Browns Week 7 studs and duds: Late mistakes dampen strong effort

Stud: Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver

Up 7-3, the Browns were able to extend their lead to 10-7 thanks to a five-play, 52-yard drive on their second possession. However, it should have been even better than this. The very first play of the drive was a 55-yard pass from Jacoby Brissett to Amari Cooper. A penalty and sack forced them back but Cade York still hit a 41-yard field goal thanks to the deep play from Cooper setting them up.

Later in the first half, he put them on the edge of field goal range as they were down 13-10. This time, Cooper made a great sideline catch for eight yards and then drew a pass interference on Marcus Peters to move it to the Baltimore 40. Again, self-inflicted mistakes cost the Browns as they lost 10 yards due to two sacks on the ensuing plays and had to punt.

Cooper was hit with a pass interference late that led to the loss, but that was a questionable call and shouldn’t take away from his strong outing.

Dud: Team Chemistry

Following the loss, there was some shouting heard from the locker room and while head coach Kevin Stefanski can say it’s “normal,” it’s really not. This team has been a mess all season. From having the earliest ever “player’s only meeting” in the history of every major sport, they’ve evolved into finger-pointing and calling out each other for a lack of effort.

None of this is normal and it’s fair to ask if Stefanski has lost control of this locker room. Of course, winning cures everything but if they can never get on the same page, will that ever happen?