Browns studs and duds: Deshaun Watson, Kevin Stefanski struggle in the cold

The cold weather was a problem for the Cleveland Browns as Kevin Stefanski and Deshaun Watson both wind up as duds in a Week 16 loss

Following a 10-0 start, the Cleveland Browns fell apart as they surrendered 17 unanswered points in a loss to the New Orleans Saints.

While it would have been a miracle for them to make the postseason due to all that needed to happen, the Browns’ loss dropped them to 6-9 on the year and mathematically eliminates them from the playoffs.

Here, we look back at their latest defeat and highlight some of the studs and duds.

Stud: Jerome Ford, Running Back/Kick Returner

Jerome Ford has been getting his crack at returning kicks this season and continues to shine. He started the game off with a 37-yard return which gave Cleveland the ball at the 40.

Following a 17-point run by the Saints, he again gave them good field position, running it back 33 yards to the 41. The offense failed to do anything with the ball either time but he continues to make good decisions and pick up chunks of yardage in the return game.

Dud: John Johnson III, Safety

Missed tackles have been the theme this season for John Johnson III and he had an ugly one in the first quarter. On first and 10 from their own 45, Andy Dalton his Rashid Shaheed, and Johnson was in a position to make a tackle but slowed down and slid, going right past Shaheed.

That allowed Shaheed to keep running and he picked up 16 yards before Reggie Ragland pushed him out of bounds at the Cleveland 39. The defense held but Johnson’s miss nearly put them in scoring range.

Johnson wasn’t a huge factor throughout the game and in a low-scoring affair, it would have been nice to see their high-priced safety make a play.