Cleveland Browns: Week 7 disappointment instant reactions

Coming into week seven, the Cleveland Browns needed to find themselves again. After a 38-14 stomping at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers, the Browns traveled down to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers but fell 26-23.

This was a game that the Cleveland Browns were supposed to win. Tampa Bay, coming off the heels of their third straight loss, was far gone from the Fitzmagic days of September.

The Browns needed to find their defensive identity again after getting smacked in the face by the Chargers. This was a game that the Cleveland Browns were supposed to win. Let’s get some instant reactions.

Horribly Undisciplined

Let’s nip this one in the bud: the Cleveland Browns are, maybe, the most undisciplined team in the league. And this is a league that includes the Oakland Raiders, who are perpetually one of the most penalized teams in the league. Penalties killed the Cleveland Browns in this game, and unlike other weeks, they only have themselves to blame.

More from Browns News

• How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
• Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
• 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
• Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
• 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target

The referees, who have pretty blatantly scorned the Browns in recent weeks, had no choice but to make their calls. The Browns constantly jumped offsides, found themselves holding on the offensive line, and various other yellow flags.

This comes down to coaching; the Browns are terribly undisciplined, and Hue Jackson, Todd Haley, and Gregg Williams are to blame. The coaching cost them, as this was a game that the Cleveland Browns were supposed to win.

Defense is Opportunistic, but Prone to Mistakes

Cleveland’s defense is a bit of a mystery. On one play, they’ll be forcing a turnover and swarming the quarterback. On other plays, they feel like the Browns of years past, giving up yards and points way too easily. That Jekyll and Hyde dynamic shone through in this game, and of course, both helped and hindered the Browns.

On back to back drives, the Browns caused a Buccaneer fumble, and then Christian Kirksey intercepted James Winston. The Browns defense can be suffocating, but their defense can be a cruel mistress. Giving up a fourth down conversion to the Bucs’ passing attack could very well be what killed the Browns in this game. Cleveland forced three turnovers, but still gave up too many points. This was a game that the Cleveland Browns were supposed to win.

Making Plays When It Counts

I have reamed the Cleveland Browns for weeks about a lack of playmakers on offense. Jarvis Landry is fine, but it’s hard to anoint him as a true number one receiver. And yet, he made me eat crow today, getting in for a late touchdown to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

Baker Mayfield was pinpoint accurate near the end of the game and showed flashes of the franchise quarterback we know he can be.

The Browns still have a massive need at receiver, though. The running back situation is fine, the quarterback situation looks the best it has in nearly two decades. David Njoku needs work but shows flashes, and the Browns’ offensive line isn’t all that great.

Near the end, it felt like this was a game that the Cleveland Browns were supposed to win. But after a Jabrill Peppers fumble, the Browns coughed this one up to the Buccaneers on an overtime field goal.