Photo credit: patspulpit.com
The Cleveland Browns had a full two weeks to prepare for one the biggest games of their season against the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. The Patriots were coming off a short week, defeating the New York Jets 33-0 on Monday Night Football, but when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady is your coach-Quarterback combo, a short week doesn’t matter as the Patriots send the Browns to 2-5 on the season with a decisive 27-13 victory.
The Browns defense was able to hold the Patriots to just a field goal to start the game. On the Browns second offensive possession, Quarterback Baker Mayfield handed the ball off to running back Nick Chubb, and Chubb fumbled the ball, allowing Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower to scoop and score to give the Pats an early 10-0 lead.
On the next Browns drive, Mayfield handed the ball off to Chubb again. Chubb ran the ball 50 yards down the field, but a Patriot defender forced Chubb to fumble the ball inside the 20. and the Patriots recovered the rock.
The next Browns play is a microcosm of the whole Browns season so far. Mayfield tosses the ball to wide out Jarvis Landry, who is running in motion, but Lawrence Guy of the Patriots is able to catch the toss for an interception. Tom Brady would find Kent State alumni Julian Edelman for a Patriots score to give them a 17-0 lead.
In the second quarter, the Browns found a way to score a touchdown with a 21-yard pass from Mayfield to tight end Demetrius Harris to make the score at halftime 17-7.
Going into the third quarter, the Browns received the second half kickoff, and they kicked a field goal to make it a one possession game. The Patriots responded with another touchdown to put them up by 14 late in the third, and that was basically all she wrote for the Browns.
Sunday looked like the same old Browns that Browns fans have been watching for the past 20 years: Not making smart plays, turnovers, bad possessions and lack of discipline.
Head coach Freddie Kitchens’s did not have his best day Sunday either. Both of the challenges he made cost the Browns timeouts. He needs to get better as a leader in my opinion if the Browns want to go somewhere this season.
The Browns are now third in the AFC North. Their next game is at Denver to take on the 2-6 Broncos.