Biggest Takeaways from Cleveland Browns' Week 8 Loss

The Cleveland Browns started their Week 8 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals on a strong note, putting up 20 points in the first half and threatening a win. But it was not meant to be, with Cleveland scoring no more points in the second half of the game and the Cardinals ultimately winning 34-20. 

So what did we learn as the Browns earned their sixth loss of the season? Here are the five biggest takeaways from Cleveland's Week 8 defeat.

Josh McCown Until the Wheels Fall off

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Browns starting quarterback Josh McCown came into Sunday's game considered questionable to play and had been sitting out practices or participating in a limited basis throughout the week, stemming from rib and shoulder injuries he suffered in Week 7.

Still, McCown got the start, and though he took a beating at the hands of Arizona's defense—one sack and seven hits—and appeared clearly in pain, the Browns did not pulled him until late in the contest, well after the their odds for victory had shrunk to nil.

Head coach Mike Pettine said after the game that staying in was mostly McCown's call: "We talked about it. We were going to take him out, and he [said he] could continue. We said if he couldn’t go, to go ahead and go down, and he stayed in there. ... To me, we put it on our players if they are injured and need to come out of the game that they are to go down on the field."

Pettine did note that McCown "clearly wasn't 100 percent," but instead of protecting their starter from himself the Browns kept him in the game well into the fourth quarter, despite their having another game to play on Thursday night. 

It's obvious that the Browns want to lean on McCown as much as they can, for as long as they can, no matter how healthy he is. While that speaks to his competitive nature, it's also baffling that the Browns would subject him to further punishment in a game they were far from able to win in the second half.

The Run Game Disappeared

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For the second time this season, the Browns were held to just 39 total yards of rushing offense. Quarterback Josh McCown was the team's rushing leader against Arizona, with five runs totaling 18 yards. Meanwhile, actual running backs Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson and Robert Turbin had 14, three and three rushing yards apiece, respectively.

The Browns have been unable to amass more than 116 rushing yards in a game this season—while at the same time, individual opposing rushers have routinely put up more than that themselves.

Though turning away from the run on Sunday can partially be ascribed to the 24 second-half points the Cardinals scored while the Browns scored none, it is not a good sign that the Browns are continually struggling to move the ball on the ground.

The Browns have only two rushing touchdowns on the season and are averaging a 3.4 yards per rush as team. These are bottom-of-the-league numbers, and this development has put undue pressure on the passing game to carry the offense.

Regardless of the strategy, 20 rush attempts should yield more than 39 yards. The Browns' run game has gone from poor to non-existent. This is something that will require improvement for Cleveland to earn any additional wins this season.

Johnson Bademosi? Really?

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One of the more curious decisions made by the Browns on Sunday was choosing to replace cornerback Joe Haden, who exited the game with a concussion, with Johnson Bademosi when Pierre Desir (or even Justin Gilbert) seemed better suited to be the next man up.

Bademosi ended up playing 43 snaps against Arizona, according to Pro Football Focus, while K'Waun Williams handled slot duties and Tramon Williams filled the other starting spot on the outside. Desir played only one snap on defense and Gilbert, none.

Head coach Mike Pettine said Monday that going to Bademosi over Desir to replace Haden "was an easier transition," according to Scout.com's Hayden Grove. Safety Tashaun Gipson explained the move in more detail, via the Akron Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich, saying, Bademosi had earned "respect" and "confidence," to be on the field and that it "wasn't [a] head scratcher," that he got the nod over Desir.

Bademosi allowed just one catch Sunday, but it was a six-yard touchdown scored by Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald that expanded Arizona's lead from a manageable four points to an insurmountable 11. He has transitioned to cornerback this year after once being a reserve swing defensive back and special teamer. 

Perhaps he has earned the confidence and respect of his teammates and coaches, but it is interesting to see Bademosi getting on the field over the highly regarded Desir. 

Where Did Duke Johnson Go?

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Rookie Browns running back Duke Johnson had a strong first half against the Cardinals Sunday. Though he totaled only three rushing yards on his lone carry, he did catch two passes on two targets for 68 yards, including a long catch and run of 52 yards that led to tight end Gary Barnidge catching a touchdown and the Browns holding a 14-7 second-quarter lead.

But in the second half of the game, Johnson was nowhere to be found. While the Browns turned away from the run game while the Cardinals continued to score points, they didn't call upon Johnson's services as a receiver, despite his being the team's third-leading receiver.

Coach Mike Pettine was asked about Johnson's second-half absence and whether the back had suffered some kind of injury. His response? First, that he didn't "know of" any injury to Johnson. The coach also said: "He came out after a couple plays. The running backs rotate. If they need a break, they'll come out."

But a break of a whole half? While Johnson has not been the focus in the run game, he has served as a valuable receiving target for quarterback Josh McCown. Something else is afoot here, but Pettine is clearly not going to reveal it.

Injuries Strike Secondary

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The Browns did not come out of Sunday's game unscathed. The secondary, in particular, took a major blow on the injury front, with cornerback Joe Haden and safety Donte Whitner both exiting with concussions. They remain in the NFL's concussion protocol at present.

The meeting with the Cardinals was Haden's first game back after being sidelined the last two weeks with another concussion, which puts his availability not just for Thursday's game with the Cincinnati Bengals but also the next few weeks in question. Whitner, too, isn't likely to suit up Thursday given the nature of the NFL's protocol and the short amount of time he has to be cleared.

With safety Jordan Poyer out Sunday with an injury of his own, rookie Ibraheim Campbell took over for Whitner, while Johnson Bademosi stepped in for Haden. This structure of the secondary could remain in place for Thursday night's game.