DeShone Kizer and the defense.

 

The defense and DeShone Kizer.

 

If there are such things are highlights from a loss, then these are that for the Browns after being edged 21-18 by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium in the regular-season opener.

 

The defense was outstanding. There were stretches when it dominated.

 

As for Kizer, he was very good some of the time, and not so good on other occasions. It’s what you would expect from a rookie starter in his first game.

 

But overall, he was impressive enough to make everybody want to see more of him, beginning with Sunday’s visit to Baltimore to face the 1-0 Ravens.

 

Include Browns head coach Hue Jackson in the group of “everybody.” He really let his feelings be known on Monday when he was asked at his press conference if he was even more encouraged about Kizer after watching the tape of the Pittsburgh game.

 

“Oh, absolutely,” Jackson said. “At the end of the day, this young man gives us hope. He gives you an opportunity to make plays.

 

“When I looked up, the game was 21-10, and here we are late in the fourth quarter with a chance to win the game and that is because of some plays he made. That is what you expect out of your quarterback. We are talking about a young rookie quarterback who is one of the youngest players in the league at that position. That is exciting for me. I think it is exciting for our organization.

 

“Now, that was one game. He has to continue to grow and get better and continue to show improvement and progress week in and week out, but we played against a good football team yesterday. That wasn’t somebody that just walked in and played against us. That was the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I thought he represented himself well.

 

“Now, he just has to continue to get better.”

 

And so do the rest of these young Browns.