Cleveland Browns

Browns vs. Giants: 3 takeaways as the Browns fall to 0-12

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:59 p.m. ET

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Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas (73) sits on the bench during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns kept it close for most of the game, but the New York Giants never faltered in a 27-13 victory, dropping the Browns to 0-12.

Did anyone actually think the Cleveland Browns would enter the bye week with a record of 1-11?

The New York Giants may have given some fans hope at the beginning of Sunday’s game, but it was clear the playoff-contending team was never too worried about losing.

The Giants pulled off the 27-13 victory by letting the Browns beat themselves, allowing the mistakes on Cleveland’s end to make up for a lackluster offensive performance.

Odell Beckham Jr. had two touchdowns and abused the Browns secondary all day, while the Giants defensive front got to Josh McCown and sacked him seven times.

The Browns have next Sunday off, meaning fans in Cleveland have yet another free Sunday to not watch this terrible team.

The good news is that the next opponent is the 3-7-1 Cincinnati Bengals, who should be without A.J. Green. Although Bengals fans are likely looking at that game as a sure win.

An 0-16 season may not be much different than a 1-15 season on paper, but it would be a rough offseason for this young team if a single win cannot be had. It would drop the team to 0-20 this year when counting the preseason, and nothing is worse for player development than feelings of ineptitude.

Sunday’s game was filled with a few positives, but the negatives continued to pile up as the team finally gets a break from the losing next Sunday. Let’s take a look at three takeaways from the 12th loss of the season.

Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Josh McCown is a well-respected player by Browns fans, but he continues to show us all why he has never been a consistent NFL starting quarterback at any point of his career.

McCown was sacked seven times Sunday, and while some may want to immediately blame the offensive line, the veteran quarterback continues to hold onto the ball for far too long. He tries to make big plays when there are no openings, and the team suffers as a result.

The worst play from Sunday’s game came when McCown was hit and politely dropped the ball into the hands of Jason Pierre-Paul for a pick-six. Let the jokes about a man missing fingers return a touchdown against the Browns ensue.

After this latest loss, McCown may lose his starting spot when the Browns take on the Bengals in Week 14. It appears as if Robert Griffin III will be back on the active roster, and Hue Jackson may as well let the opening day starter try to prove himself in the final four games of the season.

McCown was a holdover from the previous front office regime, and his time on the field in Cleveland may have come to an end as he was at the helm for yet another loss.

Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) runs with the ball as Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) defends during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Although this Browns defense may rank among the worst in the NFL, Sunday’s performance against the Giants was one of the better ones of the season, at least for most of the game.

The Giants only managed 296 total yards, and were forced to punt the ball nine times. The Giants punted on each of their first four possessions, but the offense of the Browns couldn’t capitalize.

And while 27 points is an ugly number, seven of those points came on Pierre-Paul’s return touchdown, while another seven came on a short drive following an Isaiah Crowell fumble.

The only mistakes came on the two drives ending with Beckham Jr. touchdown catches, but the offense has to put up some points to counter a Giants offense that is going to put up a few touchdowns a game.

Fans know this is too much to ask of this team, but it is clear the Browns offense has taken back the reigns as the part of the team that has gone from bad to worse during the second half of the season.

This defense is nowhere near the level it needs to be at for the team to compete, but there are several pieces in place that should give fans hope moving forward. The biggest problem may be the coordinator of this defense, but that is a problem upper management must solve in the offseason.

Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III throws the ball during warm ups before the game against the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

In a year filled with surprises in Cleveland, the only hope to avoid an 0-16 season may be the man known as RG3.

After going to the injured reserve following an injury in Week 1, Griffin may be set to return in the game against the Bengals following the bye week.

Cody Kessler is dealing with concussion problems, so there is no need to throw him back out there in this lost season. And while McCown continues to struggle, Griffin at least deserves a chance to go out and try to get a win.

Griffin did open the season as the starting quarterback, so clearly Hue Jackson saw something in him that warranted that move. Faith in Jackson may be waning in Cleveland, but it is no secret that Griffin does have the ability to be a solid quarterback. He just needs to find that ability once again.

At 0-12, starting Griffin has no negative effects on the chances of winning. A change may be good for a team that has nearly rock bottom levels of confidence.

So as the Browns desperately try to win a single game in 2016, Griffin may be the savior to accomplish that goal. It is upsetting that things have gotten so bad that a single win would be considered such a big deal, but so it goes in a wild sports year for Cleveland fans.

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