BALTIMORE — You know, through the years (a lot of years), we have lost here at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, and those losses have come in all shapes and sizes.
This one takes on an identity, too, as the Browns are out-pointed by the Ravens 23-20.
Now listen, we knew the rules coming into this game: If you lose this one, it marks four losses in a row, and really puts your playoff opportunities (certainly your division run) very, very much in jeopardy, if not remote. We have arrived at that position, as the Browns now drop to 2-5 on the season.
They started out like a house of fire, went right down the field and scored on a Nick Chubb touchdown run. The Browns held onto the lead in the first half until about midway through the second quarter, where the game started to turn.
The offense that flowed so smoothly in the beginning of the game suddenly was in trouble, and yes, there was that problem on special teams once again. The Browns gave up a 46-yard punt return by Devin Duvernay that set up a field goal, and after a later touchdown drive, Baltimore had taken the lead, forcing Cleveland to chase the rest of the afternoon.
The Browns were in trouble once again when Jacoby Brissett was strip sacked in the pocket. Baltimore recovered, and on a short field turned that into another touchdown to go ahead by 10. Remember, though: These Ravens are not a lock this year when they have a lead late. In their three losses, they have blown big leads, and it almost happened again.
Kareem Hunt cut it to three, and then the Browns were victimized by two really questionable soft calls after the had recovered a fumble and and staged a final drive which started at their own 16-yard line.
Amari Cooper is hit with offensive pass interference very, very close to the goal line when it looked as though the Browns were going to take the lead in the game with just under two minutes to go. Then, the killer: They lined up for a field goal and they got called for a false start when it looked as though the Ravens had two players move.
Nobody moved on the Browns' side, although John Harbaugh said after the game the ruling was that long snapper Charley Hughlett might have moved the football, and that brought the flag out.
The bottom line is this: It's another heartbreaking loss for a team that is really puzzled and frustrated right now, and wondering what is left of their season. At 2-5, with a Halloween Monday night game coming up against the Cincinnati Bengals, where are we right now?
Are we just a spoiler for teams that will come in and try and make a playoff run themselves? Are we a team now that's just going to have to wait until early December, when Deshaun Watson comes in and is eligible to become the Browns' quarterback for the final six games?
I don't think any of us ever thought that with the talent on this roster that we would be sitting right now at two wins and five losses on the year, but you are what your record says, and the Browns are there right now, in a big hole at 2-5 with the Bengals coming into town a week from Monday on Halloween night.
The Browns continue to look for answers, but the biggest question is: How do they win? How do they close out a game? How do they become clutch in the final stages of a game and pull one out that might turn the season around? Maybe not all the way to get them into the playoffs, but at least turn the mood around and get them to the point where they become confident with the lead or in their ability to come back and win a game.
A very disappointing Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. A winnable game? You bet. They didn't win again.
Listen to Jimmy's calls from the game below: