3 Takeaways from Browns' Week 12 Loss vs. Broncos

The Cleveland Browns experienced a nightmare of a game against the Denver Broncos in Week 12. The Broncos got off to a fast start while the Browns did not. Cleveland lost another quarterback to injury and made far too many mistakes to close out what, at times, looked like a winnable game.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson's first career touchdown pass pulled Cleveland within two points in the third quarter, but Amari Cooper dropped what would have been a game-tying conversion. The Browns had several drops and finished with two turnovers and eight penalties.

When Thompson-Robinson left the game late in the third, the Broncos ran away to a 29-12 victory. The Browns fall to 7-4 in a tight wild-card race and must scramble for answers heading into next's weeks game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Defensive Aggressiveness Works Against Browns Early

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Broncos QB runs against the Cleveland Browns in Week 12

The Browns knew that if they were going to upset the surging Broncos in Denver, they would have to have a dominant performance by their defense. They've gotten plenty of those this season, including in last week's 13-10 win over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, the Broncos came out with a strong recipe for success against Jim Schwartz's aggressive scheme. Denver relied on the mobility of Russell Wilson, run-pass-options, screens and traps to use the Browns' aggressiveness against them.

It worked to near-perfection early, as the Broncos found the end zone on two of their first three drives. They had a third end in Cleveland territory, when Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah stripped Wilson at the end of a run.

Wilson finished the first half with 37 rushing yards and a score, and the Broncos finished with 101 rushing yards as a team. That left Cleveland chasing Denver in the second half, and while the Browns threatened to make a game of it, they made too many mistakes down the stretch to ever recover.

It's a tactic the Browns must be aware of moving forward.

Kevin Stefanski Can't Afford to Out-Coach Himself

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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has done a great job of holding the Browns together through an injury-impacted season. However, a bone-headed decision early in the fourth quarter led to disaster.

With Thompson-Robinson on the sideline—more on that shortly—P.J. Walker under center and the Browns at their own 41-yard line, Stefanski called for a double reverse that was poorly executed by Elijah Moore and Pierre Strong Jr.

Moore tossed the ball up in the air, Strong failed to catch it cleanly, and it was recovered by D.J. Jones at the Cleveland 20-yard line. Denver quickly turned the turnover into a touchdown and a 12-point lead.

It was a bad call by Stefanski because the Browns were getting production from traditional runs and they were within one score. There was no reason for trickery, and it perhaps served as a sign that Stefanski has no faith in Walker—even though the Browns are 2-1 with him as the starter this season.

It was the most glaring mistake in a game that featured its fair share of penalties and dropped passes, and it all but ended Cleveland's hopes of completing the comeback.

Stefanski must do a better job of recognizing when it's appropriate to take risks. This was not one of those times, and it could ultimately cost Cleveland a playoff spot.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Myles Garrett Injuries Loom Large

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Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson

Walker was in because late in the third quarter, Thompson-Robinson took a hard shot from Baron Browning and was evaluated for a head injury.

Thompson-Robinson could be seen on the sideline following Browning's hit, which was deemed unnecessary roughness, though questionably so. He was eventually ruled out with a concussion, according to Camryn Justice of News 5 Cleveland.

Thompson-Robinson started, of course, because Cleveland lost Deshaun Watson to a season-ending shoulder injury last week. If he is forced to miss any extended time, the Browns could be in serious trouble.

Cleveland is now only a game ahead of Denver and again tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card race with six games remaining. Stefanski doesn't seem to believe in Walker's ability to lead the team long-term—likely why Thompson-Robinson was named the starter after Watson's injury—and the only other quarterback on the roster is Joe Flacco, who was signed just last week.

The Browns defense may have suffered a serious blow when Myles Garrett exited with a shoulder injury. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Garrett said he felt something in his shoulder pop.

Sunday's game was proof that Cleveland can't win with defense alone. If Garrett missed any extended time, trying that approach might not even be an option.