The west coast and the Pacific time zone continue to be a nightmare for my favorite professional football team. Haven’t won there since 2012 and are now winless in their last nine trips. The Browns have now fallen behind after the first quarter in 19 of 31 games under head coach Stefanski (61%) and the team is now 12-19 on the road under Stefanski (39%). Thanks to CLEology (@_CLEology) for those statistics. The good news is the Browns are headed back home and play three of their last five at home were they’re 5-1 this season. Win three of those five and the Browns will have ten wins and that just might get you into the playoffs. Playoff odds, ESPN FPI, 65%, DVOA, 62% and Sumersport 70%. The Browns still control their own destiny for a wildcard spot over the Colts and Steelers.
As for the game, quarterback Joe Flacco showed what a difference a 15-year veteran could make in the offense. His passes are poetry in motion. He also threw the ball out-of-bounds when he needed to. Kevin Stefanski declined to name a starter for next week’s game against Jacksonville, but I hope it’s Flacco. The offense was sharper yesterday. My biggest complaint, beside abandoning the run, was the fact that Stefanski kept calling passes to the running backs in the flat. The Rams figured it out early and he kept calling them. I thought the dropped passes would decline with Flacco as the QB. Nope. I was glad to see wide receiver Elijah Moore step up and I had totally forgotten wide receiver David Bell was on the roster. The interception Flacco threw was the nail in the coffin. Flacco even admitted after the game he shouldn’t have thrown the ball. Still, As I said, let’s juice up the offense and roll with Flacco next week.
Could someone tell me where the hell the Browns number one defense went? The Rams scored on every offensive drive they had in the first half. The Browns had no sacks, hardly any pressures and only two quarterback hits. Rams QB Matthew Stratford doesn’t play well when the other team applies pressure. No pressure by the defense. Now everyone knows how valuable cornerback Denzel Ward is to this defense. I’m done with CB Mike Ford, the team elevated A.J. Green from the practice squad, why not play him? When he’s played, he’s done well. DE Myles Garrett is still hurt and by playing, he’s hurting the team. This defense is limping to the finish line. Hopefully a home game this week will recharge their batteries.
The Browns might get some players back this week. Both LT Jedrick Wills and CB Cameron Mitchell are eligible to return from injured reserve. We won’t find out until Wednesday. It appears WR Amari Cooper will not play this week against the Jaguars, he’s in concussion protocol. Hopefully Ward can return, but I doubt it. The next game is Jacksonville in Cleveland. The Jags are undefeated on the road this year (5-0). However, Kevin Stefanski is 9-0 versus the AFC South. Something has to give. Pray for bad weather. Stay safe and Go Browns.