CLEVELAND — It’s always something.
A missed kick, a late pick, a bad call, no call, all of the above. You name it, and it's happened to this Browns team who has now lost a league leading six games by six points or less after the 24-22 Christmas Day loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
7-8 could be 10-4 with very little imagination, but it’s not. It's 7-8, and as Bill Parcells famously said years ago, "You are what your record says you are," In the case of the Browns, they're a pretty good team that can't make its own breaks, makes too many costly mistakes and almost always finds a way to make sure they screw up something when the game is in the balance.
There's just something missing. There's no spark, no magic. It's just... ugh.
Answer this honestly: Did anyone really think the Browns would work their way down the field in the final two minutes, line up for a game-winning field goal and make it? No, because that's not what this team does.
The Browns outplayed the Packers. Period. Baker Mayfield's four interceptions were just too much to overcome. Sure, there was pass interference on his final pick, but it wasn't called, so it doesn't matter.
Does Aaron Rodgers get the call? You bet. Baker hasn't earned that call yet. Is that fair? Of course not, but it's reality.
Until this team figures out a way to get out of its own way, they will be classic underachievers. They have earned that moniker this year, for sure.
In the face of more adversity than any team should ever have to face, the Browns stood up, fought with both hands, but in the end they couldn't land the haymaker. They couldn't close deals that were very closable. Something always seems to happen, so now, they're about to see the final curtain drop on their season of unthinkable bad luck.
Is there still a chance? Sure. In typical Browns, fashion life lingers until the bitter end, then suddenly it's gone.
Can they still make the playoffs? Yep. You see, this way we can endure more misery next week, and maybe the week after.
7-8. Let that sink in. This football team is far too talented -- even with the tidal wave of bad luck -- to be 7-8.
There is a key ingredient missing. Is it leadership? Is it a quarterback? Is it a kicker? Is it all of the above?
Thankfully, it's not my job to figure that out, but someone in charge better. Because whatever it is, they won't win anything until they find it.