Cleveland Browns: Week 2 Studs and duds after the tough loss

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – SEPTEMBER 16: Zane Gonzalez #2 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after missing the extra point during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Dud: Zane Gonzalez, Kicker

It almost feels like piling on because the Browns will be moving on from kicker Zane Gonzalez, but he can’t be excluded from this list. He was huge in the loss for the Browns and not in a good way. Gonzalez missed two extra points and two field goals. That stings in a three-point loss.

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Yes, kickers will miss, it’s bound to happen. Will Lutz missed one this week for the Saints and even Steelers kicker Chris Boswell whiffed on a try in overtime that could have beat the Browns in Week 1. It was happening around the league too as the Vikings and Packers tied after Daniel Carlson missed a try that could have beat the Packers.

But Gonzalez just let it all get inside his head. The second-year kicker lost his confidence and it’s hard to tell when it happened. Maybe it was when his overtime kick was blocked in Week 1 after he sent it out with a low trajectory. Maybe it was the first miss Sunday.

Whatever it was, when he trotted out there for the 52-yard try and the Browns down by three, there seemed to be no way it was going in. The debate started before he hit the field about whether or not they should be trying for a pass to the end zone instead.

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