CLEVELAND — The Browns are now 5-7 after losing to the Steelers on Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
They're not mathematically eliminated from the postseason, but chances are slim to none.
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What's left for this team to play for? The Browns still have three division games on the schedule, including two more at home. They have one more chance to take down the Ravens and complete a season sweep. It feels like the all-too-familiar scenario of a Browns team playing out the string with an uncertain future awaiting at the end.
I'm not sure what the hardest part about all of this is.
They've lost to two third-string quarterbacks this season, including one with the name of 'Duck.' In Denver, Brandon Allen outplayed Baker Mayfield and helped the Broncos hand the Browns their fourth straight loss. Then, Devlin "Duck" Hodges leads Pittsburgh to a come-from-behind win after the Browns struck early and led 10-0.
Head coach Freddie Kitchens is getting heat about everything from his choice of fashion, to his play calling, to his team's preparedness. Of course, it probably was a bad look to wear a 'Pittsburgh Started It' shirt by Kitchens, but I'm more alarmed by the fact that the Browns only ran the ball six times in the second half.
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It's just a mess. We attempted to sort it all out this morning on After Further Review with the 'Voice of the Browns,' Jim Donovan. I asked Jimmy about another week where what happens off the field (t-shirt, Damarious Randall not making the trip) overshadows what happens on it.
"I have to be honest, you had a funny feeling about the game going back to when we got on the bus to go to Pittsburgh, because of all of the 'stuff'," Jimmy told me. "These are things you shouldn't have to be handling at this point in time."
I also brought up the fact that the Browns are operating without Randall, without Myles Garrett, without Jerome Whitehead, and without Antonio Callaway because of off-the-field discipline problems.
"When you lay it out, the laundry list is long and it's not good," Jimmy said. "It brings back the word once again, undisciplined. A lack of accountability within the team."
As far as Kitchens and the 'Pittsburgh Started It' shirt? "Did it cost them on the field? No it didn't," said Jimmy. "It's something that the organization has to deal with. John Dorsey has to deal with it. The Haslams have to deal with it. Freddie has to realize that with all his charm, he has a higher responsibility. That is to be the head coach of the Cleveland Browns."
You can watch After Further Review in the player below:
Today's Twitter question comes courtesy of Jay Crawford: