CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my notebook looking back at the Browns’ 33-29 loss in Kansas City.
1. We’re already hearing criticism from some fans about defensive coordinator Joe Woods. After all, the defense was supposed to be better. But the Browns still gave up 33 points.
2. Let’s consider the points allowed. Seven were set up by Jamie Gillan, who dropped a snap and then tried to run with it instead of punting. That gave KC the ball on the Cleveland 15. It set up a TD for the winners.
3. Nick Chubb fumbled and it was recovered by the Chiefs on the KC 47. The Browns defense eventually stopped KC at the Cleveland 25. But that led to a field goal. So two mistakes led to 10 points. I have a hard time blaming the defense for that. I suppose they could have forced a 3-and-out.
4. The goal of the defense was not to give up big plays. And yes, they allowed a huge one – the 75-yard TD catch by Tyreek Hill with 10:10 left in the game. I’ve looked at that play several times. Patrick Mahomes made an off-balance throw. Cleveland safety John Johnson III did lose track of the ball, but it was underthrown. … I don’t know. It was not a blown coverage, just a crazy play made by two wildly gifted athletes.
5. The Browns allowed a lot of short and medium passes on crossing routes because they wanted to stop the deep throws. While Gillan’s mistake isn’t considered a turnover, it served the same purpose. And the offense/special teams set up 10 points for KC.
Kansas City Chiefs take over on downs after tackling Browns punter Jamie Gillan in the second half of play. Joshua Gunter,cleveland.com
6. Woods wants a defense to create turnovers. The Browns couldn’t do that. He wants to pressure the QB. They did that to Mahomes at times. Profootballfocus credited Myles Garrett with eight “pressures.” That includes a sack and three QB hits. Jadeveon Clowney had four pressures. The problem is the quick Mahomes is hard to bring down. It’s much like in basketball when facing Michael Jordan or LeBron James. You can defend great players reasonably well, and they still beat you with great plays.
7. The Browns started eight new starters who weren’t with the team a year ago. They faced probably the best offense in the NFL, and certainly the top QB. The defense should improve during the season. The run defense was excellent, KC gaining only 73 yards in 23 carries. The longest run was for nine yards.
8. Some interesting things from the snap counts: Rookie Malik McDowell started over veteran defensive tackle Andrew Billings. McDowell (45 snaps) and Jordan Elliott (27) played more at tackle than Billings (11). Greedy Williams played only eight snaps.
9. The defense is tackling much better than a year ago. They had only four missed tackles vs. one of the most athletic offenses in football. By comparison, Browns running backs created six missed tackles by KC defenders, according to Profootball focus.
10. That said, I don’t have a strong opinion about Woods, either good or bad. But my goodness, patience is in order. This game was not a defensive disaster, and I feared that given the opponent and playing in ear-drum rattling Arrowhead Stadium.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield drops his head as the clock expires after Mayfield threw an interception turning the ball over the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth quarter. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
11. KC assistant coach Greg Lewis should have been ejected for the sideline shoving match with Cleveland safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. Both men deserved to be booted, regardless of who started it. Only Harrison was ejected. As Cleveland center JT Tretter said: “We can’t have opposing coaches putting their hands on opposing players.” At the very least, Lewis should be fined.
12. Coach Kevin Stefanski on Harrison: “Those type of things we keep internal, but it’s disappointing when you lose a starter five plays (into the game). … It’s the oldest thing in football … officials always see the second guy. Ronnie has to show some poise there and not retaliate.”
13. What about Baker Mayfield? He is made for this offense. He was 21-of-28 for 321 yards. The big mistake was an interception with 69 seconds left. He was hit from behind on the throw, a play where Mayfield said he wanted to heave the ball out of bounds.
14. Stefanski said: “Baker did a nice job in a lot of the operation of what we were doing in a tough environment. Ultimately, he knows he has to take care of the rock and has to throw it away there – I know he was trying to throw it away – but he has to find a way to get an incompletion for us.”
15. The Browns had TD drives of 81, 75, 75, 75 yards in one of the loudest places in the NFL. None of their offensive linemen jumped offsides, despite the noise. The offense was prepared, well-coached and disciplined. It delivered 29 points. Right after the game, I was discouraged about the loss but encouraged by how the team performed. Looking back, that opinion hasn’t changed.
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