Cleveland Browns: Instant reactions to Week 15 loss
The Defense forgot to get on the plane
The Cleveland Browns defense could not get a stop if their lives depended on it, on Sunday. The Cardinals stayed one step ahead of Steve Wilks’ unit all day long. Their inability to stop the run was way too much for them to overcome. The defensive ends did not set the edge at all on Sunday, and the Cardinals exploited that all afternoon.
Kenyon Drake would still be running if the game didn’t end. The Browns were not going to come up with the answer to that Cardinals equation. Joe Schobert fought the good fight, but it appeared as if he was all alone on Sunday.
Drake, who was buried on the Miami Dolphins depth chart before being traded, had four rushing touchdowns on the day. The Browns gave a valiant effort today…of getting Drake put in the Pro Bowl.
The story through the air wasn’t much different. The Browns were giving Kyler Murray easy money throws all day. Without any pressure to contend with, Murray was able to execute long hand-offs to Kirk, Byrd, and Fitzgerald.
Murray out dueled Baker Mayfield on the day, and the stats would have reflected that if were not for a garbage-time drive for the Browns. The rookie signal-caller stayed poised in the pocket and used his legs to keep the Cardinals ahead of the sticks. The Browns defense never came up with an answer for Murray.
Next. Cleveland Browns: Sticking with Freddie Kitchens right move?. dark
It’s going to be a hard sell to bring Steve Wilks back, even if Freddie keeps his job, he may be asked to retool his staff. Wilks would most likely be the first to see the chopping block.