National Football League

Bad decisions stop Browns

Published Oct. 19, 2014 5:02 p.m. ET

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Mike Pettine had a bad day as a first year head coach in the NFL.

The result contributed to the Browns suffering a 24-6 loss to the previously winless Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns drop to 3-3.

Pettine made two key decisions to go for it on fourth down that failed. The first was with 1:44 to play in the first half with the Browns leading 6-0 at the Jaguars 24.

Rather than extend the lead with a 41-yard field goal attempt by Billy Cundiff, Pettine elected to go for the first down and a one-yard pass attempt from Brian Hoyer to Jordan Cameron fell incomplete.

The Jaguars offense had done nothing to that point, but after the turnover on downs, Blake Bortles moved the Jaguars 76 yards in 1:17 to give the Jaguars a 7-6 lead at the half.

Pettine's decision to go for it on fourth down was a 10-point swing.

The second decision to go for it on fourth down occurred at the Jaguars' 44, trailing 10-6. The Browns looked like they were going to punt but then tried to trick the Jaguars by sending the offense back out, but after the snap Hoyer started running an option type play and pitched it to Ben Tate for a loss, giving the Jaguars the ball at their own 44.

Two fourth quarter turnovers later by Jordan Poyer mishandling a punt and Hoyer throwing an interception turned a 10-6, one possession game into a route as the Jaguars scored two touchdowns off those turnovers.

EXTRA POINTS

Stop on Contract Talk: After last week's talk was all about extending QB Brian Hoyer's contract. However, Hoyer had a bad day against the Jaguars.

Hoyer finished just 16-of-41 for 215 yards with a fumble and an interception. He was sacked three times.

Hoyer had two passes batted down, one on third down. Hoyer threw more passes in the first half than he did in last week's 31-10 win over the Steelers.

Hoyer's fumble was big as he was stripped of the ball and the Jaguars recovered at the Browns' 25 and extended their lead to 10-6 with 10:00 to play in third quarter on a field goal. It was the first points the Browns defense have given up after a turnover this season.

Gipson's Picks for Naught: Meanwhile, the Browns had three interceptions, two by DB Tashaun Gipson deep in Jaguars territory, but the Browns only turned them into three points. Gipson intercepted a pass from QB Blake Bortles in the first quarter and returned it to the Jaguars' 17 to set up the Browns first score. K Billy Cundiff converted a 40-yard field goal to give the Browns a 3-0 lead. LB Jabaal Sheard hit Bortles as he was throwing the ball, forcing the underthrow.

Gipson had his second interception in the second quarter and returned the ball to the Jaguars' 33 but the Browns couldn't convert on fourth down, resulting in just three points in Gipson's two interceptions.

Gipson has four interceptions on the season. There were several players tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with three entering this week's games.

Gipson now has 10 interceptions in his career, including seven in the last 9 games. He had one in his rookie season, five in 2013 and four in 2014, including a 62-yard return for touchdown against the Saints.

DB Buster Skrine had the Browns third interception inside the 10-yard line, but the Browns were unable to do anything with the turnover.

Easy Stretch?: The Browns next three opponents entering today's game had a combined 1-16 record and the Browns are now 0-1 in those three. Jacksonville entered the game 0-6, while the Raiders (0-5) and Buccaneers (1-5) are the next two opponents at home.

No Rushing: The Browns came into the game with the third best rushing game in the NFL with 146 yards a game. They finished with just 69 yards.

RB Ben Tate had just 36 yards on 16 carries and RB Isaiah Crowell had seven carries for 18 yards.

Ironically, the Jaguars were averaging 69.5 yards rushing, last in the NFL. RB Denard Robinson started his first game at running back and rushed for 127 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. 

The Hawk: The Browns had very little offense, but WR Andrew Hawkins went over 100 yards with five receptions for 112 yards, including a 65-yard play. WR Miles Austin had three receptions for 53 yards, while WR Taylor Gabriel had three catches for 39 yards. TE Jordan Cameron had just one catch for five yards.

Third Down Blues: Browns were 2-of-12 on third down midway through the third quarter.

Sack Men: LB Karlos Dansby sacked QB Blake Bortles on a third down play to stop Jacksonville's opening drive of the second half.

Rookie LB Chris Kirksey had the other sack on Bortles on third down in the third quarter to stop a drive. Kirksey finished with seven tackles to lead the Browns, with Dansby adding six.

Gilbert's Day: Top draft pick, Justin Gilbert played with DB K'Waun Williams inactive with a concussion. Gilbert was flagged on the first defensive series for illegal use of hands that gave the Jaguars a first down.

Gilbert made a nice stop on TE Clay Harbor in open field in the second quarter. On the next play, Gilbert blitzed from left corner and hit Bortles as he tried to throw third down pass that went incomplete forcing a punt.

Slow Start: The Browns offense punted on their first two series. On the first possession, they picked up one first down.

Missing Rubin, Williams: After practicing for the week, DL Ahtyba Rubin ended up being inactive, as was DB K'Waun Williams with a concussion.

DL Jaccobbi McDaniel was signed from the practice squad to replace Rubin. DL Ishamaa'ily Kitchen started in place of Rubin.

Other inactives were: WR Rodney Smith, DB Pierre Desir, DB K'Waun Williams, RB Glenn Winston, DL Ahtyba Rubin, DL Billy Winn, DL Phil Taylor.

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