Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns have floundered on offense this year. It’s not like the offense can’t get started. In the last contest against the Detroit Lions, one of the NFL’s best teams, the Browns took the ball on their first possession and, after 13 plays that took up 7:10 off the clock, they scored on a one-yard dive by rookie RB Quinshon Judkins.
RELATED: BROWNS LEGEND SAYS SHEDEUR JUST NEEDS DEVELOPMENT
That drive appeared like Cleveland’s offense could drive the field all the time in every game successfully. The truth is, the Browns offense rarely has long, successful drives at any point of a game during each of its four games so far. The offense just can’t get started, while their punter just might become the group’s MVP.
The running game isn’t gaining yardage. The passing attack has minimal effect. Overall, the Browns’ offense is ranked #26. They average 279.8 yards per game and have the league’s 24th most yards, and are middle of the pack in passing yardage and #29 in total rushing yards.
Total points? 56. Ranked #30. Average points per game? 14.0. Ranked #31. The offense hasn’t cracked the 20-point plateau yet.
QB Joe Flacco is ranked #18 in total passing yards (815), #43 in average yards per attempt (5.1), #2 in attempts (160), #4 with completions (93), #34 in completion percentage (58.1), just two TD passes against six interceptions (ranked #2), #20 in passes that covert into first downs, and sacked nine times (#8).
The overall passing attack is ranked #20, but that’s okay because the run game is ranked #29.
To be fair, both starting offensive tackles have been injured, and their backups have been inserted. Neither Cornelius Lucas nor KT Leveston has been good. Because of a suspect O-Line, the Browns haven’t been able to run or give Flacco any time to throw.
RELATED: BROWNS – PACKERS BROWNIES & FROWNIES: LUCAS AND LEVESTON
Rewind to 2023.
The Browns were having issues at quarterback with Deshaun Watson. Backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson wasn’t getting it done after Watson became injured. The team signed Flacco, who was at home mowing his grass or cooking dinner when his agent called.
Flacco then started five regular-season games and got Cleveland into the playoffs as the highest Wild Card seed.
In those five contests, the Browns scored 19, 31, 20, 36, and 37 points. Flacco threw for 254, 311, 374, 368, and 309 yards. The offense was fun to watch and scored often. At the end of the season, Flacco won the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year award. Cleveland fans were ecstatic about having an offense that could finally move the ball, as their defense was ranked #1 that season.
So, when Browns GM Andrew Berry inked Flacco to a contract this offseason, what had occurred in 2023 is what most Cleveland fans envisioned: 30+ points a game, 300-400 yards passing a game, the fun of winning, and getting back to the playoffs.
None of that has happened this time around...
