Cleveland Browns: Josh Gordon can only do so much to help this team win
Josh Gordon had a nice return on Sunday, but the Cleveland Browns won’t pick up a win just because he is back on the field.
Cleveland Browns fans were given a reason to watch on Sunday when Josh Gordon made his return to the field for his first game in three years.
It’s too bad he couldn’t come back to a better team.
The Browns fell by the score of 19-10 against the Los Angeles Chargers, even though Gordon was on the field to provide a spark to the offense. The problem is he needs someone to get him the ball.
Gordon was targeted 11 times but only caught four passes from DeShone Kizer, as most of those seven misconnections were either severely overthrown or underthrown. Gordon was never given a shot to make a play.
He did manage to pick up 85 yards on his four catches, but he could have had a much bigger day if Kizer could put the receiver in a position to make plays. The potential for a big day is nice to have on the field after 11 games without a playmaker on the outside, but the result in Los Angeles shows the painful reality faced in the final four games of this winless season.
It is going to take much more than a big game from Gordon to pick up that first victory. Not only does Kizer have to get him the ball accurately, but Hue Jackson has to call a great game as well. He may want to consider not running Gordon on fly routes the whole game so he can avoid a similar scene to wear Gordon was gassed in the fourth quarter after Kizer took a mind-blowing sack.
The fact the Browns have to play a complete game to win is no secret, but Gordon’s return offered a glimmer of hope that he could return and Kizer and him would link up for 200 yards and end the plans for a certain January parade. Gordon returned and did his job, but Kizer still showed the same problems that he has displayed all season.
The Browns haven’t scored more than 28 points in any game this season, and have scored 16 or less in the past three games. Even when the defense plays a solid game, it has been hard to imagine the offense mounting a comeback in any of the 12 losses.
Gordon gives Kizer the weapon he has been missing all season, but his presence won’t be enough to make the ultimate difference. It will be up to Kizer to be more accurate and avoid the major mistakes he seems to make every week.
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It is also on Hue Jackson to call a great game and avoid situations where Duke Johnson and David Njoku barely get any touches. That happening alone would be a Christmas miracle.