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Writer's pictureBS MEDIA

Jets 31, Browns 30

Updated: Sep 18, 2022



Just when you think the Browns couldn't make a loss any more painful, they go ahead and outdo themselves. I'd have more fun getting a root canal than watching a loss like that again. According to the Twitterverse, that was also the first game in 21 years where a team has overcome a 13-point deficit in the final two minutes of a game to win. The last team to do it? The 2001 Chicago Bears against none other than the Cleveland Browns.


Last week I thought I needed a pacemaker appointment. Now I probably need blood pressure medication after this clown show. I've seen my fair share of excruciating Browns losses over the years. But this one has to rank right up there. I'll keep this one short and simple, so I don't cause anybody to destroy their computer screen or phone.


Keys to Victory


Contain Joe Flacco: Flacco finished the day 26-44 for 307 yards and four touchdowns, and he was only sacked twice. Not to mention two of his touchdowns came in the final 1:22 of the game thanks to absolute incompetence by the secondary. Flacco pretty much had his way with our defense today. I lay the blame at the feet of Defensive Backs Coach, Jeff Howard and Defensive Coordinator, Joe Woods. Entirely. Woods and Howard have both been here since the beginning of the 2020 season, and have not adjusted their coverage one iota. They rush the defensive front which is fine. That's expected. But they play the safeties too far back, and very rarely blitz a corner or safety to keep quarterbacks off balance. This scheme tells me they're playing not to lose instead of playing to win. Howard and Woods coached scared and timid. I'll say it. You cannot be aggressive up front...yet be playing soft in the back end of the defense. Especially with the game on the line. You'll get carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey more often than not. You play to win. You don't play not to lose. And if you play not to lose, and something like today happens? You might find yourself out of a job!


A steady diet of the best backfield in the league: The Browns succeeded here, as they ran the ball 37 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns. It makes me grin whenever I see the Browns have a strong day running the football. We're spoiled with two of the best running backs in the league. But unfortunately, sometimes poor defense down the stretch can waste a fantastic day by Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt...


Solid secondary play, especially in the fourth quarter: Before I get into discussing what went wrong today, I'm going to say it right here: A scary, lockdown defense, not Deshaun Watson, will make the Browns a true Super Bowl contender. So many within the fanbase were going crazy over Watson. That's understandable. The guy is a very talented football player. Me? I've always had my concerns with this defense. Especially the secondary. And the Browns traded away any Draft capital to improve their weakest area in the coming years. This secondary is their Achilles heel. And perhaps poor coaching based on the meltdown we saw today. There's a reason the old adage "offense wins games, defense wins Championships" is true. And it will be true for the Browns whenever they finally do put it all together.


But giving up two touchdowns in the final 82 seconds of the ballgame is absolutely unacceptable. At any level of football, but especially professional football. Plus, for the second week in a row, our entire secondary just stood there staring at each other...and at the opposing wide receiver as he smoked them for a huge touchdown! First Robbie Anderson gashed the secondary for a 75-yard touchdown from Baker Mayfield, and Cleveland lucked out against the Panthers last week. Now Corey Davis smoked the Browns for a 66-yard touchdown, and nobody covered him from here all the way to Michigan. The lack of communication falls on the coaches in my opinion. Yes, these guys are professional football players. But it's a coach's job to put them in the best position to win every game. One of the ways a coach puts them in the best position: By letting them know what's expected of them in certain situations on each and every play. If the coach doesn't clearly communicate what they're expecting out of their guys, you have communication breakdowns, and meltdowns on defense like what we saw today. Yes, the coaches don't play the game. But they put their guys in the best position to succeed on gameday. And it's clear Browns Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods, and Defensive Backs Coach Jeff Howard failed to do that today.


The Browns don't have long to dwell on this loss, as Pittsburgh comes to town on Thursday night for some primetime football. And this unfortunately looks like the perfect opportunity for a struggling Steelers offense to get back on track. Unless some drastic changes are made between now and Thursday night, Mitch Trubisky might have a field day with the secondary if he's given time to throw the football.


Hang in there, Dawg Pound. Toss that one in the trash and move on.


Sources: ESPN, Jake Trotter via Twitter


Picture Credit: dailyclevelandnews.com







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