rams, a playoff team, fired their special teams’ coach after a loss on Thursday night. But Bubba Ventrone…

And by the way, what was Stefanski doing before the field goal. A face mask penalty gave Cleveland the ball on the Bills’ 30 with six seconds left. We thought the right move was just to kick, but they tried to run a play. The result was Shedeur Sanders taking the snap and throwing the ball out of bounds.

So why even do it?

The offense did have more diversity especially in the ground game, mixing in just jet sweeps, double reverses and quarterback scrambles to cobble together 160 yards, the most in a game this season.

With Quinshon Judkins getting hurt during the game, Raheem Sanders got an opportunity and gained 42 yards on 11 attempts, leading us to think why he’s been inactive for most of the season. The Browns could’ve used a better compliment to Judkins all season long, and even after Jerome Ford was put on IR, the team signed Travyeon Williams instead of giving Sanders a shot.

The Browns had a chance to win the game when they got the ball back with 5:02 left, and had a 4th and 2, but a Buffalo pass rusher basically threw T Cam Robinson aside and sacked Sanders.

We bring this up to remind everyone that Andrew Berry traded draft picks for both Robinson and KT Levenson, two of the worst tackles in the league. Oh, and he didn’t draft an offensive lineman in this past draft.

Somehow, Myles Garrett recorded a half sack, leaving him a sack shy of breaking the NFL record for one season. He needs one on Sunday at home against the Steelers, one, to do it at home, and also to eliminate any asterisk of having it done in a 17-game season.

Guess that’s the best reason to interrupt your holiday season to watch the Browns.

Browns Appear Disinterested In Latest Debacle

Let’s start with the good stuff about the Browns lopsided 31-3 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Mainly because that will be quick.

The great Myles Garrett had 1.5 sacks to bring his season total to 21.5, one short of the all-time record for a single season, currently held by Michael Strahan and T. J. Watt. With the next two games at home, Garrett is set up to break the record in front of the home crowd, which frankly will be the highlight of this miserable season.

And Andre Szmyt kicked a 50-yard field goal in the cold, windy conditions. We know we wanted him to be cut after missing what would have been the game winning kick in the opener vs. Cincinnati, but he has been solid, making 18 for 21 overall and hitting four of five over 50 yards.

He’s looks like a keeper.

Now, for the rest of the mess.

The game started with a 52-yard kickoff return by Devin Duvernay. The special teams have reached comical status at this point. They are dreadful, but sure, Bubba Ventrone is a solid coach.

Apparently, QB Shedeur Sanders had the wrong wristband with the play sheet when the game started, which resulted in him being very confused by the plays being sent in. Probably because they weren’t on the sheet.

At halftime, the score was 14-0 in favor of the Bears and our thought at the time was it might have been the most uncompetitive 14-0 game ever. The Browns were never in this one.

After the Titans’ game (reminder Tennessee has won two games this season), many pundits wanted to give credit to coach Kevin Stefanski for the progress made by Sanders this season. And we agree he has made progress. He seems to be better in each game.

However, the loss to the Bears should remind everyone why the franchise should do a full cleaning of the front office and coaching staff (except for Jim Schwartz) after the season. This is a team devoid of so many things: talent, leadership, character, etc.

And that last comment should tell you that GM Andrew Berry has to go as well.

One other mark against Berry should be WR Jerry Jeudy, who did the seemingly impossible task of turning a touchdown into an interception when he let Sanders’ pass go through his hands, bounce off his chest and into the hands of DB Jaylon Jackson.

Sanders didn’t have a good day, completing 18 of 35 for 177 yards and had two other interceptions which were his fault. However, we would still like to see how he can play in a halfway decent offensive system.

We agree with Daryl Johnston, the analyst for the game that the QB has tunnel vision at times for fellow rookie Harold Fannin, who did catch seven passes for 48 yards. Our guess is he doesn’t have a lot of trust for anyone else out there.

That said, the two long passes to Isaiah Bond, one for 47 yards and the other for 42 yards, were beautiful throws.

And we are on record that if you can’t get newly named Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who we think is the best QB in the draft, then draft an offensive lineman and a wide receiver with the two first round picks and run it back with Sanders next season.

We also thought it was funny the telecast talked about the Bears’ commitment to improve the offensive line last off-season. The Browns, of course, said we’re good.

It’s a disaster.

Three more games in this torturing season remain. Hopefully, Browns’ fans will get to see Garrett break a record.

A Mixed Bag Of Thoughts On Browns’ Latest Loss

A lot of unpack about the Browns’ latest defeat, this one to a team that came into the game with one victory, the Tennessee Titans.

First, if you are happy with the loss because it helps the Browns’ draft position, stop it! Tanking doesn’t work. The organization tried it once within the last ten years and got two playoff appearances and one post-season victory. It doesn’t work.

Instead, the Browns need to learn how to win. It’s a learned skill; one this team and coaching staff doesn’t have.

Next, we understand the season is almost over, but why Bubba Ventrone is still employed is mind boggling. A long kickoff return to start the game. Gage Larvadain muffed his third punt in the last two games. And another blocked punt, the second of the season, the first time that happened to the Browns since 2018, which frankly is way too recent.

Watching football as long as we have, a person can go years watching an NFL team and not see a punt blocked. Twice in one season? Ridiculous.

Shedeur Sanders played well, but we aren’t going to get too excited about it because of the opponent. The Titans are a bad football team. That said, he did complete 23 of 42 for 364 yards and three touchdowns, but one interception.

Again, we want to see more and we will. A better test will come next week against Chicago, but it’s pretty clear the rookie has some talent, and we can’t say this enough: Drafting two quarterbacks in last year’s draft was silly considering the other needs this offense has.

And we understand people get QB crazy when it comes to the draft, but outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and perhaps Oregon’s Dante Moore, there isn’t one worthy of a high pick next spring.

So, let’s see how the Sanders thing plays out. Use the two first round picks to draft offensive help. The Browns need linemen, receivers, and running backs.

The defense wasn’t great and gave up way too many yards on the ground, but they still held the Titans under 300 total yards. We are sure Jim Schwartz isn’t happy with the performance, but the fumble of Dylan Sampson did set up the Titans inside the 10 yard line and the blocked punt handed the visitors a field goal.

The two gash runs by Tony Pollard (65 and 32 yards) hurt, but no defense stifles opponents every week. This is still a playoff ready unit.

Why did Kevin Stefanski go for two after the Sanders’ TD run which made the score 31-23? We are sure there is some “analytic” that says it’s the right move, but it was dumb. And to be clear, if the coach wanted to go for two and the win after the Browns’ last touchdown, we’d have been okay with that.

The Browns were 3-9 (now 3-10), go ahead and play for the win instead of going to overtime.

The remarkable Myles Garrett had a sack giving him 20 on the season, just 2.5 behind the NFL record. At least that gives us all a reason to watch the remaining four games on the schedule.

The next three games should be a great test for Sanders with playoff contenders on the horizon. Perhaps quarterback won’t be the huge need people seem to think with more good performances.

Special Teams Just One Problem For The Browns

A few weeks ago, after another loss, there was a discussion about accountability and as an organization, do the Cleveland Browns have it? We are sure that talk will be raised again after a 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday.

The Browns are now 3-9 this season and since they made the playoffs in 2023, they have lost 23 of their last 29 contests.

The special teams have been a problem all season and have cost the Browns football games. There was a missed field goal in the opener. A blocked punt in week two against Baltimore. Two kick returns for touchdowns in a loss to the Jets. And then more problems against the Niners.

A 66-yard punt return set up the first San Francisco touchdown. There were two fumbled punts by Gage Larvadain, the latter, which was recovered by the 49ers, setting up a short field for the last TD for the winners.

And perhaps the worst gaffe was Malachi Corley fielding a kickoff that was clearly headed out of bounds on the 6-yard-line right on the sideline. Instead of getting the ball on the 40, it was a self-imposed 34-yard penalty in reality.

So, it’s not just one bad game by the special teams, it’s been an issue all season, and even last year as well. Bubba Ventrone might be a solid football coach, and clearly what he is teaching his players isn’t getting through or he is unwilling to change personnel on his units. Either way, he shouldn’t be coaching for the Browns this weekend.

It’s easy to talk about firing coaches, but it’s difficult, after all, these are people. That’s why we don’t generally make knee-jerk reactions to take that action. But a change needs to be made.

Shedeur Sanders played okay, completing 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards and did not have a turnover on a challenging day to throw. The 49ers QB, Brock Purdy threw for only 168 yards, so guessing the wind was a factor.

On the other hand, the Browns only scored eight points. The fact is simply this. The Browns have only scored more than 17 points, a very reasonable number for any NFL team to put on the scoreboard, just three times this season. They only accomplished this four times last year, meaning in the last 29 contests, they’ve put up more than 17 just seven times.

Just this past week of games, 20 teams accomplished this. It’s just not that difficult.

The New York Jets aren’t a good team, right? They put up more than 17 points in seven games this year! Tennessee is 1-11 and they’ve scored more than 17 five times. The 2-11 Giants? Nine times.

We get the offense has weaknesses. The tackle situation is just a mess. They have one solid running back. The best pass catchers are tight ends. But you should be able to put together something to score 20 points.

We think Stefanski has overcorrected. Last year, the Browns turned the ball over way too much, so this year, he’s coaching to not turn it over. And that in turn means not taking any risks. And as Bruce Arians used to say, “no risk it, no biscuit”.

The reason the Browns don’t score more than 17 points is they are coached not to score more than 17 points. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

And Andrew Berry shares the blame because while he has stacked the defense, he’s ignored the offense. You can’t be strong on just one side of the football and expect to win consistently.

Will there be a coaching change after the season? With this organization, who can be sure. But running it back with this staff and front office next season seems to be a poor choice.

And wasting two years of an elite defense just adds salt to the wound.