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Cleveland Browns lose to Buffalo Bills; fall to 0-14

By Thomas Moore

Dec 18, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) breaks up a pass to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) during the second half at New Era Field. Buffalo beats Cleveland 33 to 13. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) breaks up a pass to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) during the second half at New Era Field. Buffalo beats Cleveland 33 to 13. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Browns are just two games away from an 0-16 season after losing on Sunday to the Buffalo Bills in a game that was never really close.

The Cleveland Browns moved one step closer to the ultimate goal on Sunday, dropping a 33-13 decision to the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field.

The defeat dropped the Browns to 0-14 on the season, equaling the mark set by the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 1980 New Orleans Saints for the second-worst start to an NFL season. The Browns have also lost 17 consecutive games over the past two seasons, tying the St. Louis Rams and Houston Oilers for the sixth-longest losing streak in NFL history. (h/t to ESPN for both of those sobering stats.)

53. 33. 16. Final. 13

The final stats were as bad as the final score would indicate, as the Browns:

  • gave up 451 yards of total offense;
  • 280 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns and 7.0 yards per carry;
  • saw LeSean McCoy rush for a season-high 153 yards and two touchdowns;
  • could only must 269 yards of total offense, a number that included 90 yards total in the first half;
  • were just three-of-11 on third down; and,
  • ran the ball just 21 times despite averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

In a nutshell, it really wasn’t anything we haven’t seen in the prior 13 weeks, other than things are getting progressively worse, especially now that Robert Griffin III is back in as the team’s starting quarterback.

Dating back to the game against the Dallas Cowboys, the Browns are averaging just 10.3 points per game and Griffin has done nothing to reverse that trend in his two starts as he has led the Browns to 10 and 13 points.

Griffin has now led 33 offensive drives in his three starts, with 16 of those drives ending in punts. The Browns have scored 33 total points in his starts and averaged 270 yards of offense. Griffin has also taken 11 sacks.

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It was clear from the beginning of the season and has become more and more evident every time he takes the field that Griffin is not the answer for the Browns ongoing quarterback situation.

Fourteen weeks into the season and there just isn’t much left to say about the Browns at this point – at least when it comes to the actual games.

The record is bad, but everyone knew that was going to be the case coming into the season. The year has always been about evaluating the roster and getting the abundance of first- and second-year players experience. So while 0-14 is tough to take, the big-picture plan is progressing along nicely.

Of course, with the San Francisco 49ers refusing to win a second game, and holding the tie breaker if both the Browns and 49ers finish the year at 1-15, achieving the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft may just take an 0-16 effort on the part of the Browns.

That is a hard reality, especially for a fan base exhausted by all the losing.  But with Griffin running the offense and the defense unable to keep the opposing team out of the end zone, it is very easy to see 0-16 coming true.

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