On The Mark 9.21.14: Browns Recap

Heartbreak Kids: Browns lose in last seconds to the Ravens 23-21
By @MarkW2112

The saying goes "same old Browns".  And while I hate that phrase, sadly, it was the same old Browns to end the game on Sunday as they lost 23-21 to the hated Baltimore Ravens on a game winning field goal by Justin Tucker with 4 seconds left in the game.  It was a frustrating end to a game that gave Browns fans hope and yet felt like the rug had been pulled out from them as has happened to them so many times in the last 15 years.  It leaves the Browns 1-2 before their bye week.

Brian Hoyer did have a great game, going 19-of-25 for 290 yards and a touchdown.  However, whether it was the play calling of Kyle Shanahan or his own execution, he could secure a first down with 2:30 left in the game.  His incomplete pass to Andrew Hawkins was the same type of death knell that the Browns went through in week one against the Steelers.  Both Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell had touchdowns and some good plays but also made rookie mistakes.  Andrew Hawkins made some huge plays as well, setting up Crowell's touchdown.  Mile Austin also had a touchdown.

Joe Flacco, who was barely touched all day by the Browns "swarming" defense, was 19-of-31 for 217 yards and an INT but did just enough to win the game.  The biggest surprise was the running of Lorenzo Taliaferro, who ran for 91 yards and touchdown.  He bruised his way through big holes opened up by his offensive line and was a pain the side of the Browns defense all day.  Another pain was local product Kyle Juszczyk, who scored a touchdown and mocked LeBron James and his powder toss to taunt the Dawg Pound.  It appears he will get some looks going forward with the possible season ending injury to Dennis Pitta.  Steve Smith was responsible for the game winning catch that helped set up the winning field goal.

My take: this game was frustrating on so many levels.  Bad execution and bad coaching allowed the Ravens to stick around when the Browns should have won the game.  A missed 50 yard field goal by Billy Cundiff and blocked FG on a blown blocking assignment by Billy Winn cost the Browns this game.  Questionable calls by the refs didn't help matter either.  It was a bad day all around for the Browns.  They'll have 2 weeks to stew in this mess of a game.

Next up for the Browns; a week 4 bye.  Then on to Tennessee where they'll meet the very bad Titans October 5.  Hopefully the Browns won't pull a "same old Browns" and will be prepared to beat their opponent.