A BAD EFFORT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL FOR FREDDIE, BROWNS

By STEVE KING

There was a report early Sunday that the Browns hierarchy had already decided to bring back head coach Freddie Kitchens for next season and want him to remain with the team for a long time.

If that is true, then Kitchens ought to thank his lucky stars that the report came out before Sunday’s game against the pitiful Arizona Cardinals.

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And if, as I believe and so do many others, that Kitchens’ fate is still being determined, then he had better go light some candles at church to help his own cause following the Browns’ performance in Arizona.

In one of their worst games in this tremendously disappointing season – and that’s saying something because there have been some real stinkers – the Browns lost 38-24 to the Cardinals to fall to 6-8 and lose the chance to have their first winning season since 2007.

While two touchdowns is a lot in today’s NFL, where most of the games are pretty close, don’t be fooled by the margin of victory. The Cardinals did what they wanted offensively for almost all of the game. The Browns had no answers on how to stop them with any kind of consistency.

And offensively, the Browns did more to stop themselves than anything the Cardinals did. The Cardinals (4-9-1) came in as one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and played like it, but the Browns could do little to take full advantage of it.

Why? Because – once again – of poor play-calling, especially – once again – of failing to keep the ball on the ground against a defense that was ripe for getting gouged by the run. Nick Chubb had a big day with the carries he got, but – inexplicably — he just didn’t get enough.

That, of course, falls on coaching. Kitchens is supposed to be this offensive whiz, but the offense has been out of sync all year. With the talent the team has on that side of the ball, such play is inexcusable.