Cleveland Browns: A common thread in latest heartbreaking loss

The short-handed Cleveland Browns left it all out on the field against the Las Vegas Raiders Monday night. Unfortunately, it was just not enough. Where did they fall short?

The Cleveland Brownswere dealt their most unfavorable hand of the season coming into their matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.

At one point during the lead up, the Browns were down 25 players due to Covid protocols. The decimation of their roster did not alter the reality of the situation, the Browns were in a true must-win scenario.

The NFL stepped in, after the plane had hit the mountain, and mercifully moved the game back two days due to the sheer number of covid positive players and an absolute avalanche of public outrage. The league, along with the NFLPA, made some alterations to their Covid protocols that would potentially allow for vaccinated asymptomatic players to return quicker with a single negative test.

Through the newly revised protocols, the Browns had three players (Takk McKinley, Wyatt Teller, and John Johnson III) test out early. When all was said and done, the Browns were down eight total starters.

Find a way, became a rallying cry for the team, fans, and analysts. Ugly wins that were not good enough for fans in the weeks prior would be warmly received given the current climate of the team and the playoff race in general.

The effort the Browns gave against the Raiders was nothing short of valiant. The players that were available left it all on the field and wore their hearts on their sleeves. However, in a result orientated business, the Browns were, at the end of the day, unable to find a way.

Where did Cleveland Browns fall short?

Where did the team fall short? Unfortunately, it was in the all too familiar places. The offense became way too conservative with a late fourth quarter lead, the special teams were unable to flip the field with their final punt, and the defense was unable to get the final stop when they had to have it.

Sound familiar? Well, it should. These constant threads through the Browns 2021 campaign have plagued this team numerous times throughout the season. Those specific chain of events have unfortunately became this team’s calling card. Uncomplimentary football at the most inopportune time.

Even though the cast of characters was altered against the Raiders, from the players on the field to the coaches calling the shots, the Browns for whatever reason played to not lose as opposed to seizing victory. When you hear analysts and pundits talk about learning how to win, this is what they are referring to.

Until Cleveland learns how to overcome themselves in the waning minutes of a game, they will never realize their full potential.

Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, the 2021 Cleveland Browns have left plenty of meat on the bone.