Following all of the drama, excitement, wins, injuries, quarterbacks (all five of them), Joe Flacco fever, and the Cleveland Browns fans’ expectation of a lengthy playoff run—possibly all the way to the Super Bowl—the Browns’ postseason run lasted a mere sixty minutes.
The Browns came to Houston for their wildcard meeting with the Texans on Saturday, and four quarters later they were gone, bum-rushed back to Cleveland, following an ugly 45-14 loss (and it wasn’t that close), compliments of a 22-year-old quarterback with Ohio ties.
The 38-year-old Flacco, who turns 39 tomorrow, was no match for the 22-year-old former Ohio State star quarterback C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans, who demolished the once unbeatable Cleveland defense, which had spent the majority of the season taking pride in its defeats.
“The end of the season comes rather suddenly. It’s hard for all of our people to stop playing games after putting in so much labor. That’s difficult for both our players and us as coaches, said Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who is a front-runner to earn NFL Coach of the Year for the second time in his four seasons in the position.
The Browns’ season came to an abrupt and nasty end.
Determining why Cleveland’s much-hyped defense was so variable, depending on whether the Browns were playing at home or away, will be one task for Stefanski and his staff the following season.
Cleveland’s defense allowed an average of more than 31 points per game away from home, while the Browns’ defense held opponents to 13.9 points per game at home. That is a striking disparity that hasn’t been seen in the NFL in forty years.
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You will need to allow me a little time. Stefanski remarked, “I think we have to take a closer look at that.” “Well, you need to investigate this thoroughly, and we’ll have a look at it.”
It’s unlikely that Flacco, who helped the Browns win four straight games toward the conclusion of the season to send Cleveland to the postseason, will return the following season.
Deshaun Watson, who missed the second part of this season due to a right shoulder injury, is anticipated to return the following year.
Stefanski remarked of Watson, “He’s doing excellent in rehabilitation.” “I have no doubt that he’ll be prepared to go this spring. He’s biting off more than he should be, but he’s following the doctors’ instructions to the letter as he recovers from this. However, he’ll be prepared to go.
The Browns certainly hope so, as Watson hasn’t produced much for them since they acquired him in that huge deal on March 18, 2022, from Houston. In exchange for the trade, the Browns signed Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract and offered Houston six draft picks, including three first-round selections in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Due to injuries and suspensions, Watson has only started 12 of the 34 games since being traded to the Browns.
This season, Watson only appeared in six games, but the Browns won five of them, 27-0, 27-3, 24-3, and by narrow margins (33-31, 39-38). The lone defeat came at the hands of Pittsburgh, 26-22.
“Deshaun has demonstrated his ability to write plays both here and throughout his career. We’re really pleased about that aspect of his game because he’s made a ton of plays for us, Stefanski said. “He demonstrated it, so he is enthusiastic about getting well and reintegrating into the system, among other things.”
The game that left Stefanski searching for superlatives was the high point of Watson’s Cleveland tenure, which began on November 12 of this year when he guided the Browns to a 33-31 victory over the Ravens in Baltimore.
Stefanski remarked, “I don’t know how many people on Earth can perform that second half versus Baltimore.” “What he did in the second half despite his ailments. We’re incredibly excited for him. He’s giddy. He’s well on his way to achieving his goal of becoming well again, as far as I can see.
Being able to keep Watson healthy and on the field for a large chunk of the season presents the biggest hurdle for Watson and the Browns. That has not yet occurred.
Stefanski stated, “I believe it was three games before he was out with the injury, then back, and then out again.” Deshaun found that unsatisfactory, and he was disappointed that he couldn’t play longer.
In the second half of the team’s triumph over Baltimore, among other different instances during the season, he led his team, played winning football in those games, adopted his style of play, and made plays that were difficult for coaches to call. We’re eager to have him back home, and I’m thrilled that he’s getting better.
