Name: Browns’ loss to Ravens shouldn’t dampen performance that showed they belong on the big stage
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Browns’ loss to Ravens shouldn’t dampen performance that showed they belong on the big stage

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NEW!CLEVELAND, Ohio -- September 13 seems like so long ago. It was only three months, but the Browns’ 38-6 loss to the Ravens in their season opener has become a mere footnote on this season.That’s why there’s nothing but optimism here following one of the best Monday Night Football games you’ll ever see. (And, yes, I’ll get to the defense.) The Browns lost, 47-42, but if you’re coming away from this feeling like it’s anything more than a speed bump on the way to the playoffs, I’m not sure what to tell you.The resilience the Browns showed on Monday night was exactly the next box to check on this journey through the 2020 season. Twice in the second half they trailed by 14 points, and each time they came up with the drive and score they needed. It helped keep the door open long enough for Lamar Jackson to leave the game with cramps and the Browns’ defense to get the stop it needed.Eventually, Jackson returned and created what was the go-ahead score at the time, but the Browns responded to tie the game.Listen, the defense isn’t where it needs to be. Talent upgrades need to come in the offseason, and it certainly didn’t help not having Denzel Ward or Ronnie Harrison on the field. This wasn’t a one-year build. They’ll have to wear their inability to make a play at the end to force overtime.There’s still so much to be positive about after this one. The Browns are 9-4 and, while they were unable to close the gap on the Steelers, it wasn’t for lack of effort. They deserved to win this game as much as the Ravens, and maybe they would have if they would have found a way to force the extra 10 minutes.Baker Mayfield, on a day when his interception streak ended and his completion percentage wasn’t great for much of the night, was gutsy and made winning plays late. He looked like a quarterback you want to sign to an extension this offseason and it happened against a division rival.The Browns were getting smart game management from the sideline, too. Yes, we’ll quibble over the run-pass ratio in spots, but the aggressive call to go for it on fourth down from their own 46 down 34-20 was the right call. The decision to go for two after cutting a 14-point lead to six was straight out of the analytics textbook. It worked. The Browns got the two and then took the lead on the extra point. It just didn’t hold up.The Browns put the “Who have they beaten?” demons to rest last Sunday when they blew up the Titans defense for a 38-7 halftime lead and hung on to win.This week, they could have won their 10th game in front of a national audience. They didn’t. But they did show they belong on the same field with Baltimore and any other team outside of the Chiefs and maybe the Bills in the AFC.Would it have been better to announce with a win? Sure. But the Browns are a team no one wants in the postseason. They showed that on Monday night.New Browns face masks for sale: More Browns coverage Buy Browns gear: , , , Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

NEW!CLEVELAND, Ohio -- September 13 seems like so long ago. It was only three months, but the Browns’ 38-6 loss to the Ravens in their season opener has become a mere footnote on this season.That’s why there’s nothing but optimism here following one of the best Monday Night Football games you’ll ever see. (And, yes, I’ll get to the defense.) The Browns lost, 47-42, but if you’re coming away from this feeling like it’s anything more than a speed bump on the way to the playoffs, I’m not sure what to tell you.The resilience the Browns showed on Monday night was exactly the next box to check on...

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Dan Labbe

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Browns’ loss to Ravens shouldn’t dampen performance that showed they belong on the big stage

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