CLEVELAND — Poor execution, mental mistakes, dumb penalties and inexcusably poor play-calling all contributed to another disappointing loss for a Browns team that continued its colossal free fall from just one year ago.
Simply put, the 26-14 loss to the Steelers was a complete embarrassment that embodies another lost season.
No team in the NFL has allowed more yards per carry than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nick Chubb is one of the NFL's premiere running backs. Baker Mayfield has never looked worse in his professional career. So, of course, the first half split for the Browns offense was nine rushes for 50 yards compared to 15 passes for 58 yards.
Chubb had just four first-half touches. Kevin Stefanski told ESPN at halftime he was "resting" his workhorse.
I've seen players that look like they need rest. Chubb after four carries isn’t one of them.
While Chubb was resting, Mayfield was busy throwing 10 straight incompletions, which included a pick and several batted balls. It's not like the game was ever out of hand in the first half; it was scoreless after one quarter and 10-0 at halftime.
How is any of this even remotely logical? It is not. This has been a recurring theme throughout the season.
After finally getting a touchdown in the third quarter to cut it to 13-7, the Browns defense got a big stop, handing the offense good field position. Sounds like a perfect time to put your best player in a coat on the sidelines to watch the offense sputter and stall again in his absence.
The stat of the night came during that fourth-quarter drive, when ESPN astutely pointed out the Browns offense was averaging 6.3 yards per play with Chubb on the field while managing a measly 1.3 yards per play with him on the bench. At that point, he was in the game for as many offensive snaps as he was on the sidelines.
A horrific 21-yard punt came next, and that was followed by a Steelers field goal to make it a two-score game with 9:45 to play. All while Chubb was watching, just like all of us, helplessly.
It’s been a scene we've watched repeatedly: Injured quarterback throwing far too often while the team's best player has to stand and watch. Running backs have a limited shelf life; this organization is wasting precious time not riding Chubb like the MVP candidate he could be.
There are certainly changes coming in the offseason. It's inevitable when a team with so much promise so wildly underachieves. Let's hope the first change is handing off the play-calling duties to someone who's sole purpose is — wait for it — to call plays.
I know, it seems like a no-brainer, yet this charade of the head coach calling the plays has gone on for two years. It hasn't worked. In truth, not many have been able to make it work in the modern era of the NFL. Those who have been successful are transformational offensive minds.
The job of offensive coordinator is a monumental, time-consuming job during the week. It also requires complete and total focus during the game. So does being a head coach.
That's why the job of offensive coordinator exists. Why have one if he's not going to coordinate the offense?
I understand Kevin Stefanski likes calling plays. He's proven when that's his sole focus he can be very good at it. I would also like to think he enjoys being a head coach. To be great at both is simply too big of an ask.
Can Stefanski be a successful head coach in the NFL? The jury is still out. He is currently 18-14, but in a league known for short memories, his Coach of the Year Award last season has lost some of its luster. Jerry Glanville once famously quipped the NFL stands for "not for long."
Stefanski was a calm and steady presence in 2020 when that was exactly what this organization needed. What it needs now is a CEO to lead a football team with a talented roster. It also needs a creative, bold play-caller.
There's no shame in not being able to do both. Pick one and be great at it, then pick an offensive play caller and give that person the chance to be great at that too.