Cleveland Browns instant reactions: Divisional Round comeback falls short

The Cleveland Browns fell behind early but almost made a spectacular comeback at the end of the game.

Cleveland came into the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday afternoon that nobody thought they could win. Early on, it looked like there was good reason for people to doubt the Browns. Kansas City got up early and they were able to hold on late to secure the game.
The game showed increased progression by quarterback Baker Mayfield who finally figured out his quarterback sneak woes. One of the problems faced by the Browns was the lack of speed on both offense and defense.

On defense, the team was overly concerned about the Chiefs’ wide receivers and their speed. They were so concerned with getting beat deep they allowed the middle and short routes to be open — all day long. The Chiefs meticulously tore apart the defense early exploiting open windows in zones.

As for their play on offense, the Cleveland Browns really missed Odell Beckham Jr. Without a deep threat, the Chiefs were able to play close to the line of scrimmage. The Browns wide receivers were unable to get separation vs man coverage, which proved to be their downfall — especially on their final offensive possession of the game.

In all, this game showed that the Browns are built to be a winner, even if everyone wants them to be the same old Browns. But they are not yet a Super Bowl team. To get there they will need a lot more team speed. Here is a drive summary for the offense and defense.