The Cleveland Browns are merely enjoying for his or her jobs subsequent yr. So is the teaching workers, the GM, and everybody else within the entrance workplace even when Jimmy Haslam and studies say in any other case. Every recreation on the calendar now could be extra targeted on the place the crew can be choosing in April’s faculty draft. Nothing extra.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are the reigning NFL champions and have a very good crew this yr with only one loss. The three-10-0 Browns can be higher off enjoying their youthful gamers and the decrease third of the roster in an effort to do an entire analysis of their expertise. Guys who haven’t performed a lot want the reside recreation snaps.
This yr makes the nineteenth time Cleveland has double-digit losses since changing into the brand new Browns in 1999.
RELATED: GRADING THE BROWNS VS. CHIEFS
Cleveland leads the league in drives that finish with out factors (73.9%). Should be the 9 missed discipline objectives or the 21 turnovers or the 53 sacks allowed.
Towards the Chiefs, Cleveland was joyful to see RB Kareem Hunt once more. Kansas Metropolis was solely averaging .08 turnovers per recreation for his or her protection, however on the ultimate gun, the Browns misplaced giving up six turnovers 21-7. When the Chiefs went up 21-0 within the third quarter, half of the stadium went residence with 12:58 left within the contest.
So who performed nicely for the Browns? Who didn’t?
BROWNIES
Photograph by Nick Cammett/Getty Photos
WR Jerry Jeudy – With TE David Njoku out, Jeudy was the one playmaker within the recreation. Within the first half, he balled out with 5 catches for 51 yards. He caught all however one cross which was thrown into the turf. Inside a span of 1 minute within the first quarter, Jeudy transformed two first downs, one a third-and-10 conversion. Later, needing seven yards on third down, he ran a seven-yard route for one more first.
A variety of receivers will run a shorter route after which try to realize the primary. Love the toe drag within the third quarter for an 11-yard achieve. Had 12 targets with 10 catches for 100 yards and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on this recreation.
Center of defensive position – Rookie Mike Corridor beat OT Joe Thuney when the Chiefs had a third-and-one on the two-yard line of Cleveland. Within the first quarter, DE Isaiah McGuire stuffed RB Isiah Pacheco on a third-and-two for only a one-yard achieve on their very own 31-yard line to power a punt. DT Dalvin Tomlinson and Corridor obtained to QB Patrick Mahomes on the fourth-and-three try with simply over seven minutes left within the recreation to make the QB hurry his throw which turned incomplete.
Photograph by Nick Cammett/Getty Photos
RB Jerome Ford – A minimal output on offense within the first half however had a very good kickoff of 45 yards within the second quarter. After Nick Chubb left the sport with an damage, Ford popped off a 62-yard scamper down the proper sideline off a very good block by Jeudy, shifted gears and was off for the sport’s solely rating. Completed with seven carries for 84 yards.
P Corey Bojorquez – The punter is having a Professional Bowl season as he booted six kicks for 289 yards and a 48.2 per punt common. That common suffered as a result of he landed one kick simply 40 yards that went out on the nine-yard line and within the fourth quarter a 41-yarder contained in the 20. Bojo had 5 punts that had been down contained in the 20. His second punt of the sport was for 68 yards to the Chiefs two-yard line. He added a 56-yarder late within the third quarter.
Jordan Hicks #58
Photograph by Nick Cammett/Getty Photos
MLB Jordan Hicks – For a lot of the second half, Hicks was both pulling down runners or pulling down passes. Led all Cleveland defenders with 9 whole tackles.
FROWNIES
Miscues – After an excellent drive as the primary quarter was winding down, QB Jameis Winston flings the ball into double protection the place S Bryan Prepare dinner intercepted the ball ultimately zone. The James Proche fumble was the primary play for Cleveland. DE Myles Garrett missed an interception on the Chiefs 10-yard line. P Corey Bojorquez had a punt land on the 5 solely to have a penalty for an unlawful participant downfield be added to the minimal return and set the ball on the 22 as a substitute of inside the ten. RB Jerome Ford returned a kickoff 45 yards to the Chiefs’ 49 solely to surrender the ball 4 performs later with zero factors scored. Down simply two scores and with a very good drive early within the fourth quarter, an extended third down play was erased with a bizarre penalty known as on LT Germain Ifedi.
KR James Proche – The dude has one job: return punts. His fumble on what would have been Cleveland’s first possession was a matter of not securing the ball as he turned to his proper. The tip outcome was not solely a fumble misplaced on their very own 21, however seven factors for the customer. Inexcusable. Then within the second quarter, he was standing on his personal 33-yard line and signaled for a good catch. Three KC gamers had been 11-yards away and all had a blocker on them. The Browns minimize KR Kadarius Toney the week earlier than for fumbling the ball. Guess who’s subsequent?
QB Jameis Winston – The Chiefs had been up by simply seven. Winston had the offense driving with a number of key third downs transformed on an eight-play drive that started at their gained 20. Out of the blue, the Browns had been at Kansas Metropolis’s 36 earlier than Winston chunked the ball into double protection ultimately zone for the interception. On the fourth-and-one within the second quarter, he had one other ball virtually picked. Sure, this offense strikes and is thrilling to look at. No, Winston just isn’t a very good quarterback and is a drive-killer. Within the first half, he was simply 7-13 with a mere 52 yards and a 31.6 QB ranking. Ouch.
One other nice drive with simply over 13 minutes left within the recreation after the protection had gotten a three-and-out. A number of good Ford runs and an acrobatic catch by Jeudy, solely to have Winston throw one more decide ultimately zone. What?!?
Lack of run recreation – RB Nick Chubb was lastly be used extra in video games, however nonetheless had simply seven carries within the first half for 26 yards. Your complete crew had solely 28 yards dashing within the first half. After some time the Chiefs protection stopped looking ahead to the run and was all out on the cross rush. Chubb didn’t do the offense any favors when a cross went proper off his arm for an interception after which later he misplaced a fumble that was punched out by LB (). Later, Chubb went into the medical tent with a gimpy left foot. Lastly, a fantastic run by RB Jerome Ford that noticed Jeudy block out the cornerback after which Ford hit one other gear for the 62-yard landing run. Take away Ford’s future, and this group solely gained 139 yards for the sport. That’s 67 yards for 4 quarters.
Chubb’s damage – Simply the worst for the long-time Browns again.
Third down effectivity – The worst crew within the league on this class can’t purchase a primary down as they went 2-6 on third downs within the first half and 4-12 for the sport. You possibly can’t win video games for those who don’t proceed drives.
Protection zero turnovers – Whereas KC was having a feast on the turnover desk, Cleveland recovered zero fumbles, induced zero fumbles, and had zero interceptions. Oh, and 0 sacks.
S Rodney McLeod – Within the second quarter, the Chiefs had a second-and-goal on the Browns’ six-yard line. QB Patrick Mahomes had loads of time, was flushed from the pocket twice and saved his head downfield.
At this level, each receiver has dropped their route and is in improvisational mode. McLeod utterly misplaced TE Noah Grey who was vast open ultimately zone for the landing. On the landing display to WR Xavier Worthy early within the third quarter, Worthy caught the display on the 30. McLeod was stationed on the 22-yard line and instantly started a trek for the receiver with a fantastic angle and loads of house. Worthy then did a head bob which made McLeod hesitate and decelerate. Worthy then dodged left, kicked into one other gear and took the sideline into the tip zone leaving McLeod behind the play as a substitute of creating it. Completed with one sort out your complete recreation.
Milk Bones – All I purchased everybody this Christmas was batteries with a be aware that said “Electronics not included”
LB Bookie Watson – Glad to listen to pops when making a sort out which Watson had early within the first quarter on a punt return. The hit may very well be heard across the stadium in addition to the TV broadcast.
RG Wyatt Teller – What number of occasions did you see Teller being pushed again by DT Chris Jones? It occurred a lot of the recreation though Jones didn’t log any sacks. Teller made a pleasant block on the Ford display cross with 14:30 left within the recreation. Teller utterly missed LB Nick Bolton who blitzed. Teller had blocked down on the defensive sort out and doubled however allowed Bolton a free run on the quarterback for one more sack. Teller was a part of a gaggle that allowed 5 sacks.
Ballot
Do you assume the Browns ought to draft a QB on this yr’s NFL draft?