CLEVELAND — It's sometimes helpful after a tough loss to let some time go by to digest things with a fresher perspective.
I mean part of my job at 3News is to get your somewhat instant reaction to the Browns game on After Further Review on the morning after a game. And I enjoy hearing what you have to say.
With an extra day to ponder the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams Sunday Night Football game, I was eager to talk about it on Tuesday. With Jimmy getting a well-deserved night off, Jay Crawford stepped in on the show.
One of the two most controversial moments of the game was the call by Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens to run a draw play to Nick Chubb on 4th-and-9 at the Rams' 40-yard-line with just over nine minutes to play in the game.
RELATED: Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens: 'If you're looking to blame somebody, blame me'
"Bad call," Kitchens said, confirming that he was the one who called the play. "It just didn't work. It was a bad call... We're trying to win the game and we're on their side of the field. Bad call."
As my colleague Ben Axelrod wrote, it didn't take long for social media to tee off on the Browns' playcall, which according to ESPN's Jake Trotter was the first draw play on 4th-and-9 or longer to be called since such data began being tracked in 2007.
Kitchens has been skewered for that call as well as the team's failed trip inside the five-yard-line at the end of the game. But was the 4th-and-9 draw play call his fault?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Jay Crawford pointed out to me that from his vantage point at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, it appeared that quarterback Baker Mayfield audibled prior to the snap on that fourth down play.
Let's go to the film, shall we? On this YouTube video, it does appear that Mayfield changes his cadence and perhaps...perhaps is calling a different play.
As Jay pointed out to me, we don't know if that's true or not because we don't know the Browns' signals.
And frankly, they wouldn't tell us anyway.
If Mayfield did audible, Kitchens made sure to fall on the proverbial sword and protect his star quarterback by taking full responsibility.
No matter who made the final call to run the play, this is just something to consider as you think about the Browns, Mayfield, and Kitchens moving forward.
Jay and I also discussed whether Kitchens made a tactical error by not challenging what appeared to be a pass interference penalty two plays before the draw play. Plus, should the Browns have the Redskins on speed dial?
New name, new look, same great show
As you've noticed in the last couple of days, there have been some changes here at the station. In keeping with that theme, I'm pleased to say that the 'Donovan Live Postgame Show' is now 'Donovan & Dino.'
I say every day how lucky I am to be able to work with someone like Jim Donovan, and I am. To have my name next to his is an honor and we really appreciate your support as we've done this online show for the last two-plus years.
And kudos to Master Pizza and owner Mike LaMarca for hanging with us as the sponsor of Donovan & Dino. Maybe someday we'll get that pizza during the show!
Watch Donovan & Dino, with special guest Jay Crawford, in the player below:
