Bengals 17, Browns 16

In order to be a contender, a football team has to get the job done when it matters most. And as frustrating as it is, the Browns aren't a contender for precisely that reason. The only time I'd be proud of them during a loss, is if they played their butts off against a clearly better team where they're not expected to win.

But the vast majority of the time, they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. And this was the case again here. Instead of my usual keys, this one's going to be a Good, Bad and Ugly article.

Even with the heartbreaking loss though, there were some bright spots in this one. Let's break this one down.

The Good: Browns Defense

I will preface this part of things by saying I still think it will be a long season. Cleveland has the Ravens, Packers and Lions in their next three games. It looks brutal on paper. But if the Browns have any realistic chance of competing in games, actually locking down wins, and being respectable, this is what needs to happen week in and week out. The defense needs to show up and show up big. They definitely did today!

As ugly as this game was, would you believe it if I told you Myles Garrett and the Browns defense held Joe Burrow and Cincinnati to 141 yards?! Not passing yards. TOTAL. The defensive backs looked solid on several pass breakups and in a few key stops down the stretch, and Myles Garrett did Myles Garrett things with back-to-back sacks at a critical juncture during the game.

I don't expect the defense to be that good every week, but if the defensive backs don't get burnt, and Jim Schwartz can consistently scheme ways for Garrett and others to get home and make the play, Cleveland will be in some ballgames this year.

But the bad part of this article is also the sign of a bad football team...

The Bad: Bad situational football and bad clock management

The first thing I saw that really bugged me in this area of the game, was the offense's decision to settle for a field goal at the end of the first half rather than aggressively push for a tying touchdown going into the locker room.

I don't know who's responsible for this one. Kevin Stefanski, Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, or Joe Flacco. But it drove me crazy to see the Browns down 14-7, on the move, all three timeouts in their back pocket...and they refused to test Cincinnati late in the first half at all.

I can kind of understand why it played out like it did. They were probably trying to limit the amount of time Joe Burrow and the Bengals had the ball. But I still think they screwed up here by not being aggressive. That last drive of the first half was Martyball if I've ever seen it. Martyball is being conservative, and playing not to lose, rather than being smartly aggressive and playing to win. And you'll lose big games by playing and coaching with that mindset.

For those of you who aren't older Browns fans, Martyball earned its nickname from former Browns head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Marty was a great head coach in Cleveland from 1984-1988, but he often played too conservative when he should've probably been more aggressive. If he had been more aggressive at the right times, the Browns probably would've made at least one Super Bowl appearance in the 80's somewhere with him on the sidelines. They were certainly on the doorstep.

But I do not understand why the Browns weren't aggressive to end the first half in this game. They had the ball, were driving, had all three timeouts, and inexplicably they burnt 30 precious seconds off the clock by lollygagging around, instead of trying to take 2-3 shots to the end zone.

Good teams are aggressive in situations like that. Bad teams are passive, or screw it up entirely. If you go for a touchdown and turn it over? So be it. But at least you're giving yourself an opportunity to tie it up, take momentum into the locker room, and coming back out with the ball first to start the second half.

There were also a couple big drops by Jerry Jeudy and rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. that killed another promising drive, as well as a pair of Flacco picks. But games like this one often come down to whichever team can be smart in the two-minute drill or make plays when they need them the most. And unfortunately, the Browns either couldn't make clutch plays at the right time, or they shot themselves in the foot with bad drops or dumb penalties at the worst times. Bad teams make those mistakes. Good teams don't.

But no matter what you saw in today's game, I think you'll agree with the final part of this article...

The Ugly: Spotty kicking game

I know football is a team sport, and a loss isn't one person's fault. But why do I feel this loss is largely on the shoulders of kicker Andre Szmyt? He did hit a field goal from 45 yards early in the game, but he missed a crucial extra point later in the game that would've made it 17 all, and a potential game-winning field goal with around three minutes left in the fourth quarter.

I hate being "that guy." But when he shanked the PAT, I knew we were in trouble. He's a young kicker, and kicking is an entirely mental game. If a kicker consistently hits everything, their confidence grows and they're nearly automatic. But if they start missing kicks? Some of them can become headcases. They become unreliable.

And if you might also be out of a job sooner rather than later. Kickers don't last long in this league when they miss a game-tying extra point, and a go-ahead field goal with less than three minutes left in the game. Is the possibility of getting cut after a game like that harsh? Yes. But kickers have one job: Convert clutch kicks when the time comes. If they don't, they're not useful to a team. Kickers really are the unfortunate poster boy for the NFL's notorious nickname: The Not For Long League.

And the Browns have the unfortunate and unenviable task of taking on the Baltimore Ravens on the road next week. I would love to see the Browns go to M&T Bank Stadium next week and pull that one off. Can't stand the "Ratbirds" as a fan. Hate them worse than the Steelers!

But for now, Cleveland's left wondering what could've been, as they drop a very winnable game to the in-state rival Bengals in heartbreaking fashion. Hang in there, Dawg Pound.

Statistical Leaders

Joe Flacco: 31-45, 290 yards, TD, 2 INTs

Dylan Sampson: 12 carries, 29 yards

Jerry Jeudy, 5 receptions, 66 yards

Source: ESPN

Picture Credit: thegruelingtruth.com