Kizer, Browns lose home finale and fall to 0-14
Quarterback gives up three of team’s four turnovers in loss.
With DeShone Kizer’s chances to prove to the Browns that he can be their guy, he committed three of the four turnovers Sunday in a 27-10 loss to the Ravens in the home finale.
The loss dropped the Browns to 0-14, and 0-8 at home.
It’s only the second time in club history that the Browns have gone 0-8 at home, including the expansion season of 1999. The only difference this time is that one of those home games was played across the pond in London.
The Browns are also the only team in NFL history to go 0-14 in back-to-back years. They’re now down to only two more chances to avoid joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams in NFL history to go 0-16. The Browns play in Chicago on Christmas Eve and at Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve.
At this rate, coach Hue Jackson will not only be swimming in the lake, but the dreaded 0-16 parade will become a reality.
On top of every other futility mark, the Browns lost their 16th straight in the AFC North.
Kizer’s most glaring mistake came with just over 11 minutes left in the game and the Browns trailing 27-10. Facing a third and 5 from the Baltimore 6, Kizer was flushed left and threw the ball
into a crowd in the back of the end zone, where Brandon Carr intercepted it, ending any hope of a Browns comeback.
Jackson was asked after the game if that decision made him wonder if Kizer will ever figure it all out.
“I think that’s a fair question, will he ever get it?” Jackson said. “I
think he will . ... That’s been an area of the field where there’s been some struggles, but there’s been some improvement.
“... In those times of stress, he has to think through it and make the right decision. ... He can make those plays better. When it goes off the rails, it goes off the rails.”
Jackson said he would like to see Kizer finish off the last two games, and was asked if Kizer is capable of doing so after another turnover-filled day.
“I think he can. I’m going to watch the tape and make the best decision for our football team,” Jackson said. “I want him to finish this if he can.
“I need to see where he is. This is tough on a young player. He’s been battling hard all year . ... I want to see where he is, because this is about his future in the National Football League. I want to do what’s best for him moving forward.”
Jackson was asked about the Browns not winning a home game this season.
“I apologize to our fans,” he said. “Hopefully this is the end of all of that. It can’t get much worse than this, true? We have to find a way to get on the other side.
“This is not OK. This is not what any of us want to be a part of . ... That’s why we’re trying to fix it, and we will fix it, I guarantee you that.”
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco improved to 17-2 against the Browns, and the Ravens kept alive their wild-card hopes by improving to 8-6.
Kizer (20-of-37, 146 yards, 2 interceptions, one lost fumble) was strip-sacked in the end zone and the ball was recovered by the Ravens’ Brandon Williams for a touchdown. Browns left tackle Spencer Drango was beaten cleanly by linebacker Za’Darius Smith on the play, and Smith sacked Kizer even though the play was a short dropback.
That makes five interceptions and two lost fumbles for Kizer in two losses to the Ravens. The other turnover was a fumble by Duke Johnson, who was stripped after a 9-yard catch. The Ravens converted that miscue into a TD for a 17-7 lead in the second quarter.
Kizer has a league-high 19 interceptions and six lost fumbles, meaning he’s committed 25 of the Browns’ 36 giveaways.
Browns receiver Josh Gordon caught five passes, but for only 47 yards, and Myles Garrett was held without a sack for the fifth time in his last six games.