Ravens vs. Browns: Twitter Reaction and Postgame Quotes

There is an old adage that says good teams find a way to win, and bad teams find a way to lose. The Cleveland Browns will continue to be classified as a bad team until they learn to finish games on a consistent basis.

In the long term there is plenty to be optimistic about. In the short term, the team will certainly not have a pleasant two weeks as the taste of its 23-21 loss to the Baltimore Ravens will have to stay in its mouth throughout the bye week. It is tough to focus on those long-term positives after a loss like this.

"

Mike Pettine: “I put this on me.” Said coaches had a “long list” of mistakes that led to the #Browns loss, but didn’t go into specifics

— PatMcManamon (@PatMcManamon) September 21, 2014"

Head coach Mike Pettine can try and fall on the sword for his team, but he does not alone shoulder the burden. Sure, the coaching staff had two more 12-men-on-the-field penalties on defense. Sure, there were some very questionable clock management and play-calling at the ends of the halves, but the game was still there for the taking.

"

#Browns Hoyer: It's gonna be a long two weeks. We're going to watch the film and be mad at ourselves.

— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) September 21, 2014"

Kicker Billy Cundiff missed one field goal and had another blocked which would have given the Browns a victory. The special teams has been a mess for the first three weeks of the season and needs to be a focal point during the off-week.

"

Instead of holding a 27-17 lead, Browns lead 21-17 because of two missed field goals by Billy Cundiff

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) September 21, 2014"

"

"We work way too damn hard to let that stuff happen; sucks thats how we're going to be judged" - Spencer Lanning on ST miscues

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) September 21, 2014"

Cornerback Joe Haden, who played like every bit of a Pro Bowler last season, has fallen well short of that mark so far in 2014. He has struggled make big plays. Maybe the struggles are because of the defensive rules changes. Maybe not. Either way he has been awful.

He was roasted by Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints last week and gave up a deep bomb for 32 yards to Steve Smith on the final drive, which set up the game-winning field goal.

"

Joe Haden: "we pride ourselves on making plays and I didn't do that today"

— Keith Britton (@KeithBritton86) September 21, 2014"

"

@DustinFox37 Haden is overrated.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) September 21, 2014"

The offense also had two separate drives late in the game to try and seal the victory and failed. Both drives went three-and-out, and neither took more than a minute off the game clock. Good football teams smell blood in the water with under five minutes to play and can squeeze the life out of the clock for the victory.

The Browns instead opted for three pass plays in their final six calls.

"

First 47 seconds, then 14 seconds. That's ridiculous. #Browns

— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWTAM) September 21, 2014"

There were a few positives from the game, however. Quarterback Brian Hoyer was magnificent, completing 19 of 25 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown. The team once again did not turn the ball over. Coming into Sunday the Browns were one of only five teams without a turnover, and as of 5:30 p.m. on Sunday they were one of just three teams left who had not turned the ball over.

Hoyer was not afraid to test the Baltimore safeties, and he made them look silly on more than one occasion. The worst of which was a 70-yard pass play to Taylor Gabriel in the fourth quarter that should have sealed the victory.

"

Matt Elam is having a brutally bad game today

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) September 21, 2014"

The rookie running backs were solid as well. Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell combined for 23 carries, 91 rushing yards and a touchdown. Today, however, it was undrafted free agent Crowell who shined brightest. He is starting to look like the most effective back on the roster. That is something a lot of draft analysts were predicting before the season.

"

@FSOhioZJackson Love to see you say this...

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 21, 2014"

The Browns also added some trickery into their game plan on Sunday. The Johnny Manziel package reared its head again, and this time it almost went for a huge gain.

On his first play of the game he ran a simple handoff to the right side. He then ran off the field, or so it seemed. Manziel stopped just inside the sideline and pretended to be confused about the call with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. When Hoyer snapped the ball Shanahan motioned for Manizel to run, and he became a wide-open receiver.

Unfortunately the play was negated by an illegal shift penalty and may not have been a legal premise anyway.

"

A Manziel mishap: @MikePereira on what the Browns did wrong during a penalized play. Via: @KFC https://t.co/53pbc1ufLa

— FOX Sports NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 21, 2014"

In the end the Browns fell short once again. They now enter the bye week with a 1-2 record overall, a 0-2 record in the division and plenty of things to try and clean up. Just when fans thought the team was turning the corner it seems it took a step backward.

No one ever said being a fan of the Browns was easy.

"

I genuinely feel sorry for Browns fans.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) September 21, 2014"