Cleveland Browns: Studs and duds from Week 15 meltdown

Dud: Freddie Kitchens

This team has straight given up on their head coach. Just hours before the Browns took the field, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network said the plan was to retain Freddie Kitchens in 2020 — barring a breakdown in the final three games.

Kitchens didn’t need three games to show they’re falling apart as he did that on Sunday.

As has often been the case this season, Cleveland came out looking flat. They allowed the Cardinals to jump out to a 14-0 lead and while they started to chip away at the lead, it never felt as though they were truly getting back into the game.

That’s because they continually shot themselves in the foot. Whether it was a penalty, an interception, fumble, or a missed field goal, the Browns kept making blunder after blunder.

And it also became clear the players are putting the blame on Kitchens and his questionable play-calling. That was evident when Jarvis Landry got into the face of Kitchens on the sideline.

As far as sideline tantrums go, this one was mild. Still, it was a terrible look for a team that’s in the midst of a complete meltdown.

And it could spell doom for Kitchens.

Not long after this interaction, Landry and OBJ were both seen on the sidelines looking frustrated. The fact that they have so many weapons and can’t get the offense rolling is a direct reflection on Freddie.

He has yet to show he can learn from his mistakes and has not been willing to split up some of his duties — such as play-calling — in order to try and find something that will work.

At this point, it seems hard to look at that Rapoport story and not wonder if things have changed since he broke that news.