CLEVELAND -- There is nothing quite like a short week to help the Cleveland Browns overcome a heartbreaking loss to the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans last Sunday.
The Browns had little time to process the 21-18 loss, in which four kicks were missed by now former Cleveland specialist Zane Gonzalez, as they had a short week ahead of tonight’s game against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday Night Football.
“Every week has its own pressure,” quarterback Tyrod Taylor said earlier in the week. “As a team, we focus on getting better each and every week. We could easily be sitting 2-0 right now. A couple of errors in the first two games and we are sitting at a tie and one in the loss category. Something that we have to clean up and get better at.
“Of course, every week, in my mind, as well as the team’s, is a must-win just because you know how important each and every week is. Definitely an opportunity for us to erase the feelings that we have had the past two games. Close games in the first two weeks did not go our way, but we have an opportunity in this game in front of national media, as well as everybody watching the Thursday game, to erase that taste.”
CALLAWAY TO GET EXPANDED ROLE
Browns rookie wide receiver Antonio Callaway may be only two games into his career, but the speedy pass catcher is expected to have an expanded role within the offense after the team traded Josh Gordon to the New England Patriots Monday.
With the Browns deactivating Gordon the day before the Saints game because of a hamstring injury, Callaway made the most of his opportunities, hauling in three passes for a team-best 81 yards, including a game-tying 47-yard touchdown in the loss.
“It can open up the offense for sure,” Taylor said of Callaway’s speed. “He is an incredible talent, and the opportunity is here for him to grow and for us to grow as a team, and we are going to need his playmaking ability to definitely step up for us to be successful as an offense, as well as everyone else. He can definitely run, and we are going to need him to do that well.”
TURNING DEFENSE INTO OFFENSE
The Browns have forced eight turnovers in the first two weeks of the 2018 regular season, but despite being plus-six in the turnover ratio, converting those takeaways into points has not be easy for the offense, no matter how short the field.
That is something the Browns are looking to change in a hurry, especially with rookie quarterback Sam Darnold and the Jets in town tonight. Darnold has thrown three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown in a win at the Detroit Lions.
“That’s the essence of football, truthfully,” wide receiver Jarvis Landry said. “When a defense gets turnovers, you gotta make it hurt and the only way to do that, whether it’s three or it’s six, obviously you want to score touchdowns like you say. When you get a short field, you gotta get points.”
ROOKIE KICKER’S DEBUT
On Monday, the Browns signed rookie kicker Greg Joseph and waived Gonzalez after the latter missed four kicks in Sunday’s loss at the Saints, which brought his failed attempts to five over the first two games of the regular season.
During Joseph’s four-game stint with the Miami Dolphins during the preseason, he made all three of his field goal tries and both extra-point attempts before being released at the end of training camp. Joseph was 57 of 82 in field goal tries during his career at Florida Atlantic University.
“Been working a lot. Been busting my butt,” Joseph said. “I’m ready to give everything I’ve got. I know that there’s still room for me to get better, and I’m aware of that. That’s something I’m keying in on and definitely looking to improve my game here and keep elevating it.”
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