Cleveland Browns: Studs and duds in fate-sealing Week 17 loss

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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 29: Carlos Dunlap #96 of the Cincinnati Bengals reaches to make the sack on Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at Paul Brown Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Dud: Browns offensive line

After an opening drive where the Browns moved right down the field, the offensive line began to falter on their second drive. On that first drive, the o-line paved the way for Nick Chubb to gain 10 yards on two runs and then Baker Mayfield threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Damion Ratley.

This was followed up with a three-and-out, which was about as ugly as you could imagine. The first play was blown up as the Bengals defensive line pressured Mayfield who scrambled for all he could get. The play ended in a loss of a yard, which was credited as a sack for Carlos Dunlap.

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The following two plays were eerily similar as Mayfield again had to run for his life as soon as he got the ball. He avoided a sack on both plays as he had to just throw the ball out of bounds as he gave way to the punting team.

Near the end of the first quarter, they again showed some problems on three-straight plays. First was a run from Kareem Hunt, who broke a couple of tackles in the backfield and had to fight to get closer to the line of scrimmage. It went for a one-yard loss but could have been worse if not for Hunt’s talent.

The very next play was nearly a pick as Mayfield tried to escape pressure again. Greg Robinson whiffed on his block and No. 6 dumped the ball to Hunt who wasn’t expecting it. They avoided disaster but didn’t do anything on the 3rd-and-11.

On that play, Mayfield was pressured again and gained 9-yards on a scramble. It ended up being called back though as Robinson was flagged for holding and that led to a 3rd-and-21 — which unsurprisingly ended with Jamie Gillan coming on to punt it away again.

The line also failed them again when they were down 20-7 and in the red zone. On a third-down play, Carl Lawson beat Robinson and Germaine Pratt ran in untouched to drop Mayfield and force a field goal.

Protection didn’t get better later in the game either as Mayfield was sacked twice in the fourth quarter while facing a goal-to-go situation and trailing 30-16. The young quarterback had moved them to the five-yard line with his scrambling but then was facing a 4th-and-goal from the 20.

Mayfield bailed the team out with an insane touchdown pass to Odell Beckham, Jr. but they wouldn’t have needed such a remarkable play had the line been better.

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