Cleveland Browns studs and duds from horrible Week 16 loss
By Greg Newland
Dud: Offensive Line
The Browns came into this game only giving up 17 sacks the entire season, which was third-best in the NFL. But boy did they miss Jedrick Wills, Chris Hubbard, and Wyatt Teller on Sunday. Not only was Baker Mayfield under a ton of pressure, but there were also no holes for the Browns running backs. On Sunday the Browns gave up 4 total sacks and had Mayfield running around all day.
On many plays, Nick Chubb was getting hit behind the line of scrimmage and working like crazy just to avoid a negative play. The excuse that the Jets were focusing on the run doesn’t work for me. Teams all year have known the Browns want to run the ball, and they still haven’t been able to stop it.
I can’t allow the “two players were out” excuse either. This is the NFL and it must be the “next man up” mentality. Cleveland needed the offensive line more than any game this season, and they let the team down. Everyone knows that Mayfield struggles to throw when he is under pressure. When you allow pressure and take away his run game, it is a recipe for disaster.
Offensive line coach Bill Callahan was dealt a crappy hand in week 16 with the last second scratch of Wills. Expect him to study the tape and make major adjustments for their final regular-season game vs. the Steelers. A game that the team now must win.