Browns Add Another Loss to Tally in Cincinnati, 24-6: Game Notes

If a game notes gets published in the 3-12 woods does anyone actually read it?

(Photo - Cleveland Browns)

I had this professor in college who used to keep us on our toes. He would do creative things to make sure we were always mentally locked in — even when it was a midweek 9AM class. He had this famous once-a-semester trick of writing inside lengthy directions for a test that if you simply wrote your name on test and acted like you were working on yours for the better part of the class period you earned an A+. It somehow worked every time and had victims fall into the trap. We loved it. I say all of that in hopes I can write this opening paragraph and inside it note that as long as you clicked on this link you can get your credit and go no further.

I wish I had an A+ to pass along for this. But if you have read this far you get my full respect. That was the type of performance similar to that you get from a hungover college student trudging into a 9AM Wednesday class in the cold of December. It is still crazy to me we are watching a team with this much money invested and with as much talent as they have perform in so many pointless games to end a season.

Look, there are clear silver lining moments happening for young players on the roster but when we waste away our Sunday watching this team play a non-competitive game that included 20 yards on 18 plays in the first half, it gets tough to paint that positive picture we need on December 22nd.

A week after a staggering six turnovers in their loss to the Chiefs they tacked on three more and without the help of an opening play rush only went for 3.3 yards per play on the day and allowed five sacks. It’s become impossible to sit through this offense late in the season after a decent mid-year break. They have returned to the same level of awful that was the Deshaun Watson era and their now 12 games with 18 points or less is pushing the limit of ineptitude. Since 2004 here is a list of teams with a season higher than the Browns current 12 such games.

If the status quo continues against the Dolphins and Ravens, this will be among the worst NFL offense we have witnessed since the turn of the century.

Having said all of those fun things, here are the Week 16 Game Notes.

• The game started well for the Browns as Jerome Ford broke a 66-yard run on a dart scheme (backside tackle pull for the playside linebacker) on the opening play. It was well executed an another example of the burst Ford has in the open field — and the Browns higher level of execution in gun run than under-center. Ford ran for 92 yards on just 11 carries on the day.

• DTR struggled in this one as was to be expected. He went 20-34 but there are just too many plays with bailed pockets, inaccurate throws, and poor decisions. It remains clear it is tough to structure and offense around his play style and processing issues. He had some moments escaping chaos and using the athleticism but as he said, not enough of them.

• However, his two 4th quarter interceptions were crushing with the game still in the balance and making inaccurate throws with pressure bearing down. The toughest challenge for any quarterback to navigate but one they have to do in order to find success in the NFL.

• The wide receiver group was silent — something I too easily predicted. Elijah Moore led the group with five targets and 21 yards. Jerry Jeudy, who had moments being open, had just three targets and two catches for 20 yards. This is the single biggest drawback of a young quarterback who does not process the whole field.

• David Njoku led the group with 10 targets and 8 catches for 66 yards. Ford hauled in all five of his targets for 39 yards. The lead positions for check down opportunities and late dump offs. This, again, is no surprise. Njoku did well converting shorter attempts into yards after catch including a big 3rd quarter screen leading to the Browns only touchdown.