Photo credit: dawgsbynature.com
The Browns came back to First Energy Stadium Sunday for the first time since September 22 to take on the Seattle Seahawks. Coming off an embracing Monday night loss against the San Francisco Niners, the Browns looked to bounce back in this one, but it did not go their way.
Seattle kicked off to start off the game and an amazing kick return by Dontrell Hilliard put the Browns at the Seattle 23-yard line. Running back Nick Chubb ended up scoring, and the Browns were up 7-0 early in the first quarter. Seattle would then go on to tie it in their first offensive possession with a 16-yard running touchdown by quarterback Russell Wilson, but their kicker Jason Myers would miss the extra point.
The Browns would score again on their next drive as second year signal caller Baker Mayfield ran it in for his first career rushing touchdown.
At the start of the 2nd quarter, Mayfield found one of his favorite targets this year, tight end Ricky Seals-Jones, for a touchdown to put the Browns up 14. On the Browns next drive, a blocked punt by Seattle put them in good field position, but the Browns defense was able to hold them to a field goal.
Mayfield found star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for a huge gain to put them at the Seattle 39 to start the next drive with less than five minutes to go in the first half. All the Browns needed to do was run the ball with Chubb and get points on the board to have a good lead at halftime.
Well, that is not what head coach Freddie Kitchens had in mind because he hurried up the offense after the 2-minute warning. Mayfield ended up throwing an interception in the end zone. The turnover ended up costing the Browns because the Seahawks went ahead and scored a touchdown just before half to trim the Browns lead to two, 20-18.
In the Browns first offensive drive of the second half, Mayfield threw the ball to Chubb, and Chubb fumbled. Seattle would recover the fumble. Another turnover by the Browns, and the Seahawks would take advantage of it and score another touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, Mayfield and the rest of the offense put a great drive together to put the Browns in the red zone. On 3rd and goal at the 1-yard line, Mayfield would make a short pass to Jarvis Landry. Landry gets the ball past the goal line, but he fumbled the ball.
The Browns did recover the ball. It was ruled no touchdown, and the Browns went on to run another play on 4th and goal. Chubb got into the end zone. However, the play never happened because just before the snap, Kitchens threw the challenge flag as he wanted to challenge the play before where Landry lost the football. This took a while to be reviewed but eventually, it was ruled that the play stands. This time the Browns were unable to put the ball into the end zone, and it was a turnover on downs.
Seattle was unable to get out of their own territory, and a short punt put the Browns in a good position. Chubb carried the offense on this drive as he went in to score a touchdown. The Browns decided to go for two, and it ended up working out for them. At this point in the game, the Browns led 28-25, but Wilson and the Seattle offensive was just too much for the Browns defense as they put a good long drive together to put the Seahawks up for good, 32-28.
With 3:30 to go in the game, the Browns had to get the ball in the end zone. Three plays in, and Mayfield throws his third interception on the day, and Seattle runs the clock out.
The Browns fall to 2-4 on the year and are still looking for their first win at home. They have a bye week next week, and the following week they go up against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in Foxborough MA.
If I was Freddie Kitchens, this bye week would not be an off week to relax. The Browns have to be prepared to take down the GOAT Tom Brady, and one the best head coaches of all-time in Bill Belichick. This is the toughest team the Browns have to face off against this season, and this bye week should be a wake-up call to all of the players and coaches.
Right now, my confidence level is not too high on the Browns doing good against New England, but let’s hope that these dawgs come ready to play in two weeks!