CLEVELAND, Ohio (TheOBR.com) Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans! It's Monday, which typically means that storm clouds hang over the heads of Browns fans and debate rages in our forums. Amidst this chaos, a lone webdork sits in an office before the sun decides to make an appearance, wondering how to put his disappointment into words.
I didn't recap the game yesterday or offer an Instant Bloviation on the results. This loss hit me hard, and I felt it wouldn't be responsible to recap it or write about it when emotional. Likewise, our forums exploded with frustration from fans who love this team and want to see it win.
It's been said 10,000 times since shortly after Noon yesterday, but the Browns lost a game they should have won by stifling the offense in the fourth quarter and allowing the defense to get gashed for 80 yards in a final game-winning drive. Blame instantly fell on Kevin Stefanski for his coaching decisions late in the game, Andrew Berry for not providing the team with sufficient resources to score more than 17 or so points per game, and their normally praiseworthy defense for their late-game collapse.
All three could be defended in one form or another by people who understand the nuances of the game better than I do, but I'm entirely focused on the scoreboard. The scoreboard once again suggests that the Browns aren't good enough, particularly on offense, to be competitive in 2025. It's saying this is likely to be another moribund season, with the team slogging through November and December games without the prospect of playoff contention.
Look, when we all examined the schedule for the first six games of 2025, most predictions were that the team would finish 2-4 or 1-5 in those six games. The team is doing exactly what was expected and could have, in fact, been 3-2 at this point except for critical failures on special teams and elsewhere. However, when I examine the standings, it shows 1-4 with the least effective offense in the league.
The problem hasn't been so much that they lost, but how they lost. Sure, we would be disappointed either way, but the results have Browns fans playing "What if" and pointing the finger at whatever separated the Browns from victory.
While some among us claimed early in the season that they would be happy with the team simply being competitive, going through the games each Sunday makes that challenging because the team has battled (and baffled) to narrow losses in two of the contests, and was so close to winning thanks to a generally dominant defense.
At the same time, the play of new quarterback Dillon Gabriel (19/33, 190, 2 touchdowns, and composed throughout) is the icing on the cake of this fantastic 2025 draft class, whose emergence on both offense and defense provides a great building block to future competitive teams. However, that sheen of the group of rookies loses its luster when frustrated by another close loss.
You can point the finger at Kevin Stefanski if you want, given the strangely conservative fourth-quarter offense and debatable use of time-outs.
You can point the finger at Andrew Berry if you want, since he is ultimately the guy who picked the players who are on the field and can't break the mighty 20-point barrier.
You can even blame the defense if you want, because they couldn't stop the Vikings when it mattered, even if some of the plays the Vikings pulled off were against great match-ups, such as Justin Jefferson vs. Denzel Ward.
Or, if you're feeling charitable, you can give credit to the Minnesota Vikings, who battled through injuries, out-coached, and out-executed the Browns when the game was on the line.
To me, the blame falls on the front office as a whole because the team is still reeling from the loss of draft picks from the (in retrospect) completely boneheaded trade for Deshaun Watson, which cost the team so many potentially valuable players and has them rebuilding (again) in 2025. Want to know why the Browns don't have any quality depth at wide receiver? Look there. Wonder why the Browns are so thin on the offensive line? Look there. You can't absorb the loss of those opportunities to infuse talent without reeling for years afterwards.
The success of Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay throws that decision into sharp relief, as it now looks like perhaps the most significant mistake by any NFL club since the turn of the century. If not longer.
Jimmy Haslam's focus on stability, which kept the front office intact despite a 4-18 record in their last 22 games, also opens him up to criticism. Lose to the Steelers next Sunday, and watch that criticism redouble.
The Browns, an ineffectual organization that considers itself elite, owns it. All of it.
The OBR Postgame Show-Gabriel impresses in debut, Defense can't help him out - (youtube.com)
BROWNS ARTICLES
Takeaways from Browns Loss: D-Gives it Up, O-Disappears Late; Dillon Gabriel Debut, Quinshon Judkins Shines - Fred
Cleveland Browns Not Enough to Beat Minnesota Vikings - Pete
Cleveland Browns Snap Counts vs Minnesota Vikings & Quick Takeaways - Jack
Cleveland Browns' Jack Conklin Returns after Missing Three Games; Greg Newsome Active; Cornelius Lucas Inactive - Fred
So what side of the ball gets the blame for this lost
Impacts of Potential Retirements
Are the Browns going to be out of the playoff picture by Nov.
I think Stefanski is coaching for his job next week
Hey! This is the OFFICIAL Browns - VIkings Cooler Game Thread
The exoplanet revolution at 30: 1st alien world was found around a sun-like star three decades ago - (space.com)
Always Fatal Huntington's Disease is Successfully Treated for First Time With Gene Therapy - (goodnewsnetwork.org)
Man is Shocked to Find His Dog Giving a Baby Koala a Piggyback Ride - (goodnewsnetwork.org)
Camera Traps Reveal Beavers Have Finally Returned to the Bronx River After 'a Very Long Time' - (goodnewsnetwork.org)
New DARPA 'field guide' looks for ways to jump-start a moon economy - (space.com)
I figure we could use some good news this morning, so I've linked five stories that are positive or excite me for one reason or another. To me, the final link is the most substantial, as mankind's push into space is starting to look like a real thing, and not just cosmic tourism. Maybe these will take your minds off my rant at the beginning of this article. They didn't help me much. I'm still steamed.
When not in rant mode, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at [email protected] if you are so compelled.
CONTACT Barry to sponsor or advertise on the OBR. We have plans for nearly any budget!