The Cleveland Browns B-team got beat down by the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, 31-14. With the win, all four AFC North teams finish the 2023 season with winning records, the only division in the NFL to do so. It is one of the most competitive divisions in NFL history. Three teams finished with at least 10 wins and made the playoffs. The Baltimore Ravens own the league’s best record, and three of four of their losses came from within the division. In fact, discounting division games, the four teams had a winning percentage north of 70% in 2023.
Cleveland Browns Whomped in Meaningless Game
For the Cleveland Browns, Sunday’s game was essentially meaningless, though losing so badly to a division-mate is never a good way to end the season. That’s particularly so for a team that had just won four straight and looked to be carrying a lot of momentum. But Week 18 amounted to a bye for the team’s starters and extra experience for its reserves.
Cleveland quietly started its fifth quarterback of the season. However, this was the first change made by choice, rather than forced due to injury. Cleveland’s current QB1, Joe Flacco, dressed as the backup to recently acquired Jeff Driskel but was held out to rest and avoid injury. Driskel was signed off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad on December 29.
Driskel looked terrible for three quarters. At that point, he had completed just seven out of 18 passes for 60 yards and two interceptions. In the fourth quarter, Driskel got hot and found a favorite target in receiver David Bell. The two hooked up for a pair of touchdowns in the final frame. Third-round pick receiver Cedric Tillman also saw more playing time. He continues to show some flashes but still looks uncomfortable, and his effort has been somewhat questionable.
The Cleveland defensive reserves clearly need some work. They had multiple neutral zone infractions and a litany of mental mistakes. They had no answer for Cincinnati’s Joe Mixon, who gained 111 yards on just 14 carries.
Injuries Inescapable
Despite hoping to get out of the game without injuries, the Cleveland Browns took a few nonetheless. Tillman didn’t return after taking a shot to the back of the head in the fourth quarter. Reserve back Pierre Strong Jr. came out shortly thereafter, walking the sidelines with a back injury. That forced starter Jerome Ford back into the game. Key reserve defensive tackle took a whack to the shin toward the end of the second half.
Cleveland Browns fans got some bad news earlier this week when starting middle linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. was placed on injured reserve. Walker, who is a 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, is a captain and essentially the quarterback on that side of the ball. The Browns had hoped to get Walker back for the playoffs, but his knee wouldn’t cooperate.
Next up for the Cleveland Browns: Rematch in Houston
At one point, the Jacksonville Jaguars had an outside shot at the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed. But after their loss to the Cleveland Browns, things went south fast. Jacksonville went from 8-3 to 9-8, and find themselves on the outside looking in now that the playoffs have started. That allowed the upstart Houston Texans to win the AFC South at the last minute.
Joe Flacco is tied for the most road playoff wins among quarterbacks in NFL history with Tom Brady. That’s good news for the Browns who, despite finishing with one of the best records in the league, are forced to travel to Houston. Though Cleveland won two more games and beat Houston on Christmas Eve, Houston is awarded the home game due to winning their division.
However, there is hope for a home playoff game for Cleveland Browns fans. If all three AFC road teams win next week, then Cleveland will play at home in Round 2. But to do that, they’ll have to win in Houston. Though the Christmas Eve matchup was one of the easier games, Houston played without their starting quarterback, rookie C.J. Stroud. Stroud was on fire in Saturday’s key win against the Indianapolis Colts. He completed 20 of 26 for 264 yards and two touchdowns. This was a stark contrast to Houston’s backup Case Keenum, who started against the Browns. Keenum couldn’t get anything going against the league’s best defense, completing just 11 passes and amassing a meager 31.6 rating.
Main Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
