I never knew one of the easiest ways a team could win an NFL game was to simply show up. The Dolphins showed up in spades, while the Browns apparently forgot to hop on the plane to Miami. They're apparently still celebrating the win over the Bengals from Monday Night Football. Goodness.
I have seen some bad losses in my time as a Browns fan. From your garden variety close loss where the team snatches defeat from the jaws of victory, to the losses where the team just gets outplayed by a better team, to the losses that are so excruciatingly painful and close, that it would be more fun to tear your heart out with a rusty spoon than endure another one like it. But in every single one of those types of losses, at least the team is genuinely trying to win the game. Those losses I can handle. I still love my Browns after games like that. They're still my team. They're lovable losers in each of those cases.
But what I cannot handle or accept, is what I saw today. Miami IS indeed a good football team. But minus that first good drive to open the game, the Browns showed absolutely ZERO heart. None. The defense was nonexistent, and gave up a total of 491 yards. I could've looked like an All-Pro running back against the run defense...and I have bad chicken legs and Cerebral Palsy to boot!
They were barely challenged early on before Miami really blew the game open, and they folded like a cheap lawn chair at the first sign of any adversity. I may get frustrated whenever they lose, but rarely am I genuinely ashamed to call myself a Browns fan after games. This was unfortunately the case today. I know football is a game. But seeing that lack of effort genuinely breaks my heart. It makes me sad, all kinds of seething angry, and routinely has me looking skyward asking The Man Upstairs what we did as fans to deserve this junk.
It was unacceptable, pathetic, and an embarrassment to the fans, as well as a slap in the face of the greatest coach of all time, Paul Brown. Everyone on this team, from Jimmy Haslam to Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry, to everyone on down, should be ashamed of themselves. The Browns had extra time to prepare during the bye week, and THIS is what they put out on the field? Unbelievable...
We obviously all saw the game, but I go over the Keys to Victory, win or lose whether it's the Buckeyes or the Browns in every article. It's what I do. But I won't keep you guys too long. We probably all still need to cool off.
The best defense: A good offense
The Browns never even gave their running game a real chance today. Yes, Miami blew this one open early. But I honestly think the touchdown drive that opened the game lulled Kevin Stefanski into a false sense of security about what he could do with the passing game against the Dolphins. He went away from the bread and butter that works for the Browns. No matter how bad he might want them to be, the Cleveland Browns are not, and will never be a pass-first football team under the current system. Thinking otherwise is going against the grain, isn't smart, and neglects your All-Pro running back in Nick Chubb. We're wasting his best years, and it would not surprise me if he eventually leaves Cleveland, nor would I blame him at all for doing so when his current contract expires.
Nick Chubb had only 11 carries for 63 yards. Most of those yards came on his 33-yard touchdown run. That will never, ever get it done. Will Coach Stefanski ever learn that before getting the "Freddie Kitchens treatment" by being served his walking papers? Something tells me no, unfortunately.
Kevin Stefanski never even remotely challenged Miami on the ground. And by the time the Browns ran the ball with any success, this game was already well in hand for the Dolphins.
Get after Tua!
Excuse me while I facepalm and laugh. The Browns only totaled one sack (Deion Jones and Greg Newsome had a half a sack apiece), and two quarterback hits. That was the extent of the "pressure" the Browns put on Tua all day long. I don't know if the Dolphins really had that great of a gameplan dialed up to neutralize the Browns' pass rush, or if Cleveland just didn't do their homework on how to attack Tua and confuse him. I'd say it's probably both. Miami is a good team, and the Browns just aren't. But regardless of what it really was, Tua Tagovailoa put on an MVP-type performance against our hapless defense, playing pitch and catch all day long, and going 25-32 for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He's having a great season. Congratulations to him. But the Browns made him look like a worldbeater. They never even remotely pressured or challenged him today.
Win the turnover battle
The Browns failed here as well. The only turnover for either team in the game was a rare fumble by Nick Chubb early on that the Dolphins turned into three points. But Cleveland failed to make Miami turn it over at all, which they absolutely needed to do to have any realistic chance of winning. Turnovers can help an underdog control the game. And had the Browns forced at least a couple turnovers, they definitely have an offensive unit with enough firepower to make an opposing team pay for their mistakes. But unfortunately, none of that ever happened today, which again I think goes back to the severe lack of pressure the Browns put on Tua. They have no one to blame but themselves.
It doesn't get any easier for Cleveland next weekend, as the Browns travel to Orchard Park, New York to face the Buffalo Bills. And they'll likely be looking to take their frustrations out on the Browns after losing a close game to the Vikings today, 33-30. I hate saying this as a fan, but I think any playoff hopes the Browns may have had, unfortunately died in Miami today. Now it just becomes a matter of seeing how much the Browns can salvage from what is likely another lost season.
Statistical Leaders
Jacoby Brissett: 22-35, 212 yards, touchdown
Nick Chubb, 11 carries, 63 yards, touchdown
Donovan Peoples-Jones, 5 receptions, 99 yards
Source: ESPN
Picture Credit: lineups.com
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