The Cleveland Browns had a winning record throughout their franchise, but history has changed, and unfortunately not for the better.
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Following Thursday’s 28-7 loss to the Ravens, the Browns are now 0-10.
That left the Browns at 0-10, their worst start to a season since they joined the National Football League in 1950. It was also their most lopsided win since a 20-10 victory over Cleveland on December 28, 2014.
Trying to get some sort of spark offensively on Thursday, the Browns used three quarterbacks. McCown turned the ball over three times after replacing Kessler.
Busy Backers: LB Christian Kirksey led the Browns in tackles with 12, while LB Demario Davis had three tackles and the Browns only other sack. “That wasn’t musical chairs today”, Jackson said. “I’m halfway through. We’ll see how it is at the end of the year”. “I don’t regret it at all”.
Stats and Info reports that the Browns became the first team to use two timeouts in the first five minutes of the game since the Panthers in 2013 against the Dolphins. Baltimore cut the margin to 7-6 at the half on a 40-yard field goal by Tucker as time expired.
Kessler went 11 of 18 for 91 yards and a touchdown.
“I just thought there were some things that normally he does real well”, Jackson said.
The issues continued for Flacco, though, as the lanky signal caller made another one of the poor decisions that has plagued his season to this point, forcing things to Kenneth Dixon in the end zone with Joe Haden in the area.
Flacco set up Waller’s touchdown grab by connecting with speedy receiver Mike Wallace on a quick slant pass for 20 yards. The lead ballooned to 21-7 after a two-point to pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk. BBC separated from Steve Smith around the nine-yard line, intercepted the ball at about the two-yard line and his momentum carried him into the end zone.
“You gotta go in there when you’re asked to play and play well”, McCown said.
“All I can say to our fans is hang with us”. “He’s a young player and I’m going to put him back out there”.
A 27-yard touchdown throw to Breshad Perriman sealed it with 6:21 remaining and marked the 10th straight game in which the Browns yielded at least 25 points. For the game, he completed just six of 13 passes for 59 yards and two interceptions.
“In the first half, we did great”, Cleveland defensive lineman Jamie Meder said. “Our motivation is we need a win”. Following Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Kirksey guaranteed the Browns would not finish 0-16. After all of the ups and downs this season, the Ravens are now playing with a confidence that could propel them on another improbable January run.
Rookie Cody Kessler got the start, but fellow rookie Kevin Hogan also took a couple snaps and veteran Josh McCown entered in the third quarter, but threw an interception on his first series.
Until then, the Browns will try to figure out why they keep faltering in second halves, and – more importantly to their cause – how to rectify the problem.
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I understand that you are 0-9 and just want to win a game, but the decision Jackson made last night made no sense. It should be very obvious why I chose to end on a good note.
