Cleveland Browns loss to Rams continues to raise flags

The Cleveland Browns lost their Week 3 clash against the Los Angeles Rams 20-13. In the aftermath, there are many areas to assign blame. But I want to look at an area that is becoming a recurring theme: penalties.

The Cleveland Browns loss to the Los Angeles Rams gave fans many areas they could have pointed at if they were looking to assign blame. From play-calling, to time management, to individual performances, there are no shortages of suspects.

But penalties were also on display on Sunday night and they had a significant impact on the game. Although the Browns were “only” penalized eight times for 60 yards, almost every flag seemed like a dagger in stopping the Browns momentum.

On the Browns initial drive, they started off with a quick 10-yard pass from Baker Mayfield to Jarvis Landry. They followed it up with an off-tackle run by Nick Chubb. However, what started out as a crisp drive turned into a comedy of errors. The rest of the drive included not one, not two, but three penalties. And the penalties came on consecutive plays. It started with right tackle Justin McCray being called for being an ineligible man downfield. Given the nature of the play, and McCray being one of many unexpected starters, the penalty was understandable.

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After that the Browns had a false start on left tackle Greg Robinson, followed by an illegal shift on wide receiver Damion Ratley. What started out as a promising drive ended in the Browns gaining a net two yards and punting.

Later in the first quarter, the Browns started what was their best drive of the night. The offense looked like the offense we had become accustomed to at the end of last year. But as the first quarter turned into the second quarter, a key penalty would stall another drive. This time, Pharaoh Brown committed a needless pass interference penalty. Cris Collinsworth, part of NBC’s broadcast team, immediately pointed out Brown’s penalty as being due to “a lack of experience.”

In the third quarter, Chubb had a touchdown run called back because of another illegal shift, this one on Odell Beckham Jr. Some would say that this penalty and Brown’s penalty didn’t hurt the Browns. After Brown’s penalty, the Browns did manage a field goal. And after Beckham was penalized, the Browns still got their touchdown.

But that’s not my point. An effective offense has to be sustainable. On far too many drives this season, the Cleveland Browns are finding themselves behind the chains. Now fortunately, the Browns have some players who, perhaps, give them a better than average chance of overcoming a penalty. But an offense that is regularly relying on converting second- or third-and-long is not sustainable. This is particularly true when they are playing a team like the Rams who feast on teams who are in obvious passing situations.

Not to be outdone, the defense committed a foolish unnecessary roughness on the drive that led to the Rams last field goal. Although there was a holding call that was declined, the free 15 yards that the Rams received were valuable, particularly when kicker Greg Zuerlein would have missed the kick from five yards further out.

In fairness, the Rams were also flagged seven times for 50 yards. Many of their penalties played a large role in allowing the Browns defense to get off the field. They also gave the offense a chance to win the game in the final minutes.

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But the Browns didn’t win. Being 1-2 isn’t a reason to panic, but it’s also not where the Cleveland Browns, or many of their fans expected to be. The road does not get any easier over the next several weeks. If the Browns want to stay within striking range of the playoffs, they have to clean up the penalties.

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