That was totally unexpected. Last year the Browns were 8-1 at home, but this is the NFL, where anything can happen. Sunday winless teams won. Besides the Giants, the Ravens, the Broncos, the Colts, the Panthers and the Rams all won. It’s a weird league. Maybe someone should turn off the Browns and turn them back on again.
On offense, the problem is the offensive line. Plain and simple. Add eight more sacks and thirty-six more pressures. The Browns have no offensive identity, none. You have to adjust your offense to the team you are playing. They did it last week against Jacksonville, but for some reason not this week against the Giants. The Browns didn’t adjust to the Giant’s blitz. In the previous two weeks, New York blitzed 25% of the time. The Giants noticed early, the Browns were chipping and doubling certain players. New York adjusted and blitzed 57% of the time. Meanwhile, the Browns offense didn’t go into “heavy” offensive sets and run the ball. You beat the blitz by running the ball. Have you noticed after Cleveland breaks the huddle, the offensive linemen don’t communicate with each other? They don’t set their blocking scheme, adjusting to the defensive front. By the way, Dawand Jones looks slow and overweight.
The Browns also need to get rid of lining up in empty sets. Please keep a back or a tight end in the backfield. Put Watson under center and do some play action pass plays. You don’t have to do it the entire game, just enough to keep the defense honest. Set a game plan that’s designed for the opponent you’re playing, the offensive players you have and to adjust to what the defense adjusts to. Next week the Browns offense has to prepare for Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins on the Raiders defensive line. Yikes.
On offense, the Giants only had two legitimate weapons, running back Devin Singletary and wide receiver Malik Nabers. Both were allowed to go crazy. Browns cornerback Martin Emerson had no answer for Nabers. I know Denzel Ward has a shoulder injury, but when Ward wasn’t covering Nabers, could you have least double teamed Nabers? I’ll give the defense some credit. In the second half, they didn’t allow a point or a third down conversion. They gave the offense the opportunity to come back and win the game.
Finally, yes quarterback Deshaun Watson deserves some blame for this loss, about 20%. But with an offensive line that’s probably going to get him killed, they need to get the majority of the blame for this loss. If you are hoping for the Browns to trade for Joe Flacco, not going to happen. And if hoping for Watson to get hurt, go away, you’re not a Browns fan. Stay safe and Go Browns.