Browns suffer disappointing loss to Raiders: Behind the Numbers
December 21, 2021Grievance Room #04: A WFNY Festivus
December 23, 2021The Cleveland Browns fell back to .500 on the season when they lost to Las Vegas Raiders in a crushing fashion Monday night. The Browns led late but fell short as the Raiders made a last-second field goal to take the victory. The loss pushes them down the playoff standings, making it a tougher hill to climb to get to the postseason. With that being said, here are the three highs and the three lows from the Browns’ loss to the Raiders.
Three Highs
1. Joel Bitonio is the best Browns offensive lineman on the roster and Monday’s game was a testament to why that is a fact. Bitonio moved over to the left tackle spot for the Raiders game with Jedrick Wills out with COVID. Bitonio had not played offensive tackle since his college days at Nevada. Somehow, he looked like a seasoned vet at the position. He solidified the line, allowing the team to put the best five linemen on the field at once with Michael Dunn slotting into Bitonio’s usual left guard position. The amazing part was how well Bitonio played at tackle. He allowed one pressure in pass protection, according to Pro Football Focus, while also playing a dominant game in run blocking. Bitonio was a huge reason the Browns were able to slow down the dangerous Raiders pass rush duo of Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue. The former Nevada tackle is the epitome of a Pro Bowl offensive lineman and a true professional.
2. This Browns defense continues to show that they have turned the corner and have become the top-flight defense we projected it could be based on the talent. The impressive part was that the defense was successful even though they were without so many starters throughout the depth chart. That is a big step. Joe Woods deserves the kudos for getting this defense ready and playing as one even with all the defenders they were missing. The defense kept the Browns in the game while the offense found itself. Cleveland could have been run off the field had the defense not come ready and been able to slow down the Raiders offense.
3. I have to give credit to Nick Mullens. He did his job for the most part, at least in the second half. He put the team in a position to win the game. His stats don’t jump off the page as he completed 20 of 30 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown but he led two huge touchdown drives in the second half, including a late fourth quarter drive that saw him convert a fourth-down situation, resulting in the go-ahead touchdown. Mullens practiced less than a week as the starting quarterback for the Browns. He was without key blockers and receivers. He was without the usual play-caller in Kevin Stefanski. Nevertheless, he put this team in a chance to win. There was not much we could have asked for from Mullens.
Three Lows
1. Yeah, the Browns have a kicker problem. Chase McLaughlin missed an absolutely crucial field goal on Monday that was the difference in the Browns losing the game. The miss continues a string of bad kicks from McLaughlin. After making his first 10 field goals of the season, he has made just five of his last 11 field goals, including just two of his last six. He has looked shakier and shakier each week and we are now at a point where big questions surround the kicker position. We probably should have known this could happen because the Browns have not hidden the fact that they have protected an extra kicker on the practice squad throughout the entire season, a sign Cleveland was not quite comfortable believing in McLaughlin.
2. The biggest need this offseason for the Browns roster might be wide receiver. The receiver position was simply not good enough on Monday. Yes, it was missing a key piece in Jarvis Landry, but the other players did little to help out the third-string quarterback. Donovan Peoples-Jones had a nightmare first half even though he did make some big plays in the second half to make up for it. Other than DPJ, Cleveland had nothing from the receiver position. The unit struggled to get open for Mullens. This game continues a trend of the receiver position giving almost nothing and no consistency to the offense and the quarterback. The Browns have to overhaul this unit in the offseason. Players are playing in more important roles than they should be right now.
3. Cleveland has put together a consistent trend this season: The inability to finish a game. The Browns had the lead with just under four minutes to play, but the team lost the game as both the defense and offense had chances to win it for the team. The Browns have held the lead in four of the seven losses this season. Both sides of the ball have been the culprit with the defense giving up late drives and the offense being unable to execute late to get the big score. It is a problem and something holding this team back from being better. Had the Browns been able to finish better this season, the playoff race would look a lot better for Cleveland.