CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns principal and managing partner Jimmy Haslam told ESPN this week at the NFL owner’s meetings the results this season are perplexing.
Sunday afternoon in a 21-7 loss to the Chiefs, the Browns put on a clinic from penalties to turnovers as to why they are now 3-11.
They also lost running back Nick Chubb for the rest of the season.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from a miserable Week 15.
Give it away – The Browns turned it over six times Sunday – once on downs plus a fumbled punt return and four interceptions. Cleveland’s defense forced a quick three-and-out to open the game, but James Proche fumbled the punt return and Kansas City recovered at the Cleveland 21. Three plays later Mahomes found Juju Smith-Schuster in the flat and he did the rest on the 7-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead. On first down at the Kansas City 36, Jameis Winston threw into double coverage looking for Elijah Moore in the end zone and was intercepted by Chiefs safety Bryan Cook. It was the second turnover in the quarter. Winston's first pass of the third quarter went in and out of the hands of Nick Chubb and was ripped away by Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton at the Cleveland 30. Winston’s third interception came early in the fourth quarter, again to the end zone but Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie caught the football instead of Michael Woods.
Take a seat – Kevin Stefanski pulled Winston with 8 minutes to play in the fourth quarter in favor of Dorian Thompson-Robinson. “It’s required for the quarterback to protect the football to give your team a chance to win, and the leadership decided that my time was up,” Winston said. Winston completed 16 of 25 passes for 146 yards with three interceptions and had a rating of 40.2. It was the third time Winston threw a trio of picks in a game this season and Stefanski would not commit to Winston starting next week in Cincinnati. “I’m not going to get into any decisions right now,” Stefanski said. Thompson-Robinson, who completed 4 of 9 passes for 18 yards, threw an interception with less than 2 minutes to play.
Chubb’s foot – Chubb left the stadium on crutches and Stefanski revealed Chubb suffered a broken left foot. “I have gotten to have a first row seat to what he’s been able to do,” Stefanski said. “I can’t tell you how much I respect him as a person, what he means to this football team. So, really, really disappointed about this injury. It does not change the fact that he continues to inspire this football team with how he approaches every single day. And I know this is just another obstacle that he will overcome.” The loss of Chubb hurt as bad if not worse than the 11th defeat of the season. “Damn, that sucks,” receiver Jerry Jeudy said. Left guard Joel Bitonio, who has played with Chubb the longest, took the news just as hard. “Nick’s my guy,” Bitonio said. “I’m thinking about him. You know Nick. He’ll come back and he’ll put it behind him, and he’ll be the teammate everybody knows he is.” Defensive end Myles Garrett summed it up best. “I mean, it just goes from bad to worse, man. It really does,” Garrett said. “The man fights back from injury. He does it. There’s not a more hard working, just resilient individual in the locker room. And he just has continued to face adversity like this. It’s just tough to see because he’s one of the cornerstones. He’s every bit a part of the foundation as myself and Denzel (Ward). And it’s just, it’s tough to see him have to go through this. And we want to be there for him in every way possible, but it’s a real freaking shame.”
Mahomes banged up – The Chiefs countered by pulling Patrick Mahomes due to an ankle injury for Carson Wentz with 5:30 to play in the game. Mahomes finished the day 19 of 38 for 159 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas City.
Blowing the basics – It might be Week 15, but the Browns continue to struggle with how to line up. Sunday they were flagged twice for illegal formation on offense, illegal formation on the punt team, offsides on offense, and offsides on a PAT. “It was a problem today, certainly,” Stefanski said. “I would take issue with a few of them. I’ll look at them and we’ll respond appropriately. We haven’t had a penalty on special teams in a long time and had a few today. We knew that crew throws a lot of flags. Going into this game, that’s something that we knew and they lived up to their reputation.”
Ford scores – Jerome Ford ripped off the longest run of the season – a 62-yard touchdown with 3:16 remaining in the third quarter to end the Chiefs shutout bid and make it a 21-7 game.
1K club – Receiver Jerry Jeudy caught 10 passes for 100 yards to give him his first 1,000-yard season and a new career high. “Right now, it doesn’t mean anything,” Jeudy said. “The win is the most important thing and we just have to find a way to finish. That is the most important thing.”
Eye on Garrett – Garrett went to the locker room after his left eye was scraped by Chiefs left guard Joe Thuny on tight end Noah Gray’s 6-yard touchdown catch with 4:46 remaining in the first half that made it 14-0. “He apologized when I was going to the locker room. He also apologized after the game,” Garrett said. Garrett normally wears a protective visor, but the rain made it difficult to see so he removed it. No penalty was thrown on the play either, another example of the lack of respect Garrett receives from the officials. “He said he just didn’t see it,” Garrett said. “That’s how the game goes.” Garrett returned from the locker room and re-entered the game a few minutes later. Garrett did not get a sack and remains at 99.5 for his career and 11.0 on the season.
Just for kicks – As expected, Riley Patterson replaced Dustin Hopkins, who was inactive, as the kicker. Patterson made the lone PAT. “Like I told you guys, Dustin is our kicker. I’ve told him this and I told you guys, we’re going to work through it together,” Stefanski said. “Thought this was the right move to just give him a week off and let him get back in that groove, his swing, if you will. So, I’m confident in Dustin moving forward.”
Dawg pound captain – Retired UFC champion Stipe Miocic needed one swing to obliterate the guitar prior to kickoff.
Inactives – QB Bailey Zappe (third QB), K Dustin Hopkins, WR Cedric Tillman, RB D’Onta Foreman, CB Chigozie Anusiem, TE David Njoku, DE James Houston
Injury report – CB Martin Emerson Jr. (head), DT Jowon Briggs (calf), DT Shelby Harris (elbow), RB Nick Chubb (foot)
