4 Frustrating takeaways from Cleveland Browns win over Baltimore
By Greg Newland
![Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off the field following an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns 6](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F17346793-850x560-d1d767e8a30150c19bea4ec4accf531731a20d1382b59296fbda009a8e726db4.jpg "Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off the field following an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns 6")
The Cleveland Browns came away with an ugly divisional win on Sunday. A win is a win in the NFL, but there were a few frustrating takeaways.
At the end of the day, the Cleveland Browns not only got a win on Sunday, but they also got a divisional win and will wake up on Monday in second place of the AFC North. So not only did your Cleveland Browns win, the Ravens (obviously), Steelers, and Bengals all lost. Wow, a perfect NFL Sunday, almost.
The Browns may have left with a 24-22 victory on Sunday, but it was far from perfect. I truly am just thrilled to get a divisional win at this point in the season. Cleveland has been playing poorly the last three weeks, so seeing 24 points in the first half was great.
However, this team gave up a late touchdown drive with a backup quarterback and then allowed them to get an onside kick to have a chance to kick a game-winning field goal. When that ball bounced off Andy Janovich and the Ravens recovered it, I thought I’d have a new all-time great story on how the Browns blew a game.
As I mentioned before, a win is a win, but this one was certainly ugly and there are some frustrating takeaways.
Cleveland Browns Frustration No. 4 – Special Team’s Struggles
The special team’s coordinator, Mike Priefer has some serious questions to answer. Not only did Demetric Felton fumble two attempted punt returns, but Chase McLaughlin also missed another short (41-yard) field goal.
On top of that, the Browns allowed the Ravens to recover an onside in the fourth quarter that I was certain was going to allow them to win the game.
It’s so easy to overlook the special team’s units, but this is a group that must step up if the Browns want to be contenders in the AFC. Dustin Colquitt was signed on Thursday to punt with Jamie Gillan on the COVID list and performed just fine. The continued struggles and getting frustrating.