Cleveland Browns: 3 takeaways from the loss to the Bengals

Joe Haden‘s absence due to a groin injury was expected to have negative effects on the defense, and it sure did.

The Bengals racked up 559 total yards, as A.J. Green torched the Browns’ secondary for 169 yards and a touchdown, which came at the end of the first half on an acrobatic Hail Mary grab. But the passing game was not where the game was lost.

The Browns allowed 271 rushing yards to the Bengals, as Jeremy Hill led the way with 168 yards on nine carries. That comes out to an average of 18.7 yards per rush. An easy 74-yard touchdown run will help the ‘ole average.

Final stats aside, it was clear when watching the game that the Browns could not generate any opposition on the line of scrimmage. Hill and Giovani Bernard were free to run right through the line, going untouched for at least the first five yards.

Some will jump to blame Hue Jackson for a lack of preparation, but this one is on Ray Horton. He came back to Cleveland with a lackluster reputation as a defensive coordinator and is making sure nothing changes. He has to work with many young players, but there is no excuse for how bad this defense has performed in the first seven weeks of the season.

The 33 points allowed Sunday marked the fourth time this year the Browns have allowed at least 30 points, with the lowest total on the season being the 25 points allowed to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.