CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns wanted to see what Dorian Thompson-Robinson could do Sunday in Cincinnati.
Spoiler alert – not much.
Thompson-Robinson threw for 157 yards and two interceptions in a 24-6 loss to the Bengals.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from another want to scoop your eyeballs out with a spoon performance Week 16.
Consistently terrible – The Browns are riding their 23rd losing streak of at least four games since 1999. The team also lost for the 12th time in a season for the 11th time since 1999, and fifth under the ownership of the Haslam Sports Group, as well.
Showing nothing – If the Browns could at some point get competent quarterback play, they might win a game or two, but Sunday was more of the same as they fell to 1-11 when scoring less than 20 points in a game this season. Thompson-Robinson and the Browns had zero net passing yards in the first half, although he rallied the troops in the second half to light it up for 125 net yards through the air. This came against a Bengals defense that entered the day ranked 27th against the pass and 31st in points allowed. Thompson-Robinson was sacked five times. Unless there’s no desire to try to win either of the final two games, there’s no reason to put Thompson-Robinson back on the field ever again.
More mistakes – No one beats themselves as well as the Browns do through penalties and turnovers. Jerome Ford followed up his 62-yard touchdown run last week by ripping off a 66-yard carry to move the Browns to the 11 on the second play of the game. Unfortunately, the run was wasted by another turnover. D'Onta Foreman fumbled at the 1 after taking a hit from Bengals safety Vonn Bell. It was the 28th turnover of the season for the Browns, the 10th lost fumble. It ignited an eight-play, 99-yard touchdown drive capped by Burrow’s 2-yard throw to Tee Higgins while falling down for a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter. With a chance to climb back into the game late in the third quarter, holding penalties on Jordan Akins and Jamari Thrash detonated the Browns third trip inside the 10 before Thompson-Robinson threw an interception on third down in the end zone. Thompson-Robinson was later picked off trying to squeeze a throw on the run to David Njoku that bounced off Njoku’s hands into Bengals safety Geno Stone’s. Cleveland has turned it over 30 times, seven shy of last year’s total with two games to play.
Historic Myles-tone – Myles Garrett became the youngest player in NFL history to surpass 100 career sacks as he did it before turning 29 by bringing Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow down late in the second quarter. Garrett tied Bruce Smith as the fourth fastest to the milestone in NFL history – or at least since 1982 when the league started tracking sacks – by reaching it in 115 games. Garrett is the second player since 1982 to reach 12 sacks in five consecutive seasons joining Lawrence Taylor who did it from 1985-89. Garrett joined Reggie White (124), DeMarcus Ware (111), Jared Allen (105) and T.J. Watt (104) to tally at least 100 sacks in their first eight seasons.
Ford rewarded – Ford was able to punch in the lone points of the afternoon on a 4-yard touchdown run, his third of the season. Ford finished with 92 yards on 11 carries and the score plus five catches for 39 yards.
Not fixed – The week off didn’t do much for kicker Dustin Hopkins, who pushed his only kick of the afternoon – a PAT – wide left.
