I guess we have to talk about it…
Dropping another winnable game where they beat themselves, the Cleveland Browns have dropped to 1-3 on the season after a disappointing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
A missed extra point was the difference in this game from Dustin Hopkins as the Browns were forced to go for it on 4th down in range for what could have been a game-tying field goal. There were more dropped passes, big plays called back, and a late arrival from the defense for the second straight week in this loss.
With the red-hot Washington Commanders up next for the Browns, it is now or never for head coach Kevin Stefanski and his team.
Here is what stood out: the good, the bad, and the ugly, from this 20-16 loss to the Raiders.
The good: Jerry Jeudy continues to look like a stellar add
It was mostly ugly for the Browns in this loss to the Raiders, a game for the second straight week where they beat themselves more than the opponent. However, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy continues to look like a player worth the cost the Browns gave up for him.
He finished the game as the Browns’ leading receiver, racking up 72 yards on six catches on the day. Jeudy has established himself as an elite route runner and the most explosive playmaker on the football field while tight end David Njoku continues to nurse a bad ankle.
With the struggles of Amari Cooper early in the season, and in a contract year, the Browns need Jeudy to be the first round pick that he was in 2020. Even if he is nothing more than a high-end WR2 in Cleveland, Jeudy has been worth the investment thus far.
As for the good, that was about it.
The bad: The offensive line
It keeps getting worse. Already without three starters along their offensive line, the Browns lost another as Ethan Pocic suffered an ankle injury that he tried to play through but could not.
On one occasion, Amari Cooper was wide open down the field when second-year offensive tackle Dawand Jones whiffed on his assignment and let an immediate defender in the face of Watson. While it was a bad, phantom call, an 80-yard touchdown was wiped off the board due to a holding on Nick Harris as well. Harris then snapped the ball early before Watson was ready on the final drive of the game.
The interior continues to struggle to pick up twists and stunts, and the communication cannot get better when bodies continue to shuffle through. Even with the return of Wills and Conklin, potentially next week, it’s hard to see a way up in 2024.
The ugly: It’s hard to feel optimistic about the future
The cap space isn’t the issue. The Browns will have it managed and under control. However, even managed as it is, the Browns will have to spend controlled and sparingly. They do have a first round pick back as well, but the amount of holes at premium positions is becoming overwhelming.
The Browns need two offensive tackles, a true top wide receiver, and potentially a quarterback as well on the offensive side of the football. Even if Jeudy establishes himself, he is a high-end WR2. Cooper is in a contract year and will not be back at this rate.
Both Conklin and Wills are likely gone at the end of the year, and the status of Watson as the starting quarterback beyond 2024 is still up in the air. At this point, it is feeling quite overwhelming to think about how the Browns move forward into the future.