Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; A Cleveland Browns fan reacts in the stands against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
A memorable loss on Monday Night Football kept the Cleveland Browns at the bottom of the weekly NFL power rankings.
The Cleveland Browns found a new way to entertainingly torture their fanbase on Monday Night Football, losing on a blocked field that was returned for a touchdown on the game’s final play.
It was only the second time in NFL history that a game ended in such fashion, and it’s no surprise that the Browns would be involved. After all, every time you think you’ve seen it all with this team, they show you something you can never unsee.
“The feeling of frustration and disappointment is still very much with us today,” head coach Mike Pettine said on Tuesday. “You try to look at the positives – how hard our guys played, the fight that we showed and that we fell down and were able to fight all the way back and had a chance to win the game at the end. We hadn’t been able to do that in the last couple weeks.
“Nothing is going to make you feel good about it until to you come out with more points than your opponent, and we haven’t been able to do that for a while. We have put a lot of work in and haven’t had a chance to enjoy a pay day and that is an obvious source of frustration.”
Adding to the fun is the news that starting quarterback Josh McCown is finished for the year after breaking his collarbone in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Browns latest loss dropped them to 2-9 on the season and is reflected in the weekly NFL power rankings.
Elliott Harrison at NFL.com (32, down 1):
"Only in Cleveland would a team name a quarterback the starter and then demote him to third-string before he took the field. Only in Cleveland would a team lose a game it was lining up to win. Only in Cleveland would a team literally become the first NFL franchise to lose on a walk-off field-goal block TD in regulation. Yuck. #OIC #OnlyInCleveland (Cincinnati No. 4, Pittsburgh No. 9, Baltimore No. 25)"
Frank Schwab at Yahoo Sports (32, down 1):
"Losing that game, ultimately, is better for the Browns. They’ll likely get a better draft pick as a result. But wow, that’s brutal. (Cincinnati No. 5, Pittsburgh No. 8, Baltimore No. 29)"
Sean Tomlinson at Bleacher Report (32, no change):
"There is no pain quite like Cleveland Browns pain."
"A franchise that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2002 often has a way of making you rip your jersey Hulk Hogan style. But what happened Monday night was easily the Browns’ most creative imitation of a real, functioning football team."
"With under a minute remaining in a tie game, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Matt Schaub threw an interception, because that’s what he does. The Browns took possession on Baltimore’s 46-yard line with two timeouts left. For most teams that would be a time to feel confident. The Browns aren’t most teams."
"Backup quarterback Austin Davis was in the game after Josh McCown left with a collarbone injury. He inexplicably slid at the end of a seven-yard scramble, forcing Browns head coach Mike Pettine to burn a timeout. But all was not lost, because with eight seconds left and a final timeout available Cleveland could run one more play."
"Every yard was precious, yet Pettine foolishly opted to stay conservative with a run that went nowhere. So his kicker Travis Coons had to line up for a 51-yard attempt, and he hasn’t been successful from longer than 44 yards all season."
"What came next was the ultimate Browns-ing, though in hindsight it should have pretty predictable: Coons’ blocked kick was returned for a touchdown, and Browns fans were given a lasting memory of the Pettine era that will surely end by January. (Cincinnati No. 5, Pittsburgh No. 11, Baltimore No. 27)"
"At some point a moviemaker needs to do a deep dive on the Cleveland Browns’ existence since returning from the ether. This is to say something a bit more comprehensive than the farcical Draft Day (sorrynotsorry, Kevin Costner)."
"Every time you think the organization has bottomed out something new and more unexpected comes up. It’s basically the Tyson Zone (copyright Bill Simmons). At this point, everything is on the table."
"This week in Browns history: Video of Johnny Manziel partying with some bros surfaces. Johnny F—ing Football and his dudes are seen partying in a club, and appear to be sufficiently lubed up. Mike Pettine does not agree with Football’s partying ways and demotes the former backup-turned-starter to third stringer. Johnny’s Football life in Cleveland appears to be over."
"So here we are with a team that has a duo of unimpressive backs, no true quarterback, a dearth of wide receivers and fairly decent defense. How long until the Browns just hold a fire sale and try to reboot? Feels like they do this about every third year, so the time is near."
"If there’s any bright spot for the Monday Night Football game, it’s that we get to hear Jon Gruden – America’s most positive analyst – wax poetic about the virtues of football and try to turn the turd sandwich known as Cleveland-Baltimore into palatable television (all while Mike Tirico questions his choice of professions). (Cincinnati No. 3, Pittsburgh No. 10, Baltimore No. 32)"
Pete Prisco at CBS Sports (32, no change):
"They find new ways to lose every week. Is there any doubt they belong down here at the bottom? (Cincinnati No. 4, Pittsburgh No. 9, Baltimore No. 30)"
"Monday’s heartbreaking loss clinched another losing season for the Browns. Since returning to Cleveland in 1999, the Browns will have finished below .500 in 15 of 17 seasons, including each of the past eight. (Cincinnati No. 5, Pittsburgh No. 9, Baltimore No. 25)"