No excuse for embarrassing effort
Bad football on display from Browns in their road loss to Texans.
A reason to believe. HOUSTON —
That’s what Cleveland Browns fans are looking for this season.
They want a reason to watch the game, a reason to say, “Wait until next year” without a roll of the eyes and a sad, cynical sigh.
Browns fans want their Sundays back when they could say, “Hey, there’s a game today” — and then not laugh.
Final score: Houston Texans 33, Browns 17.
I started writing this story late in the third quarter when Houston had a 33-3 lead. There were moments in this game when it felt like an Ohio State game, when the Buckeyes bring in a team such as UNLV. The point is for the home team to work up a sweat and let a lot of players go home feeling good about themselves.
It’s not supposed to be that way in the NFL. Nor is it supposed to be that way for the Browns this season.
The Browns remain the youngest team in the NFL. No reasons for great expectations. But that’s not an excuse for embarrassing efforts such as this against a Texans team that is 3-3 and without two of its best players — the injured J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus.
One lousy lead
The Browns are now 0-6. They have had one lead all season...
That’s right, only ONCE have the Browns led in a game!
That was a 7-3 margin in what became a 17-14 loss to the Jets last week.
It’s really hard to ask fans to embrace your team when it has only one lead in six games!
With the Browns of the last few years, there have been few last-minute, heart-breaking losses. There have just been losses. Defeats ...
And a lot of beat-downs, like this one in Texas.
Excused from this rant is rookie Myles Garrett. He had a sack. He belted Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, leading to an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Jason McCourty.
Garrett also had three other quarterbacks hits. He is a bigtime player.
But there was little else to watch.
Hogan unravels
This was Kevin Hogan’s first NFL start.
Yikes!
Hogan was supposed to stabilize the offense and avoid turnovers. He was replacing rookie DeShone Kizer, who had been turnover prone and whose confidence was shaken. Three turnovers later ... Three interceptions later, all the in the first half ...
And far too many passes wildly overthrown ...
Hogan had shown some poise playing parts of three games: 26-of-38 passing (68 percent) with three TD passes and two interceptions.
That guy must have missed the plane to Texas.
I asked coach Hue Jackson what happened to Hogan losing his poise?
“I can’t account for it,” said Jackson. “He missed some throws, missed some opportunities.”
This Kevin Hogan looked as overwhelmed and overmatched as Kizer or anyone else.
Hogan was 20-of-37 passing Sunday for 140 yards with three interceptions and one TD. He also was sacked four times.
“I’m not shaken at all,” insisted Hogan.
That’s his opinion. Jackson sounded as if it could go back to Kizer for next week’s game. The coach explained the quarterback situation is “weekto-week.”
Pain and more pain
Browns fans had to watch Watson have a wonderful time running around, making throws, watching the scoreboard light up.
Browns fans know how their team traded the No. 12 pick to Houston, which immediately grabbed Watson.
The rookie was 17-of-29 passing for 225 yards and three TD passes. He made many Browns fans watching the game wish Watson was wearing an orange helmet.
Watson has two good receivers in Will Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins.
Browns defensive backs Jamar Taylor and Jason McCourty praised Watson’s “poise” and how he looked so “comfortable” for a rookie.
He is playing for a better team than the Browns. So he probably would not be as successful in Cleveland.
But as I’ve written before, I underestimated Watson.
I’d feel much better today about the Browns if they had him at quarterback.
What defense?
The Browns drafted Jabrill Peppers instead of Watson.
The safety from Michigan has yet to deliver the big plays expected of him. He also seems to have trouble adapting to playing deep safety in the Gregg Williams defensive scheme.
The defense had a massive breakdown when Will Fuller was wide open and caught a 39-yard TD pass.
It appeared Peppers was late coming over in coverage.
D’Onta Foreman broke loose for a 39-yard run, as the defense gave up another big play.
Lack of talent is obviously an issue, but so is coaching.
Hue Jackson kept having Hogan heave the ball down the field, and not much good came of it.
The Gregg Williams defense didn’t stop long gains.
The Browns were flagged for 11 penalties and looked ill-prepared for this game.
And that’s why it’s so hard for the fans: They know bad football when they see it.