Cleveland Browns: Their taste of reality

The Cleveland Browns were riding high heading into their Week 6 matchup with the Chargers but got a dose of reality as their lack of depth haunted them

Let’s get this out of the way. Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers was the first game the Cleveland Browns truly missed Josh Gordon.

The Browns have been bit by the injury bug at wide receiver after losing Derrick Willies last week due to fracturing his collarbone in practice, and Rod Streater on Sunday with a neck fracture.

The Chargers secondary did a great job of taking advantage of the Browns battered wideouts by not allowing separation and causing Baker Mayfield to hold on to the ball, taking multiple sacks throughout the game.

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Mayfield continues to impress in his post-game press conferences, shouldering the blame on Sunday when he said he was at fault and that he would work to improve.

Some Browns fans, unfortunately, have done a great job by not abandoning ship and second guessing Mayfield, despite his maturity as a rookie. We have to keep in mind he is still a rookie, and this is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.

As for the game itself, here’s my take on it all:

Another Browns game and another blown call. Chargers left tackle Russell Okung committed a blatant false start that was missed by the refs. In return, Phillip Rivers connected with Tyrell Williams on a long touchdown pass, which was the momentum changer in the game.

Melvin Gordon had a big day, as he rushed 18 times for 132 yards and three touchdowns, confirming the Browns struggles to stop the run. The Browns just couldn’t contain the big plays from happening, and that was evident in Keenan Allen and Melvin Gordon, and even backup running back Austin Ekeler, who rushed seven times for 60 yards.

The Browns offense were stagnant for pretty much all of Sunday, as their only points came from two Greg Joseph field goals, with a long of 33 yards and a touchdown from tight end David Njoku. He caught seven passes for 55 yards and the late score.

The leading receiver for the Browns was someone not named Jarvis Landry, instead it was the seventh-round draft pick Damion Ratley. Ratley had no receptions coming into the game, and he finished the day with six catches for 82 yards.

The 38-14 loss was a tough loss after a big win a week ago. But there were some positives to take away from this game. Jabrill Peppers in the return game was a bright spot, as he had four punt returns for 51 yards and a long of 33. He also had three kick returns for 71 yards and a long of 27.

Next. Don’t blame the refs, blame the Browns. dark

Duke Johnson seems to have gotten back on track. With the shortage of wide-outs he caught, four passes for 73 yards, as well as adding 36 yards on the ground on two carries. Next week, the Browns match-up against the Buccaneers, which should prove to be a bounce back day at the office for Mayfield with a below average Tampa Bay secondary.

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