Cleveland Browns: Takeaways from the Week 10 loss in Detroit

The Cleveland Browns had a shot to beat the Detroit Lions, but did just enough to lose the game. Here is what stood out from the latest loss.

The Cleveland Browns are going to give me an ulcer. I know I’m not the only one.

From a 10-0 lead to a 38-24 loss, the Browns found more ways to beat themselves as the team now drops to 0-9 for the second straight season.

The same storylines continue to emerge each week, but this latest loss did result in more positives to talk about. We don’t want to hop on the moral victory train, but DeShone Kizer played well and the Browns made a statement running the ball, at least in the first three quarters.

Mistakes continue to be the norm and it is hard to feel any genuine excitement when the team actually takes a lead, because we have seen a familiar final result since the beginning of last season.

Let’s take a look at three things that stand out a day after the latest loss.

1. The worst call of all time

DeShone Kizer played a great game on Sunday. He went 21/37 for 232 yards and a touchdown, although he did add a late interception.

But the one play that stands out from Kizer came right before the end of the half, when he decided to call a quarterback sneak from the Detroit 2-yard line with 15 seconds left on the clock and no timeouts remaining.

Naturally, he didn’t make it in and the half expired, wasting a 10-play, 73-yard drive. The Browns went into the half down 17-10.

It came out after the game that Kizer made this call on his own, and that was made clear during the game when Hue Jackson couldn’t believe what he saw his quarterback do.

Fans are expecting turnovers from Kizer throughout the season, but he cannot make any more bonehead calls like that ever again. Things like that are inexcusable, and I’m sure he is aware of that now.

2. A quarter of confusing calls

The Browns entered the fourth quarter tied at 24-24, but the Lions took the lead early on to make it 31-24. At this point, Cody Kessler was in at quarterback as Kizer was getting his ribs checked out after taking a big hit.

Trailing by seven with the backup quarterback in seems like a recipe to run the ball. Especially when the backs combined for 144 yards on the day. Alas, Hue had other plans.

This just doesn’t make logical sense. At this point I’m convinced Isaiah Crowell is purposely being iced out, because there is no excuse for him finishing the day with just 16 carries in such a close game.

It seems running the ball is simply never going to be a major part of Hue’s gameplan, so we just have to be at peace with that. Or be incredibly angry, that’s an option too.

3. Worst record in football

Sunday’s loss dropped the Browns to 0-9 this season, which is now good enough for the worst record in the NFL.

The San Francisco 49ers got their first win with a victory over the New York Giants, settling the Browns in atop the 2018 draft order. This may excite Sashi Brown, as the Houston Texans are free-falling and setting up the Browns with two top ten picks, but it is incredibly frustrating to watch on Sundays.

Even a win or two at this point in the season would mean fans have had something to smile about, but even that seems like too much to ask.

Next: Bye week DPD Podcast

The attention now turns to next Sunday, as the 6-3 Jacksonville Jaguars come to town on what is supposed to be an awful day in terms of weather. Should be a fun one.