I’ve waited 48 hours after a Browns loss, as I always do, so here goes. Despite what Browns twitter says, it’s not as bad as it looks Browns fans. Yes, I hate losing to the Steelers, but right now they’re an elite team, just like Baltimore and the Titans. Do all three have holes? Yes. Can all three be beaten? Yes. Hell Kansas City and Green Bay were supposed to be elite teams until they lost to the Raiders and Tampa. The Browns are currently 4-2 and weren’t going to go 15-1. They’re still on pace, baring major injuries, to make the playoffs. Something this team hasn’t done in 18 years. They’re still a good team. So what went wrong Sunday.
First of all, QB Baker Mayfield should have never started the game. I love head coach Kevin Stefanski, but that was a bad decision. I know people will say, the Browns went into the game with no third string quarterback because the Cowboys poached QB Garrett Gilbert off the Browns practice squad last Monday. Still if Mayfield’s ribs were sore, he can’t effectively throw the football. I know QB Case Keenum isn’t the season long answer, but for one game announced on Sunday morning as the starter, maybe. At least the Steelers couldn’t have game planned for Keenum. As for Mayfield, I’m not ready to throw in the towel. Is he a franchise QB right now? No, he’s still a work in progress. The Browns are six games in and they’re 4-2. They played a bad game, it’s that simple. Mayfield was good in college and his rookie season 2018. He didn’t forget how to play football. I don’t count 2019, because his head coach was Freddie Kitchens. The Steelers mixed up their coverages, especially their safeties and brought the pressure on every play. They were ready for the Browns.
On Monday, HC Kevin Stefanski took the blame for the loss, He said, “There’s plays we ran yesterday that I wouldn’t run again. I learned a lesson in a hard way.” This is how a coach handles a team after a bad loss. Hopefully he won’t make a t-shirt out of it. Unfortunately, moving forward, opposing defenses now think they have a blueprint against Baker Mayfield and the Browns. How do the Browns keep that from happening? More rollouts, because Mayfield is much better when he’s on the move. More screen plays to keep the defense honest. When Kevin Stefanski was the offensive coordinator for the Vikings, they used the screen play very effectively and the Browns have the tight ends, running back and offensive line to execute this play call.
On defense, the Browns need to get healthy at the safety position. Karl Joseph and Ronnie Harrison have to play. Since CB Kevin Johnson has been healthy, opposing slot receivers have been covered. Now get your safeties healthy and the middle of the field is covered. The linebackers have been good, however getting Jacob Phillips back would help. The defense needs to get the linebacker group involved in pressuring the opposing quarterback. After six games, the linebackers have no sacks. Other defensive linemen besides DE Myles Garrett, also need to start to apply better pressure. No sacks in the last three games. The one thing that bothered me Sunday, the Steelers as the game went on, were very effective throwing to the outside against Denzel Ward and Terrence Mitchell. By this time in the game, the defense was exhausted. Just remember the Browns defense hasn’t been completely healthy for the first six games.
Looking forward, and as those who know me, I don’t like to look forward, the Browns have two winnable games prior to the bye. The Bengals and the Raiders. The Browns will be favored to win both. Personally, if the Browns had beaten the Steelers, the Bengal game would have been the perfect trap game. Beat Cincinnati and Las Vegas, the Browns are 6-2 going into the bye. I’ll take that any day of the week. The Bengals can put points on the board and QB Joe Burrow appears to be the real deal. Against the Colts Cincinnati had a 14-0 lead and just didn’t have the team to hold the lead. As for the Raiders, I know they beat Kansas City, but like Browns/Steelers, that’s an old time AFC rivalry game. The Raiders play at Tampa this weekend. Which Raider team will play in Cleveland on November 1, the one that beat Kansas City or the one that lost to the Patriots and Bills?
To win these two games, the Browns need to stick to the winning formula, Run the ball, don’t ask Mayfield to do too much and play great defense. The Browns are 40% of the way to ten wins with ten games to go. 10-6 gets this team into the playoffs. Since 1999, all I’ve wanted was for the Browns to have a winning season and make the playoffs. They did it once in 2002 and now it’s time to get another winning streak going. Learn from the loss to the Steelers and come out and put a slap down on the Bengals. Everybody stay safe and GO Browns. On to Cincinnati.