.jpg?w=2560 "Browns Football")
After getting drilled by the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, the Cleveland Browns are still in Florida. Sunday, the Browns will take on a familiar face in Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The game is more than just the embodiment of the Deshaun Watson debacle. It's a make-or-break for Watson if he wants to remain the starter in Cleveland. An opportunity for the Browns to either shake off the stink of last week's beatdown or confirm the opinions of so many that the Browns are (again) among the worst teams in the NFL.
We won't get into which one this analyst thinks will happen—there will be plenty of time to be depressed once the game kicks off.
Once it does, keep it here at Bleacher Report for highlights and commentary as the Browns try to salvage a split from their Florida road trip.
And as Watson tries to salvage his career—because that's where we are.
11 Total Posts
Stop me if you've heard this before.
The Browns have a lack of discipline that would be funny if it wasn't so sad.
Another holding penalty put Cleveland in first-and-20. Then Watson got sacked (again) by Keionte Scott.
Care to guess how that "drive" ended?
Just over halfway through the second quarter, Cleveland has 51 yards of offense.
The Browns got Tampa behind the sticks. Third and 18. And then promptly surrendered a 21-yard pass to rookie receiver Ted Hurst.
However, the Browns are also doing a far better job pressuring Mayfield than in Week 1, and a Ronnie Hickman sack forced the Buccaneers to punt.
This Browns team is absolutely maddening.
After the Harden interception gave the Browns excellent field position, Cleveland was moving the ball. But yet another penalty put Cleveland behind the sticks, Deshaun Watson was dropped by David Walker on third and long and the Browns had to settle for three again.
The penalties are inexcusable--and a sign of bad coaching.
And not by the Browns!
Great job by young defensive back Myles harden of reading Baker Mayfield's eyes and picking off a pass that puts the Browns in business in Tampa territory.
.jpg?w=2560 "Bills Browns Football")
Three Plays.
Negative-two yards.
One Harold Fannin drop.
And a punt.
Cleveland's offense is no bueno.
Well, at least they aren't allowing touchdowns.
A 30-yard Bucky Irving run got Tampa into scoring range, but the Cleveland defense stiffened and the Buccaneers were once again forced to settle for a Chase McLaughlin field goal.
That's two scores in as many drives though.
Not ideal.
The good news is that the Browns showed more life on their second drive than in the entire first half against Jacksonville, driving 40 yards in seven plays before a 50-yard Andre Szymt field goal tied the game.
The bad news is that the Browns were forced to settle for three after yet another pre-snap penalty.
Still, Cleveland answered Tampa's drive.
There's admittedly not a lot that a team can do when a kicker hits from 59 yards out.
But the Browns let their opponent score on their opening drive--again. And now Cleveland is in an early hole--again.
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Three Cleveland penalties in the first two minutes of the game.
That's after 11 last week against the Jags.
To be fair, when the Browns moved on from Mayfield it was time. His level of play had stagnated, and he didn't handle the news that the team was going to pursue Deshaun Watson especially well.
But that doesn't make what has happened since any easier to stomach.
Deshaun Watson's raw stats last week against the Jaguars weren't terrible. But for once numbers do lie--Watson didn't play well and those stats were buoyed by a garbage-time TD.
Per Ian Rapoport of ESPN, the Browns plan to "re-evaluate" their quarterback situation after Week 2.
I'll save them the trouble. It stinks. Watson stinks. And when Shedeur Sanders inevitably gets the nod, he'll stink.
But unless Watson lights up the Buccaneers, the Browns cannot start him in the home opener against the Carolina Panthers.
Browns fans will--let's put it this way.
As a group, they have been known to throw things.
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