Friday, Aug. 14 (AM) — In the NFL, Everything Can Flip Overnight
In the NFL, “Not For Long” isn’t just a tongue-in-cheek nickname — it’s the harsh reality. Things change fast. What works one week might fall flat the next. And right now, no team exemplifies that more than the Cleveland Browns.
Just two weeks ago, the Browns’ blueprint for 2015 was clear: run the ball, minimize risk, and ask as little of the quarterbacks as possible. Fast forward to the preseason opener, and the script has flipped entirely. Suddenly, it’s the quarterbacks showing promise — and the running backs raising red flags.
In Thursday night’s 20-17 loss to Washington at FirstEnergy Stadium, starting quarterback Josh McCown looked sharp, going 5-for-5 for 33 yards and capping off the game’s opening drive with a well-placed two-yard touchdown to Travis Benjamin. McCown made a savvy decision, keeping the play alive with his legs before finding Benjamin wide open in the back of the end zone.
Backup Johnny Manziel also turned in a solid performance over five series. He finished 7-of-11 for 42 yards and added a 12-yard touchdown scramble that showed off the athleticism that made him a first-round pick. Both quarterbacks looked more competent — maybe even better — than many expected heading into camp.
But the ground game? It was dismal.
Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell — who were expected to shoulder the offensive load — combined for just 16 yards on eight carries. And it looked even worse than the numbers suggest. Their runs lacked urgency, vision, and physicality. If the Browns were hoping the running game would anchor the team and make life easier for the quarterbacks, that hope is quickly fading.
To be clear, neither McCown nor Manziel is currently at a point in their careers where they can carry the team week in and week out. The Browns were built to be a run-first team — and that identity doesn’t change just because the backfield suddenly looks shaky.
So what are the options?
The Browns can gamble on Crowell and West rediscovering their 2014 form. But with little proven consistency between them, that’s a risky bet. If they wait too long and the run game doesn’t improve, the season could spiral — and Head Coach Mike Pettine and GM Ray Farmer could find themselves on the hot seat quickly.
Or they could act now.
The most logical option remains signing veteran running back Ray Rice. Yes, there’s baggage. But on the field, Rice is a proven commodity. His presence would restore balance to the offense and give the Browns a better shot at executing the plan they carefully crafted during the offseason. He might also be the difference between keeping this coaching staff intact or starting over again next year.
Consider this: The Browns open the regular season with games against the Jets, Titans, and Raiders — three teams that combined for just 9 wins in 2014. All three are beatable, especially if the Browns can control the clock with a productive ground game. A 3-0 start is not out of the question. But if Cleveland can’t run the ball? Suddenly, those same teams start circling the Browns game as a potential win on their calendars.
That’s how quickly things flip in the NFL.
So while Thursday night’s loss doesn’t count in the standings, it delivered a clear message: the Browns’ run game is broken, and the clock is ticking to fix it.
Steve King
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