Dawgs By Nature
The Browns struggle to find points as familiar issues plague the offense.
The Cleveland Browns fell to 1-5 after another loss on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-16. The Browns became the first team since the 2014 season to fail to score more than 20 points in each of their first six games.
It was a familiar story of poor offensive line play, dropped footballs, untimely penalties, coverage miscues, and erratic quarterback play. After the game, head coach Kevin Stefanski said Deshaun Watson will remain the team’s starting quarterback next week.
Cleveland is in for a tumultuous week ahead as the calls for benching Watson will only grow louder despite him playing better in the second half. It’s impossible to argue that Watson should be kept as the starter, as the offense failed to score a touchdown the entire game.
On a positive note, this was the best the rushing attack has looked all season. Jack Conklin replaced Dawand Jones in the lineup at right tackle and provided immediate improvement.
Pierre Strong made a case for more touches moving forward as he gained 43 yards on eight carries and added 35 yards on two catches. The rest of the offense has a lot of work to do, as nobody played well enough to win a game that the Eagles appeared to want to give away.
Offense: D
Defense: C+
Special Teams: A-
The defense and special teams units kept the Browns in the game for most of the way, but the defense cratered in big moments. Opponents clearly know how to take advantage of Jim Schwartz’s scheme in those crucial times.
With Denzel Ward out, Greg Newsome was badly beaten on a crossing route by DeVonta Smith that resulted in a touchdown. Newsome also gave up a go ball to A.J. Brown down the sideline that effectively sealed the win for Philadelphia.
Safety Rodney McLeod and defensive end Myles Garrett combined on special teams to produce the biggest play of the day for Cleveland. Garrett hurdled the line on the field goal unit to block a 57-yard attempt that would ultimately be scooped up and returned for a touchdown by McLeod.
In the end, the performance wasn’t good enough, and the season is a lost one despite what players and coaches continue to say publicly. Expect the first signs of consequences to play out beginning this week.
How would you grade the performance? What changes should be made immediately? Tell us in the comments below.
