Sportsnaut
The Cleveland Browns had every chance to open their season with a win, but Sunday’s 17-16 loss to the Bengals left them searching for answers. Two missed kicks, dropped passes that turned into interceptions, and a non-existent run game spoiled an otherwise strong defensive effort. Now the focus quickly shifts to Week 2 in Baltimore, where the challenges will only grow tougher.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski did his best to strike a measured tone on Monday. He backed first-year kicker Andre Szmyt despite his costly misses and stressed that the Browns have plenty to build on. At the same time, the reality is simple. If Cleveland repeats the same mistakes against the Ravens, they risk falling into an early season hole.
Szmyt’s debut was supposed to end in celebration. Instead, it became the defining story of Week 1. He made his first NFL extra point and a 45-yard field goal late in the first half, but he also missed an extra point and a 36-yard potential game-winner with just over two minutes left. Both attempts went wide right.
The Browns parted ways with veteran Dustin Hopkins to give Szmyt the job. Stefanski emphasized on Monday that the team still trusts him, but the margin for error in the NFL is small. The Browns are likely to bring in kickers for workouts this week, keeping a backup plan ready. Fans will not be forgiving if another game slips away on missed kicks.
While the missed field goals grabbed headlines, Cleveland’s offense did not do enough to finish drives. Joe Flacco threw for 290 yards and moved the ball well at times, but he attempted 45 passes because the ground game disappeared. The Browns rushed for just 49 yards on 24 carries, a meager 2.0 yards per attempt. Jerome Ford averaged only 1.3 yards on six attempts and rookie Dylan Sampson managed 2.4 yards on twelve carries.
Help could be on the way. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins may return soon, depending on the outcome of the NFL’s review of his offseason legal situation. His physical style can give the Browns the balance they lacked on Sunday. Until then, the offense may continue to lean heavily on Flacco and the short passing game, a formula that limits explosive plays and demands near perfect execution.
The offensive line also showed mixed results. Tackle Dawand Jones faced Trey Hendrickson most of the afternoon and gave up one sack and three hits on the quarterback. Switching Jones to left tackle was expected to come with a learning curve, but the Browns will need faster progress if they want to compete with Baltimore’s front.
If there was a bright spot, it came on the defensive side. After giving up a touchdown on the opening drive, Jim Schwartz’s unit allowed just 74 net yards the rest of the way and held Cincinnati to seven total yards in the second...
