Ravens Trample Browns: What Do They Go From Here?
Rookie backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson needed plenty to go right if he was going to lead the Cleveland Browns to a win over the Baltimore Ravens. That didn't happen on the offensive side of the ball, not a surprise, but the Lamar Jackson-led offense had more success against the Browns defense than the previous three opponents combined, which was a recipe for a 28-3 loss.
It didn't take long to realize just how much trouble the Browns offense was in because they didn't have someone they could count on to produce offense. No Nick Chubb and now no Deshaun Watson, the Browns were relying on a rookie quarterback to try to move the offense and he simply wasn't ready.
The best play for the Browns offense was on a 3rd-and-1 on the third drive of the game. The Browns had tight end Harrison Bryant shift under center, take the snap and pitch it to quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson going to his left. He then rolled to his right, threw up a duck down the field trying to go to Amari Cooper and was bailed out by a defensive pass interference penalty. The Browns gained 37 yards. The Browns would then go onto lose 16 yards and need a 53-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal to get on the scoreboard and save the drive.
The Browns never had a chance. And if it wasn't DTR at quarterback, it was going to be someone else who wasn't going to be enough for the Browns to win this game. Had the Browns kept Joshua Dobbs or put P.J. Walker out there and they struggled, the complaints would've been to put DTR on the field. It was a no-win situation.
The Ravens defense worked to win the line of scrimmage and dared DTR to beat them with his arm When he wasn't forcing passes into traffic, he was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. There were some decent throws mixed in along the way, but the Browns were forced to rely on him to drive the offense, a Herculean undertaking.
After all, the Browns offense was now completely built around Deshaun Watson. They had to adjust to the loss of their bell cow back in Chubb. The Browns had an unproven second-year running back in Jerome Ford, a rookie right tackle in Dawand Jones and now a rookie quarterback. If that wasn't enough, the team would also have to rely on a backup center when Nick Harris had to enter the game early in the second quarter, replacing an injured Ethan Pocic.
They are counting on Watson to cover up or otherwise mitigate these issues, something a rookie nor most any backup was going to be able to do. DTR just happened to make it worse.
The Browns have receiving threats, but DTR rarely found them in structure, often opting to try to extend plays where he was decidedly worse. The Ravens utilized coverages that caused DTR some issues. He paused at times, second guessing and then would force balls into windows that weren't open.
DTR's a rookie in an offense that is now designed to be run by a top tier quarterback. The Browns need to get to a point where they can rely on Jerome Ford and the offensive front to generate yards on the ground, but one month into the season, all of their success has been on two broken plays against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
If the Browns defense had played to the same level of dominance it had in the first three games, allowing just six points per contest, the offense, bad as it was, the DTR decision might have mattered.
But they didn't. The Browns defense was by no means bad. They just weren't the defense of the century that had shown up the first three games. The Ravens put together two consecutive, grinding drives that resulted in touchdowns. The first went 74 yards on ten plays and the second went 93 yards in eight. The Ravens are the first team that has been able to do that to this defense this season and they earned it.
The Ravens utilized run concepts out of condensed formations that gave their running backs multiple lanes to attack the Browns defense. When the Browns had a player commit one way, the back went the other. It didn't help that Browns defenders were constantly diving at the opposing ball carriers.
Whether it was a highlight hit that might work when there were multiple teammates there to make sure the ball carrier goes to the ground or desperate attempts to stop from being gouged, the Browns missed plenty of tackles.
If that wasn't enough, Lamar Jackson was outstanding. He made a handful of borderline, indefensible throws including the touchdown pass to tight end Mark Andrews where he climbed the ladder to outreach Greg Newsome for a touchdown pass. There were a few plays where he was able to extend, narrowly avoiding sacks for simple passes that yielded plenty of yards after the catch.
The second quarter was the first time since last season where it felt like Myles Garrett either made play or the defense faltered. And in this case, Garrett made plays and the Ravens offense endured.
The combination of an impotent Browns offense and the drives the Ravens were able to put together, the Browns defense was exhausted in the first half. They were able to find their form for most of the second half before surrendering a final touchdown; once again coming off another DTR interception.
The Browns defense is still one of the best in the league despite this performance. The problems the Browns face are real and must be addressed.
First, Deshaun Watson's shoulder needs to be healthy. And it has to happen quick. This team goes as far as the defense and Watson take them. This game showed just how much is on the quarterback's plate.
Second, the Browns have to get better as it relates to turnovers. They have lost the turnover battle in every game they've played this season. They are now -6 after today, which is a recipe for losing football.
Third, they have to get stability on the offensive line. Jack Conklin isn't coming back this season and Nick Chubb can't help them. The tackles aren't great, though Dawand Jones can continue to improve. The Browns also need more from their interior. They need Ethan Pocic's injury to be minor, but all three need to play better.
It's unfortunate the Browns are going into the bye 2-2, coming off of a game where it didn't feel as if they were able to give the Ravens their best shot. Watson didn't get to progress, something that's imperative for the Browns to compete this season. Nevertheless, they have the bye to get healthy and address issues. The early part of the schedule always looked the most daunting and they are still just a game back in the AFC North.
