Cleveland Browns lose to Cincinnati Bengals, 37-3

Dec 6, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Austin Davis (7) runs the ball as Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) chases during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns lost their seventh consecutive game in dropping a 37-3 decision to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

At least the Cleveland Browns didn’t wait until the game’s final play to disappoint the fans this week.

The Browns fell behind early and often in losing 37-3 to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The loss was Cleveland’s seventh in a row, ninth in their past 10 games, 15th in their past 17 games and 13th consecutive loss in the month of December.

The Browns have now been outscored 98-13 in their past three meetings with the Bengals.

There is really not much to say at this point about a team that is 2-10 on the season and just playing out the string until the season mercifully comes to a close on Jan. 3.

Austin Davis got the start at quarterback and was … adequate? … in finishing the game 25-of-38 for 230 yards. His biggest problem, other than being an average quarterback, was that the Browns had no answer for the Cincinnati defensive front, especially once guard Joel Bitonio went out with an ankle injury, and no hope in the running or passing game.

The Bengals sacked Davis three times and hit him at least as many times. The running game was ineffective (3.6 yards per carry) and once Travis Benjamin went down with a shoulder injury, Davis was forced to throw to the likes of Marlon Moore and Darius Jennings, who combined for six receptions and 49 yards.

Meanwhile, the Bengals still have A.J. Green, who finished with five catches for 128 yards, his first 100-yard receiving game against the Browns since 2012. The Bengals also added 144 rushing yards, making them just the latest team to have its way with the Cleveland defense.

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The only bright spot for the Browns, if such a thing exists, is that they had 273 yards of offense and were six-of-13 on third down, which is an improvement over the last time they played the Bengals.

But in falling to 2-10 does it even matter at this point if we try to find something positive from today’s game?

The Browns are back home next Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, then thankfully go on the road for two games before they close out the year at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With an ugly stretch of games looming, that leaves everyone with nothing more than the weekly debate over which quarterback to play and where the team will draft next spring in the NFL Draft.

Such is life when December comes to Cleveland.