Last night is called the longest night of the year, well it sure felt that way to Browns fans. After all the team went through the last eight days, I thought they had a chance. 18 players out with Covid, five starters on offense and five starters on defense. Starting the team’s third string quarterback who had one walk through to get ready and still didn’t know if he was going to start till game day. Your starting left guard starting at left tackle for the first time, (BTW, Bitonio had a 91.5 grade according to Pro Football Focus). A secondary with special teams’ players making contributions. And still the Browns had an opportunity to win. Let’s get to it.
Positives. The entire Browns team. Yes, there were moments during the game you were scratching your head, but the effort was off the charts. QB Nick Mullens did what he was supposed to do, play smart with no mistakes. In the fourth quarter he engineered a 14 play, 80 yard, eight-minute drive for the go ahead score. On that drive, Mullens was three for three on third down and one for one on fourth down. The Browns third string QB did that. Have you ever heard of Chris Streveier or Jake Browning? They are the third string QB’s for the Ravens and the Bengals. The patched up offensive line allowed no sacks. Alex Van Pelt kept running the ball and it paid off. The defense got two turnovers. DE Myles Garrett and S John Johnson both played the last defensive series hurt. LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah should be defensive rookie of the year. S Jovante Moffitt was all over the field. Finally, the crowd was fantastic.
Negatives. I’ll start with the offense, not for this game, but for the entire season. The defense again held an opponent to less than 17 points and the offense didn’t do its part. All the offense has to do is score 17 points or more. If they had in this game, the Steelers game and the first Baltimore game the Browns would have 10 wins. Including last night, the Browns are averaging 4.2 points a game in the fourth quarter. Last year they averaged 7.9 points a game in the fourth quarter. In one score games, the Browns are 4-5 this year. Last year they were 7-2. The offense has under achieved all year. To get to at least 17 points a game, you have to have a guy who can kick field goals. Chase McLaughlin has missed six of his last eleven field goals. I expect kicker tryouts this week, but let’s face facts, this late in the season the choices are slim.
Injuries. DE Takk McKinley is done for the season with an Achillies tear. S John Johson, III is day to day with a hamstring injury and DE Myles Garrett has a groin injury, status unknown. As for Covis activations, the Browns could get back CB Troy Hill, DT Malik McDowell, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, WR Jarvis Landry, TE Austin Hooper, LT Jedrick Wills, QB Baker Mayfield and QB Case Keenum. They would have to have no symptoms and test negative. Also, CB Greg Newsome is still in concussion protocol.
What’s left. Surprisingly the Browns are still in the playoff hunt, however winning the division is their best hope. According to ESPN, the Browns have a 16.8% chance to make the playoffs and 13.4% chance to win the division. Here are the remaining games for the AFC North:
Steelers – @ KC, CLE, @ Balt, Cincinnati – Balt, KC, @ CLE, Ravens – @ Cin, LA Rams, Pitt, Browns – @ GB, @ Pitt, Cin.
The ideal situation would be for the Browns to win their last three games but winning in Green Bay seems like a daunting task. However, get some guys back this week and it’s possible. First the team needs to put last night behind them and use it as motivation for this week. As for the division, beat Pittsburg and Cincinnati and they can win the AFC North if things fall the right way. The amazing thing about this season, it seems no one wants to win the AFC North and that helps any team in the division. A team needs to step up and take charge the last three weeks of the season, hopefully it’s the Browns Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.