Browns playing badly, but breaks aren't going their way

In the afterglow of some last minute and last-second victories last season – in moments when fans could really sit back and contemplate the reality of the Cleveland Browns winning 11 games and qualifying for the playoffs, there had to be a nagging feeling. When the Browns started five quarterbacks, went through countless injuries, but somehow kept winning, it was there. When 49ers kicker Jake Moody missed a game-winning field goal, when then-Bears' quarterback Justin Field's desperation pass to the end zone bounced off receiver Darnell Mooney and into the waiting arms of Browns DB D'Anthony Bell for a sealing interception, the nagging voice got a little bit louder: "We're going to pay for this next year." The Cleveland Browns of 2023 won the close games. Of their 11 victories, six of them came by four points or less. The Browns got the fourth-down touchdown in the final minute at Indianapolis. They beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on a last second field goal, after three quarters of some of the ugliest offense you will ever see. They beat the Ravens after kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a game-tying extra point late in the fourth quarter, but then rebounded to drill a game winning kick as time expired. In short, the 2023 Browns won games like the one the 2024 version slogged through Sunday in Las Vegas. But the 2024 Browns are a different team. Cleveland lost Sunday, 20-16 to the Raiders. The Browns are 1-3, and it fair to wonder why. Maybe it's a lack of attention to detail. Maybe it's players coming up short at the worst possible time. Or, perhaps, it's just bad luck. The point is, the Browns were bad Sunday. But they weren't so bad that they should have lost. But they did. And that's becoming a depressing theme to this season. The Browns offense scored a touchdown on its opening possession – that's the third-consecutive week they've done that – and had an early 10-0 lead. Then, the Browns gave up 20 straight points. That's the second straight week they've done that. And yet, a victory was in their grasp, a few times. Deshaun Watson – who I thought looked good for most of the game – had a perfect deep pass bounce off receiver Amari Cooper, and right into the hands of the Raiders' Tre'Von Moehrig. Down 20-16 in the fourth quarter (it would have been a three-point game, but Hopkins missed a PAT after a defensive score), Watson and the offense were stuck back at their own 18. Watson took the snap, evaded pressure, and lofted a perfect pass to Cooper, who ran untouched to the end zone. The Browns looked to have taken a 22-20 lead with 10 minutes left. But, there was a flag. This season, there always seems to be a flag. Center Nick Harris – only playing because of an injury to Ethan Pocic that happened earlier in the game – was called for holding. Some thought it was a weak call. But having watched the replay a few times, I thought it was a penalty. The shame of it was Harris didn't need to do it. Watson wasn't in trouble. Regardless, the Browns defense made a stop, and the team found itself with another chance to steal the game. A big run by back Jerome Ford set the Browns up with the ball at the Las Vegas 15 at the two-minute warning. It was, simply, winning time. Instead, on first down, Harris shotgun snapped a ball to Watson that the quarterback wasn't ready for. The QB fell on the ball back at the 21. First and 10 became second-and-16. Two plays later, Cleveland was at the Raiders' 9, facing a fourth-and-4. Only 41 seconds remained. Watson took the snap, raced to his left to avoid the Raiders' pass rush, but was dropped by Las Vegas' Charles Snowden for a game-ending sack. It was one of those games – and as Browns fans, we've had many over the years – where you just sit in front of your television for a few minute after the game ends, staring off into space. It's been a tough season. And, with road games at Washington and Philadelphia coming up, it's probably going to get tougher The Browns – and perhaps their fans -- seem to be paying for it this year. ON AMARI: Some fans have been really down on Cooper. He had four receptions for 35 yards Sunday, and has 16 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns this season. I even heard a few analysts suggest that Cooper has "checked out" on Cleveland after he was the subject of trade rumors in the offseason. Personally, I don't see it. Yes, Cooper has had some uncharacteristic drops this season. His big drop on Sunday – which became a Raiders interception – was extremely frustrating. But Cooper rebounded. If a certain penalty – which had nothing to do with him – had not been called, Cooper would have had an 82-yard touchdown reception to put the Browns ahead in the fourth quarter. It may have been a game-winning touchdown. Cooper would have been the subject of praise this week, rather than the object of scorn. We all make mistakes. But once they happen, the best we can do is try to be better at the next opportunity. Cooper was. Even if a penalty ruined his shot at redemption. PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Punter Corey Bojorquez had six punts Sunday, and drilled every one of them, averaging more than 63 yards an attempt. He only dropped one inside the 10, but he was a big reason why the game was still winnable late. On the other hand, if the best player is your punter, that's not good. NEXT WEEK: You know who hasn't needed a punter? The Washington Commanders. Washington, led by Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft, has been practically unstoppable in the last three weeks. The Commanders have only punted one time in their last three games, all wins. In Washington's 42-14 thrashing of the Cardinals on Sunday, punter Tress Wray finally had to wander out on the field with about three minutes left in the first half. No word coach Dan Quinn had to ask his assistants where – or even who – Wray was, or if the 11th-year Oklahoma product had to reintroduce himself to teammates in the huddle. It'd make for an interesting story. But make no mistake, the story for the Redskins is Daniels, the former star quarterback from LSU. In wins over the Bengals and Cardinals, he has thrown a total of six incompletions. It's as if he's out to top what C.J. Stroud did in his rookie year for the Texans. Facing Daniels will be a Cleveland defense that I'd describe as …uneven. Myles Garrett had two sacks Sunday and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has continued to be a force. And yet, the Browns have had a "now-you-see-it, now-you-don't" defense. It gave up 152 yards on the ground to the Raiders Sunday. Las Vegas couldn't run the ball a lick in it's the first three games. Then, the defense continues to struggle with jet sweeps and misdirection. And yet, for whatever issues there are with the Browns defense, it won't matter one bit if the Browns can't score more than 17 points, something it has failed to do in all three games this season. MY PICK: COMMANDERS 34, BROWNS 16. Zach Baker is the sports editor for the Review Times and Courier.