Tough lesson to learn: Browns look to build on loss in thriller
CLEVELAND — On their way to likely ending the NFL’s current longest playoff drought, the Browns are learning lessons every week.
Some of them are tougher than others. Monday’swas: don’t shrink. While showing resilience, toughness, grit, and all the other coaching cliches, against the Ravens in a 47-42 loss that may have been the league’s best game of 2020 — Ravens coach John Harbaugh overstated that it was “one of the greatest games in history”— theBrowns failed to rise to the moment.
“Iwould hopewe are better the next timewe are in that situation,” coachKevin Stefanski said.
The Browns couldn’t stop Lamar Jackson in the first half or again when the league’s reigning MVP returned after being sidelined with cramps. He threw a touchdownona fourth-downplay and drove the Ravens into Justin Tucker’s range for a 55-yard field goal with 2 seconds left.
Jackson’s heroics kept the Ravens (8-5) in the playoff picture while denying the Browns (9-4) a 10th win that would have given them their best record after 13 games since 1969.
More importantly, the loss showed the Browns that they still aren’t among the AFC’s elite. Maybe one day, but not yet. “I do not look at it as necessary,” Stefanski said, disputing the loss as an inevitable growing pain for a young team. “There are plays that have to be made. If you are going to try and go win a game versus a good football team, you are going to have to gomake a few plays.
“I can help with better calls. All of that, we all have to be a little better.”
But there were positive signs, the most significant being quarterback BakerMayfield’s continued growth.
Mayfield shook off his first interception after 187 straight passes without one and rallied the Browns from a 14-point deficit to briefly take the lead.
On three consecutive touchdown drives, Mayfield completed 11 of 14passes withtwoTDs— and he ran for the other, punctuating his scorewitha baseball slide in the end zone before rifling the ball off a nearby retainingwall.
“Baker is obviously playing at a high level,” Stefanski said. “He does not lack confidence, andI say that in a goodway. That is who he has always been, which is great. I think what you are seeing is the comfort level is certainly growing.”
“That also goes back to all of the work he puts into this. He is a get-in- early, stay-late type of player, grinds on it and gets extra work out on the practice field.”
What’sworking: Offensively, the Browns can do damage by ground or air. With Stefanski blending his running game and passing attack, the Browns rolled up 493 yards andpickedup33 firstdowns. They eclipsed 40 points for the second straight game, the first time a Browns team has done that since 1968. Stefanski wasn’t satisfied. “I just felt there were a few times wherewe got in our ownway, and that is really not us,” he said. “We have to play a clean game for 60 minutes.”
What needs help: The battered secondary was again guilty of giving up big plays at the worst possible times. Jackson found soft spots in the Browns’ zone, and the Browns were unable to get the Ravens’ evasiveQB on the ground when they had chances.
Stock up: Mayfield is quieting his critics weekly. For the second straight game, he played well against a Super Bowl contender, finishing with season highs in completions (28) and yards (343). Mayfield has eight TD passes and the one pick in his last three games. There’s still lotsof roomfor improvement, but he’s seeing the entire field and when he’s in trouble, Mayfield throws the ball away.
Stockdown: KickerCodyParkey’s missed field goal and extra point were critical — four points in what was a three-point loss until the Browns attempted a series of laterals in the final seconds that resulted in a Baltimore safety — and a bad beat for gamblers who took the Browns and the points. Stefanski dismissed that Parkey had a “foggy” look in his eyes before the kicks. He’s 17 of 20 on field-goal attempts and 37 of 39 on PATs. “He missed a couple of kicks,” Stefanski said. “He came backandmadeonewherewewere counting on him. He knows that.”
Injured: Safety Andrew Sendejo suffered a concussion when he collided with Ravens running backJ.K. Dobbinsona late 2-point conversion. Stefanski’s hopeful that starting cornerback Denzel Ward (calf ) will practice this week after missing three games. He’s also optimistic about tight end Austin Hooper (neck) and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring) returning.
Key number: 7 — The Browns fumbled seven times and didn’t lose any. WR Rashard Higgins was stripped on consecutive plays in the first half — he got one back and the otherwent out of bounds.
What’snext: NewYork, NewYork. Well, actually New Jersey, New Jersey. The Browns, who are 3-0 against the NFC East, will face the Giants (5-8) on Sunday night before visiting the winless Jets (0-13) on Dec. 27.