This was supposed to be the easy part of the Cleveland Browns’ schedule, with early games they could win to help get them going. Instead, everything has been difficult for them.
Their 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, who were without their two best players, reflected the issues the Browns (1-3) have faced. They struggled with mental and physical mistakes, penalties, and a general lack of execution in all areas.
“We can play way better,” coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday, referring to the defense but also highlighting the team’s overall struggles.
Cleveland’s offense is still struggling and has yet to score 20 points in a game. The defense has had some good moments, but it’s not performing like it did last year when it was ranked No. 1 in the NFL.
Even reliable kicker Dustin Hopkins missed an extra point that turned out to be important.
Injuries on the offensive line have hurt the running game, causing protection issues and making it hard for quarterback Deshaun Watson to build any connection in a passing game that can be described as short passes with dropped catches.
Watson had his best game this season statistically, completing 24 of 32 passes for 176 yards with one touchdown and one interception. However, for the second week in a row, he couldn’t secure a late comeback win, which could have eased some of the pressure and criticism on him.
Watson was in a position to be a hero but stumbled. It wasn’t all his fault.
With the need for a touchdown due to Hopkins’ missed kick, the Browns advanced to the Raiders’ 16-yard line with two minutes remaining. What happened next showed the issues of Cleveland’s season: a bad snap, a blocked pass, a completion that didn’t reach the first down, and a sack.
