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Cleveland Browns: Grades from home opener vs. Ravens

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:59 p.m. ET

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Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) runs the ball for a first down against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Browns 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Handing out grades to Cleveland Browns players on each side of the ball after the 25-20 loss Sunday afternoon against the Baltimore Ravens.

There is little to explain when it comes to the Cleveland Browns’ 25-20 loss Sunday in their home opener against the Baltimore Ravens. The team simply collapsed after a fast start and proved to Browns fans that they continue to be experts at finding ways to lose.

After a remarkably solid start on both offense and defense which got the Browns off to a 20-0 lead late in the first quarter, the team changed their offensive strategy to something known as the prevent offense, and failed to score for the remainder of the game.

But at least the team played better, right? For one quarter anyway. Fans have a lot to look forward to if the Browns can capture their first quarter magic and turn it into a full 60 minutes of solid play. The only problem is, the recurring theme of blowing leads and losing in bizarre ways has established itself within this franchise’s identity.

Of course, the players didn’t seem to be entirely at fault for the epic meltdown. The officiating was questionable at best on multiple occasions, obviously including the phantom taunting call with just seconds remaining.

Despite this however, it is far from acceptable to blow a 20-point lead, especially in a home game against a fierce rival. While there may have been improved individual outings for certain players, the result remains the same, and the Browns are 0-2.

The following is a complete breakdown of Sunday’s debacle, in the form of letter grades for each major position group.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) is pressured by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Matt Judon (91) during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback: B

Despite failing to score at all after the first quarter, quarterback Josh McCown is one of the few Browns players who deserves a substantial amount of credit.

He had a good first quarter, throwing two touchdown passes, but appeared to be injured after his second to Corey Coleman, and went into the locker room. The veteran soon emerged and didn’t miss a snap. But the 37-year-old didn’t seem the same for the remaining three quarters as he was continually taking hits and being abused physically by a merciless Baltimore defense.

McCown also took a shot from C.J. Mosley after he gave himself up early in the game, a play that seemed to easily warrant a personal foul. Despite this, the hobbling quarterback continued to persevere, making sure that rookie Cody Kessler would not have to be inserted into the game.

McCown’s final stats were not overly impressive, though he did complete 20 of 33 pass attempts for 260 yards. Both touchdown passes came early in the game, and his two interceptions came at the worst possible times, one leading to a Ravens score going into halftime and the other sealing the game.

In the end, McCown’s play was not the main issue behind Cleveland’s loss. Not to make excuses for a veteran player, but circumstances outside of the quarterback’s control were what really led to the loss. McCown put forth a valiant effort which should be recognized, even though he was not rewarded with a victory.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) runs the ball past Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Zach Orr (54) for a first down during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Running Backs: B

On a day all-time great Jim Brown was honored at the stadium, Browns running backs had one of their better games collectively. Brown, who is now 80 years old, had his statue unveiled outside of the stadium prior to Sunday’s home opener.

Fittingly, Isaiah Crowell had one of the best games of his career on Sunday, rushing for 133 yards on 18 carries, including his 85-yard touchdown run which put the Browns ahead 14-0. Even more impressive though, Crowell made a solid gain out of nothing on many instances, showing off how powerful of a running back he is capable of being.

Duke Johnson also had a good game for the second week in a row. His sophomore season is off to a good start, as he continued to reveal his value through the air with four receptions for 44 total yards. Both running backs appeared to be far from the problem with the stagnation of Cleveland’s offense.

Another overlooked aspect of Sunday’s game was just how much of an improvement the running backs made in pass protection. Especially Crowell, who often found himself in the backfield on play-action passes, held his own to do he best he could for McCown. The bigger issue was not the play of the running backs, but the positions they were placed in. As a whole, both Crowell and Johnson played well enough to do their part in a Browns victory on Sunday.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Corey Coleman (19) runs with the ball after a catch as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Shareece Wright (24) goes for the tackle during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receivers: C

Statistically, Cleveland receivers looked very impressive on Sunday afternoon. Corey Coleman caught two touchdown passes and recorded 104 total yards on five receptions. Terrelle Pryor caught three passes for 32 yards, two of which were very sound routes and athletic plays. And even Andrew Hawkins played well as Cleveland’s third-down specialist in three key situations, finishing the day with 28 yards. Even rookie Rashard Higgins made a nice grab, though the play was called back by a penalty.

Still, there is a lot of room for improvement. There were times on Sunday where the receivers and McCown failed to communicate, causing unnecessary incompletions. Also, Pryor got hit with a devastating penalty for taunting late in the game, a penalty which appeared to be dreamed up by the official. Though this wasn’t really his fault, it reflects negatively on the group, fair or not.

Overall, Cleveland receivers showed fans why they are an exciting group to watch this season. Unfortunately, after the first quarter, they also revealed some flaws which ended up being costly to a team looking to be aggressive consistently through the air.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) argues a call with field judge Doug Rosenbaum (67) during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Line: C

There is little good news following Sunday’s loss, but a positive to takeaway would be the improved play of the offensive line. Considering how poorly they have played throughout preseason and in the season opener last week, Sunday’s performance should be a refreshing one for fans.

The offensive line played fairly well all-around actually, with no major exception. They protected McCown against an aggressive Baltimore front seven to a certain degree, though did surrender three sacks and allowed pressure which led to throwaway incompletions.

It was more of the same for the unit when it came to run blocking as well, as every member of the line played a significant role in creating some large holes at times for Crowell. If the Browns would have trusted their run blocking a little bit more and kept the ball on the ground, there may have been a different result.

Cameron Erving played a solid game, though suffered an injury on the final drive of the game which forced the Browns to call their final timeout. Overall though, it was a welcome sign to see the entire line improve as a unit, even if there is a long ways to go for them to become an elite group. They also avoided penalties for the most part, contributing to their play serviceable play which gave the Browns offense a chance.

Sep 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge (82) runs the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Tight Ends: C

More good news from Sunday was the return of the tight ends. Gary Barnidge had a productive game following last week, when he had no receptions. Barnidge finished the day with four receptions for 37 yards, some of which were important to the little movement the Browns had on offense following the first quarter.

Barnidge reestablished himself as a reliable target specializing on third downs and in the red zone. He, along with the other tight ends, also showed their ability to block on the edges to allow room for Crowell and Johnson to get to the outside, another element of tight end play that was missing last week.

The other two tight ends who played were Randall Telfer and Seth DeValve, each of which filled the second tight end role at times in Jackson’s trademark two tight end formation. Telfer went out with an injury, but was productive along with DeValve for the most part, though not spectacular.

For an offense that likes to use two tight ends on many plays, one would hope to see more production out of the position than they did on Sunday. Still, this unit was not nearly the sole reason for Cleveland’s epic collapse, and much like the offensive line, was serviceable and gave the Browns a chance to win.

`Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Terrance West (28) is wrapped up by the Cleveland Browns defense during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Line: C

One aspect of the game the Browns also improved in this week was stopping the run. The Browns limited Baltimore rushers to a total of 80 yards, despite the Ravens making a continued effort to put the ball in the hands of their running backs.

This is mostly a credit to the defensive line, who stepped up and clogged the middle numerous times on Sunday, allowing little to no room for the Ravens on the ground. As hoped for, Danny Shelton had what was likely the best game of his young career. The rest of the defensive line did their job as well stopping the run.

What this position group failed to do however was get consistent pressure on Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco had plenty of time to throw most of the afternoon, and was never sacked. Some of the responsibility for this shortcoming falls on the linebackers, but the defensive line still failed to make Flacco uncomfortable when the Browns didn’t blitz.

Overall, this unit had an average performance. They forced Baltimore into a lot of difficult third down situations, but could never finish the deal with a sack or consistent pressure. With a better defense surrounding them, the results may have been different. But the defensive line could not do it all themselves, even if they did have somewhat of a positive performance on Sunday.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett (29) leaps over the pile during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Linebackers: D

A lot of the responsibility for the inability of Cleveland’s defense to get off the field on third down rests upon the linebacker position. When bringing the typical exotic blitzes dialed up by defensive coordinator Ray Horton, the linebackers had the opportunity to make some plays on the quarterback all afternoon. Unfortunately, they failed to do so for the duration of Sunday’s contest.

Demario Davis did have a good game for the second week in a row, and Christian Kirksey showed some discipline and made some plays as well. The linebackers were able to help the defensive line in stopping the run at times, the one positive Cleveland can take away on defense.

Still, this unit was absolutely torched in coverage, and could not make amends with their pass rush. Dennis Pitta was the unit’s responsibility, and he recorded nine costly receptions which added to 102 yards. As a result, the Browns had troubles on third downs, and their linebackers had a really rough time in the home opener.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) intercepts a ball intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Breshad Perriman (18) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Secondary: D

At many points during the game on Sunday, the Browns’ secondary simply looked horrendous. Receivers were wide open all over the field, and the Browns were just not disciplined enough to stay with their assignments.

With that said, Joe Haden‘s two interceptions were the high points from the unit, critical plays which either led to points or prevented Baltimore from scoring points.

Still, these two plays are not an accurate reflection on the overall play of the secondary. The Ravens finished the day with 302 yards through the air, despite running just 45 passing plays. This is a direct reflection of numerous blown coverages leading to wide open receivers who burned Cleveland’s secondary all afternoon long. To make matters worse, a substantial portion of these blown assignments occurred on third down plays, opportunities for Cleveland’s defense to get off the field.

The problem could be just that Cleveland doesn’t have the personnel in their secondary to match up with the potent threats at the receiver position Baltimore poses. Regardless, this unit struggled immensely on Sunday, as something drastic must change for them to get any better.

Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns punter Britton Colquitt (4) holds as kicker Patrick Murray (2) kicks a field goal Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles won 29-10. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Special Teams: F

Special teams always seems to be a difficult group to grade, and a controversial one at that. Unfortunately for the Browns though, it seems clear what the unit deserves this week.

Strangely and eerily similar to last season’s home game against rival Baltimore, the turning point of the game may have very well been one of the more bizarre plays of the season. After the third touchdown of the game which opened Cleveland’s lead to 20-0, a Patrick Murray extra-point attempt was blocked and returned for Baltimore’s first two points of the afternoon. Though seemingly insignificant at the time, the momentum turned on this play, a play which marked the beginning of 25 unanswered points for the Ravens.

Furthermore, a similar instance occurred later in the game. A Murray 52-yard field goal attempt was tipped and fell short as a result later in the game. Though this too did not seem to have an overwhelming impact on the game, it was a drive in which the Browns had a first down at the Baltimore 15-yard line before a penalty. This gave the Ravens good field position, and once again turned the game’s momentum following a brief, short-lived stint which was in favor of the Browns.

Clearly, the Browns are having issues on field goal protection. They are also having trouble covering punts and kicks, as Devin Hester had a solid game returning.

Evidently, the Browns special teams play has been a severe issue, one that must be corrected as soon as possible. Normally, this would be an overshadowed aspect of a game, but in this case the struggles on special teams proved to be costly for the Browns.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson yells at his players to get off the field during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Coaching: F

In the end, the responsibility of a blown 20-point lead falls on the shoulders of first-year head coach Hue Jackson. Jackson, who made some bold comments in last Wednesday’s press conference, has yet to deliver on his promises.

Though early, Sunday’s game did not improve Jackson’s approval rating among Browns fans in any way. Even with a 20-point lead, Jackson elected to continue throwing the ball a great deal, despite the running game working well. This was a troubling trend which came back to bite Cleveland in the end. For his play calling and other poor decisions, Jackson took ownership in his postgame press conference.

In hindsight, there are a lot of calls to analyze. Jackson’s play calling will be heavily scrutinized, and deservedly so. But even beyond play calling, Jackson’s inability to keep his team together when the game tightened was evident. He failed to close the game when he could have, which makes it difficult to place a whole lot of blame on any one major position group.

Everyone understands that the Browns need to be better, but what is often misunderstood is where this improvement must originate from. Sunday’s game indicated even more to fans that there are many pieces in place on the Browns’ roster. Their coaching must be better though, as Jackson and his staff absolutely need to bring everything together immediately as the team now travels to Miami for their Week 3 clash with the Dolphins.

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