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5 biggest Cleveland Browns ‘what if’ moments since 2013

By Greg Newland

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 27: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to their game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 27, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 27: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to their game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 27, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
September 30, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Carlos Hyde (34) runs against Oakland Raiders defensive back Rashaan Melvin (22) during the first quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Browns “what if” moment No. 4: Oakland Raiders missed call

The 2018 season was certainly an interesting one. After an 0-16 season the year prior, general manager John Dorsey added a ton of talent including a quarterback in Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick. The team started just 1-1-1, with Mayfield taking over in Week 3 and getting the team their first win since the end of the 2016 season.

Truthfully, the Browns should have ended Week 3 with a 3-0 record. They had a late interception vs. the Steelers and should have closed, and they gave up a big lead to the Saints in Week 2. But the biggest “what if” of the season was in week four vs. the Oakland Raiders.

After squandering a big lead, the Browns were in the final phases of closing out the game when Carlos Hyde rushed for what appeared to be a first down at the end of the fourth quarter that would have all but ended the game.

After review, the original first down call was overturned, and the Browns were forced to punt. The rest is history, the Browns gave up a touchdown, a two-point conversion, and ended up losing by 3 in overtime.

Cleveland was now 1-2-1 and easily could have been 4-0. What hurts the most, having a shot at the playoffs in Week 16, knowing that you blew three games at the beginning of the season.

Had the refs not got the call wrong, the Browns would have won that game and likely would have made the playoffs in 2018.

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