CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Entering a must-win game -- really a must-win month -- the Browns played without the urgency and passion needed to beat a Denver Bronco team playing a first-time starter at quarterback, behind one of the most struggling offensive lines in football, led by a first-year head coach.
Those three ingredients should’ve resulted in Cleveland winning a game that would’ve put its season back on course with five divisional games remaining, including two matchups with Pittsburgh over the course of three weeks.
Instead, the Browns allowed Denver to score 24 points in 24 minutes of possession and settled for four red zone field goals before turning the ball over on downs twice in the second half to eventually lose to a quarterback that hasn’t started a game since 2016, when he was in college.
After Baltimore beat New England on Sunday Night Football, the Browns moved four games behind the Ravens in the AFC North division race. Considering the Dolphins won on Sunday, Cleveland is only one game ahead of the Dolphins and would have the No. 7 overall pick if the season ended as is.
Here is how social media reacted to the game.
This game was to save the season. I saw maybe 1 player playing w/ that kind of urgency. I saw a bunch of individuals. No leadership. Defense uninspired in big moments. Uniform violations. Penalties. Wasted timeouts. And...our best player on the bench 4 a game deciding play.
— Jay Crawford (@JaycrawfordCLE) November 4, 2019
What an embarrassing effort. #Browns
— Dustin Fox (@DustinFox37) November 3, 2019
#Browns lose this, I wouldn't let Freddie Kitchens on the plane.
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) November 3, 2019
Baker Mayfield shaved his beard more times than he threw a TD pass today.
— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) November 4, 2019
Tough being a #Browns fan right now. pic.twitter.com/R2Tp4kmqL8
We were just penalized for having 12 men on the field when the opposing team was simply trying to kneel it and go into the locker room. That might be the perfect microcosm of this season thus far. #Browns
— Mike Polk Jr. (@mikepolkjr) November 3, 2019
The 2019 Cleveland #Browns are a dumpster fire, per source.
— Browns Beat Toaster (@BrownsToaster) November 4, 2019
The Cleveland Browns has aged Baker Mayfield in dog years pic.twitter.com/3ZpwMPMJhD
— JKuhn (@h8rproof82) November 4, 2019
Between the overmatched Browns OL, the lack of situational awareness of Freddie Kitchens, the weekly apparel nonsense of OBJ, Baker Mayfield is starting to gain my sympathy.
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) November 3, 2019
Is it just me or are these Baker Mayfield commercials kind of awkward considering the state of affairs in Cleveland?
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) November 4, 2019
Of all the things that have gone wrong in Cleveland...this may sum it up: Odell Beckham Jr is 18th in receiving yards and 30th in receptions. pic.twitter.com/BHGsdLwvYo
— trey wingo (@wingoz) November 4, 2019
I miss Odell Beckham, Jr.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 3, 2019
Baker just got Freddie Kitchens Fired.
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) November 4, 2019
Congratulations Bro. Do a little Dance Baker
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