by You can follow us on twitter at sports_kee
New coach, new mantra, same result, a 38-6 embarrassing loss on opening day for the Cleveland Browns to the Baltimore Ravens. They once again looked lost, and quit at the first sign of adversity. Turnovers, sloppy play, penalties and a quarterback who has zero chemistry with his star receiver.
The Ravens on the other hand, looked even better than advertised, which is hard to believe considering just how good many feel, including myself, this team should be.
Reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson once again lit up the Browns, this time for 45 yards on the ground on 7 rushes, but also a throttling 20 for 25 passing for 275 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. He threw zero interceptions, was only sacked twice and had a QBR of 152.
In comparison, Baker Mayfield, the quarterback Browns fans continue to tell themselves is better than Lamar, went 20 of 38 for 188 yards, with a touchdown to a wide-open David Njoku. Mayfield continued to look absolutely lost when it came to throwing through any tight windows, or finding Odell Beckham Jr in stride.
OBJ was visibly frustrated as they have had 17 games to get on the same page and it is clear that it will never happen. It simply isn’t going to work out between the two. No longer do they have the excuse that OBJ is hurt.
He finished with 2 catches for 21 yards on 9 targets. Out of the 7 incompletes, many were thrown behind him, over his head and nowhere close to this hands or chest.
Jacksons top targets were tight end Mark Andrews who pulled down 2 touchdown catches along with Marquise Brown who had 5 catches for 101 yards. Rookie speedster JK Dobbins had no issues adjusting to the league in week one, with 2 touchdowns on only 7 carries. He was very effective.
For the Browns, as I said, it was more of the same, 3 turnovers, all of them costly along with 8 penalties for 80 yards. Including 3 straight penalties that took them out of scoring position late in the first half when the game was still well in reach. Instead it gave them a 3rd and 41 which led to a punt.
Then, the Browns had the same issue they have had since 1999, and that is allowing the other team to always score in the final minute of a half. Almost identical to their game at home late last year against the Ravens. Some things never change as in third down efficiency as Cleveland went a paltry 3 for 11 and the Ravens went 6 of 10.
Browns fans can’t blame it on the head coach this year, they can’t blame it on play calling or a bad offensive line. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt combined for 132 yards on 23 carries and both looked strong despite the Chubb fumble.
They also combined to catch 5 balls for 15 yards. Hopefully when the Browns start holding leads into the fourth quarter, it will be Chubb and Hunt grinding it out. With everything that went wrong today, they still showed you a glimpse of good they both can be.
25 minutes into the game, it looked like the Browns were right there with the Ravens, and even had a chance to take a halftime lead. It was then everything began to go south as the Ravens increased a 10-6 lead on the JK Dobbins 3-yard touchdown rush with 2:53 left to play.
From there the Browns began to put together what appeared to be a successful two-minute drive, only to crumble from their own mistakes again, giving the Ravens the ball back with enough time to score again.
Baltimore would do just that on a Lamar Jackson to Mark Andrews 9-yard touchdown strike to make it 24-6 at the half. It was third down at the time, the Browns simply couldn’t hold. From 10-6 and manageable, to 24-6 and completely lost, in under 3 minutes of game play.
After the half, the Ravens got the ball again and wasted no time putting the game away for good. This time with another third down touchdown strike as Lamar Jackson hooked up with Willie Snead for a 19-yard touchdown. Putting the game out of reach at 31-6 with 7:48 to go in the third. Baltimore would tack on another Dobbins touchdown run before it was over to cap off the scoring at 38-6.
The Browns won’t have much time to work on things as they are right back at it Thursday night hosting the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens will travel to Houston who will be looking for their first win.
Player of the Game – Lamar Jackson
Skud of the Game – Austin Seibert
Baker Mayfield still can’t read a defense I saw you progression what so ever
Keep up positivity we Love you guy’s always Brown’s fan blessings to all Brown’s
Same embarrassment ad usual. Different names same result. Will never change till someone buys the team thst wants to put a winner on the field. Mayfield has no idea where receivers are. Decides in huddle who he is throwing to. Needs to start studying play book instead of commercial scripts.
In tied of the same thing every season. Will never get to wear my 300 dollar Jim Brown throw back jersey which I say i would wear at the Super Bowl.
Better get it turned around soon because we need something positive for 2020
Mayfield did show that he is reading the defense and going through his progressions. It was the FIRST DOWNS of organized football under a new system for the Browns against the top D in the lead and a team that went 14-2 last season. What the #$%$ did you expect.
baker is another brady quinn