CLEVELAND (AP) — This was supposed to be the easy part of Cleveland’s schedule — early, winnable games to get the Browns rolling.
Everything has been hard for them.
Their 20-16 loss Sunday to the Las Vegas Raiders, who were missing their two best players, mirrored two others for the Browns (1-3), who were again plagued by mental and physical mistakes, penalties and a general lack of execution in all three phases.
“We can play way better,” coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday, speaking about the defense but summing up his team’s current condition.
Cleveland’s offense remains aimless and unable to find the end zone — the Browns have yet to score 20 points. The defense has had nice moments, but isn’t playing anywhere close to last year when it ranked No. 1 in the NFL.
And even dependable kicker Dustin Hopkins missed an extra point that proved costly.
Injuries across the offensive line have hindered the running game, leading to protection problems and preventing quarterback Deshaun Watson from developing any chemistry in a passing game best described as dink, dunk and drop.
Watson had his best statistical game this season — 24 of 32 for 176 yards with a touchdown and interception — but for the second straight week he couldn’t pull out a late comeback win that might take pressure off him and maybe redirect some of the criticism coming his way.
Watson was situated for heroics, only to stumble. It wasn’t all his fault.
Needing a TD because of Hopkins’ miss, the Browns drove to the Raiders’ 16-yard line with two minutes left. What followed were four plays that sum up Cleveland’s season: Bad snap. Batted down pass. Completion short of the first-down marker. Sack.
The fourth-down play was particularly painful. The only thing Watson couldn’t do was take a sack, and that’s exactly what he did. He set his feet, looked left, double-clutched and then couldn’t get away while scrambling.
Game over.
Stefanski didn’t assess exact blame, saying there were problems with decision-making, protection and route running on the play. That about covers it.
“Not good enough,” he said. “We can be better across the board, but we can be better.”
At this point, it’s hard to imagine the Browns being any worse.
What’s working
Not a lot. But Watson did a better job of getting rid of the ball more quickly with swing outs and short underneath passes. It was a needed adjustment after he got sacked a career-high eight times last week by the New York Giants.
What needs help
Cleveland’s offense starts strong and sputters. The Browns drove the length of the field and scored a TD on their first possession. Watson and Co. only produced a field goal after that.
It has been a familiar pattern. Cleveland has scored on its first possession in all four games — a TD in the last three — before defenses make changes and the Browns are slow with any counter moves.
Stock up
Myles Garrett can’t be stopped. Although limited by injuries to both feet, an Achilles tendon and thigh, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year recorded two sacks and was his usual disruptive self while on the field for 44 plays.
He was credited with three QB hits.
Stock down
Amari Cooper’s up-and-down season took another dip.
Cooper, who had two critical drops in Cleveland’s first two games, had a pass from Watson go through his hands, slam off his chest and ricochet to the Raiders for an interception. Las Vegas capitalized on the turnover to open a 20-10 lead.
Following the game, Cooper was not around to speak with reporters — another uncharacteristic move for the wide receiver.
Injuries
Stefanski confirmed that RB Nick Chubb will practice Wednesday for the first time since his 2023 season ended with a gruesome knee injury in Week 2. Chubb had two surgeries on the same knee he hurt in college. … The Browns actually emerged fairly intact compared to previous weeks. … LB Jordan Hicks (elbow) and C Ethan Pocic (ankle) are both considered day to day after getting hurt Sunday. … TE David Njoku (ankle) missed his third straight game, but is expected to do more at practice this week. … Stefanski didn’t have an update on LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and RT Jack Conklin (hamstring), who both sat out against the Raiders.
Key numbers
20.8 — Cleveland’s league-worst conversion percentage on third down (11 of 53). The Browns started 3 for 3 on Sunday and then went 0 for 7.
What’s next
The second of three straight road games Sunday against the surprising Washington Commanders, who have won three in a row.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl