The Cleveland Browns finally checked into the 2024 season today with a sloppy 18-13 win in Jacksonville over the Jaguars. The Browns, who spent a near-NFL high in cash on players, consider themselves a Super Bowl contender, but last week looked like anything but.
On Sunday, the offense served notice right out of the gate that things would be different. Quarterback Deshaun Watson engineered a 16 play, 89 yard match down the field which took the majority of the quarter. Watson capped the drive by taking it into the endzone itself.
The Cleveland Browns Need Discipline, and They Need It Fast
That drive turned out to be the high-water mark for the Cleveland Browns in Jacksonville. Though the Browns looked significantly better in Week 2, the team continued to display a curious lack of discipline. If Cleveland is going to truly be a Super Bowl contender, they’ll have to get things under control and fast.
Cooper’s Confounding Drops
In Week 1, the entire Cleveland Browns team looked like it was sleepwalking through the game. After the first couple of drives, the air seemed to get sucked out of Huntington Bank Field, and the Browns just looked dazed and confused. In Week 2, the team snapped out of it. Well… most of them.
Top receiver Amari Cooper has yet to really get his head in the game this season. He has been targeted by Watson 17 times in two weeks for a total of five catches for a dismal 27 yards. He’s made several crucial drops, including a big one Sunday in Jacksonville. One catch he actually had for a first down but ran back behind the marker.
Whatever’s wrong with Cooper doesn’t appear to be physical. He just doesn’t have his head in the game right now.
Perilous Penalties
Through two games, the Cleveland Browns have committed 24 penalties. That’s a stunning number that leads the league. It’s roughly double what the average NFL team commits in the average game. Moreover, in Jacksonville, Cleveland’s discipline seemed to break down as the game went on. Particularly troubling was a drive late in the fourth quarter. With the Browns holding a slim 16-13 lead but the momentum clearly on Jacksonville’s side, Cleveland took the ball back with a chance to put the game away.
Instead, Cleveland committed four penalties on the same drive. These included an illegal shift, one of several offensive procedure plays the team has had in the first two weeks. Running back D’Onta Foreman committed a rare offensive facemask call, which negated a first and goal opportunity. Two consecutive holding plays put Cleveland into a laughable 3rd and 36 situation. Instead of putting the game away or even extending their lead, the Browns instead came away with no points in a crucial situation.
Bad Decision or Communication Breakdown?
Penalties weren’t the only problem for the Cleveland Browns. After the Browns offense was bailed out by a stunner of a punt from Corey Bojorquez, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was sacked in the endzone for a safety. Cleveland got the ball back with less than two minutes left and nursing a five-point lead.
On 3rd and 6, rather than running the ball for a third straight time to chew the clock, Watson looked to make a pass out of a play-action call, which fooled just about no one. Instead of taking the sack to keep the clock running, Watson managed to get a pass off, which stopped the clock.
To some, including the game’s announcers, this seemed to be poor decision-making on Watson’s part. What’s more, likely is that Browns head coach and primary play-caller Kevin Stefanski didn’t share his intentions with his quarterback. At the time, the Browns were on Jacksonville’s 38 and up by 5. A field goal would have ensured that the best Jacksonville could have done was tie the game. Watson taking the sack would have pushed the Browns out of field goal range.
Instead of trotting out kicker Dustin Hopkins – who is perfect on the season thus far – for another field goal attempt, Stefanski opted to punt. Did Watson know of Stefanski’s intention here? Seems unlikely. But either way – bad decision-making or poor communication – this was nearly a disaster for the Cleveland Browns.
What About the Cleveland Browns Coaching Staff?
As previously noted, the entire Cleveland Browns team did not look ready to play in Week 1. When there’s a player or three or even a unit that appears unprepared, the fault usually lies with those in the game. When an entire team isn’t ready to play, blame the coaches.
Stefanski clearly agreed and came out roaring with a game plan designed for Watson and the offense to find an early rhythm. The ball came out quickly. The offense was efficient and seemed poised and confident. But as the game went on and Jacksonville fought to get back into it, Stefanski seemed to revert more toward his Week 1 strategy. The reads took longer, allowing Jacksonville to take advantage of Cleveland’s banged-up offensive line. Running back Jerome Ford – who played so well in the first half – seemed to disappear in the second and ended the day with just seven carries.
The Browns defense had a number of penalties as well which kept Jacksonville in the game. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz teaches aggression, which will always lead to more penalties than average. But they’ve shown that they can keep it under better control than this.
Week 2 was a big step up for the Cleveland Browns. In order to start looking like a Super Bowl contender, they’ll need an equally big jump next week against the New York Giants.
Main Photo Credit: Syndication: Akron Beacon Journal
