The Cleveland Browns hosted the undefeated Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. This game was going to be a test for Cleveland, but no one expected it to be disastrous.
The Browns were dominated at home, losing 37-14.
The Browns have been battling this season. Their two losses prior to this game came down to one possession each against tough opponents. Many people had Cleveland pegged as one of those teams that were better than their record indicated. This past Sunday did not help support that argument.
Cleveland was exposed, and while injuries may have played a large role in the extreme defeat, The Browns need to improve. The Cardinals picked Cleveland apart and showed where this team needs to get better. With that said, here are three Cleveland takeaways from their terrible loss to Arizona.
3. Browns Need To Run The Ball
The Browns offense relies on being able to run the ball. A huge limiting factor in this game was the injury of Nick Chubb. Cleveland's lead back was out this week, but the rest of the team needs to pick up the slack.
The Browns have been able to compete in every game this season because they have established their run game. This past Sunday Cleveland was unable to run the ball effectively and that was a large contributor to their offensive woes.
Week 6 was the first time this season that the Browns managed less than 100 rushing yards. Kareem Hunt is more than a serviceable back but was forced to exit the game early due to injury. Without their backs, the team was just unable to run on a tough Arizona defense. Being unable to establish the ground game had a domino effect on the rest of the offense. An offense that was only alive for the second quarter and struggled for most of the game.
When Cleveland runs the ball effectively they are able to compete with some of the toughest teams in the league. When the Browns can't run the ball the whole offense collapses. The coaches need to do a better job of setting this team up for success, and that starts by establishing the run game.
2. Injuries Affected This Game
The Browns were far from healthy going into this game. Heading into this game many crucial players were out or questionable. Nick Chubb was ruled out ahead of Sunday's contest. Kareem Hunt was questionable. Numerous defenders were only limited participants in practice. This team was banged up.
During Sunday's game both Kareem Hunt and Baker Mayfield exited with injury. This was essentially Cleveland waving the white flag. Maybe if it was a closer game they would have tried to push through, but both players remained out. Injuries are a part of football, and while every team deals with them it doesn't mean that they don't have an impact on the game.
Arizona's injured players ended up playing this week. Cleveland's were not as fortunate. That's football. If fans are looking for something to point to in this game they can definitely look at the injuries. This Browns team is better than what we saw on Sunday.
If they can stay healthy they can stay competitive. It's not quite as bad as it may seem for The Cleveland Browns.
1. The Defense Was Torn Apart
The Browns defense was coming into this game as one of the best in the league. Cleveland's defense ranked fourth overall in opponent yards per game. They allowed less than 300 yards of offense from opposing teams per game. Heading into this game the storyline being followed was the electric Cardinals offense vs the strong Cleveland defense. It is clear which prevailed.
The Cardinals had no problem picking apart Cleveland's defense. The Browns just didn't look like the team they've been all season. Part of the problem was the lack of offensive production. The defense was on the field a lot and was playing against a tough offense. But that's no excuse. If Cleveland wants to make a playoff push then their defense needs to rebound in a big way. The NFL playoffs will be full of great offenses and the defense will need to step up.
Cleveland was only allowing 75 rushing yards to opposing teams. In Week 6 the Cardinals nearly doubled that, rushing for just shy of 150 yards. The Browns let Arizona walk all over them. The offense may have the excuses of injuries but the defense doesn't. The impactful questionable Cleveland defenders played but did not slow down the Cardinals. Cleveland will have a chance to bounce back this Thursday against the Broncos. Provided they stay healthy, they should be able to get a win and pick momentum back up.
Follow Us
Subscribe