BROWNS ‘DROP’ GAME TO CHIEFS
By STEVE KING
Indeed, the Browns “dropped” the season opener to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, 33-29.
All in the second half, after the Browns had aggressively built a 22-10 halftime lead:
Running back Nick Chubb dropped the ball on a drive that, if it had resulted in a touchdown, and it appeared it would have since the Chiefs had no answer on how to stop him for most of the game, would have put the Browns back up by two scores.
Punter Jamie Gillan dropped a punt snap and was smothered at the Cleveland 15, giving the Chiefs an easy touchdown.
Rookie wide receiver Anthony Schwartz — after a nice strip job by the defender — dropped a pass that would have resulted in a big gainer on third down.
And then on the Browns’ last offensive play, quarterback Baker Mayfield, just before he was dropped on a sack he knew he couldn’t take if the club was going to have any chance to drive for the winning TD, threw an game-ending interception.
Too many big mistakes at too many critical times.
Yes, the Browns gave the game away.
Give the Chiefs credit — they’re a good team so they were only too happy to take the gift — but they know what the Browns know and what everybody else knows, that Cleveland proved it was the equal of Kansas City, if not more than that.
The Browns just need to play in more games and learn how to make the plays that really count. The Chiefs have been in a lot of those games, and learned from it, just as they did several years ago in an AFC Championship Game loss in which they outplayed the New England Patriots, a team that had been in many more key moments than they had at that time.
Patience, patience, patience. It’s not just a virtue, but rather it’s a necessity right now for the Browns and you fans.
Baker Mayfield: ‘This One Stings’
The Browns were in control of the game for the first half, and for part of the third.
“We didn’t play our best when it mattered. We didn’t coach our best when it mattered,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said.
A somber Mayfield said after the game that he was trying to throw the ball away and avoid the sack but just didn’t get enough on it.
“It’s very frustrating. But that’s what happens in this league,” Mayfield told reporters. “You have to do the little things and play a full four quarters. I think there are 16 more of these but this one stings and it should.
