The Browns Are Just A Big Fuckin' Bummer

The Cleveland Browns started their night off by burning a timeout before the first play from scrimmage. After they forced the Ravens to punt, two players attempted to field that kick. It got better, briefly, but the Browns started their evening off by falling all over themselves and they never really stopped, falling to 0-10 on the season. They’re now circling the drain and a winless season seems like a genuine possibility.

The Browns had an honest-to-God 7-3 lead in the second quarter, and they held a 7-6 advantage going into halftime before it all went to shit. Cody Kessler made the only good play for the Browns on the night, so of course, Hue Jackson pulled him when he was 11-for-18 for Josh McCown. Kessler was not injured, and yet he was replaced by a guy who immediately did this.

Then this.

McCown also got sacked thrice, fumbled the ball twice, and ended with as many turnover and sacks as completions. There was no logical reason to play McCown unless Cleveland is now just openly tanking.

The Browns had the ball on their own one-yard line in the fourth quarter, and their drive was perfectly indicative of their entire second half. First, Isaiah Crowell ran straight into the Ravens line, initially appearing to surrender a safety. John Harbaugh gleefully challenged the no-safety ruling, but it stood. McCown’s next pass was tipped and very easily could have been a very short pick-six. On third down, McCown had another pass tipped. The Browns finally keeled over and punted, lucky that they didn’t give up points. Had Joe Flacco not tossed two dumb interceptions, the Ravens would have won by more than three touchdowns.

According to ESPN’s predictions, tonight’s game was one of the contests Cleveland was least likely to win. They don’t have better than a 35 percent chance to beat anyone, per ESPN’s calculations. Their best chance will come at home against the Bengals in Week 14 (right after their bye week), but the AFC North is a morass of mediocrity and Cincinnati is not about to roll over. They have six games left to get a win, and no matter how many guarantees their players make, it’s going to be an uphill slog. Lest we forget, the last QB to win a game for the Browns is still Johnny Manziel.