The Cleveland Browns had their most highly anticipated season opener in quite some time on Sunday, and they fell flat on their face. They didn't execute amidst all the excitement, and they got embarrassed in a 43-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Baker Mayfield had a rough game, especially in the fourth quarter, and the Browns went from beloved to hated in just a few hours. The criticism was relentless following the game, and some have already hopped off the bandwagon.
Inside the building, rookie head coach Freddie Kitchens is hoping cooler heads will prevail:
“What we have to refrain from doing right now is overreacting,” Kitchens said, via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.
“It’s one game in a 16-game schedule. We’re very disappointed in the lack of discipline we showed, the loss of composure that we showed at times, and just overall not doing a good enough job from a coaching perspective and a player perspective to get the job done in a positive manner.”
As Kitchens emphasized, one game does not define a season. The Browns still have a lot of talent, and laying an egg in the opener isn't anything too uncommon. Kitchens also made sure to show some appreciation for the fan base and the buzz they helped create:
“The atmosphere was incredible for that game, for an opening game, a day game, all those sort of things, really, I’ve never been in that type of atmosphere before, and that’s a testament to our fans,” he said. “We’re going to continue to make corrections in how we prepare from a discipline standpoint and a lack of composure standpoint. I think that put us in some bad situations that we were not able to overcome.”
The Browns will be right back in the spotlight in Week 2 with a chance to prove everybody wrong on Monday Night Football when they take on the New York Jets.
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