The Cleveland Browns’ 23-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was more than just a defeat; it felt like a jarring return to the organizational quicksand that has historically plagued the franchise.
For a team that has yearned for sustained success, dropping their third consecutive game and settling for only field goals against their bitter rivals in the House of Horrors—where they haven’t consistently won since 2003—has pushed the collective patience of the fanbase to a breaking point.
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The offense, helmed by rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in his second start, once again sputtered, failing to find the end zone and managing a paltry 65 net rushing yards. The defense, despite its talent, couldn’t generate the game-changing plays expected of its All-Pro stars.
As the team sinks further into a losing record, the immediate sting of the loss gives way to deeper, more critical organizational questions. This is a franchise with significant investment in both talent and draft capital, yet the return on that investment is a team that appears fundamentally rudderless.
The familiar specter of a lost season is now looming large, forcing everyone from the head coach to the superstar players to confront an unsettling reality. The path forward is murky, and the answers to the following three questions will define the direction of the organization for the foreseeable future.
1. How Long Can Kevin Stefanski Hang On?
The spotlight shines brightest, and most harshly, on head coach Kevin Stefanski. The offensive production, or lack thereof, is becoming the undeniable common denominator in the team’s ongoing struggles. With both veteran Joe Flacco and now rookie Dillon Gabriel being forced to throw the ball over 40 times in losses, the offensive philosophy has become predictable and inefficient.
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Stefanski’s system, when clicking, is rooted in a dominant run game to set up play-action. However, the ground game has been anything but dominant, with Quinshon Judkins struggling for space behind an offensive line that is showing concerning regression. Missed assignments and poor play from veteran leaders like Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller are compounding the issue, turning would-be running lanes into stalled drives and third-and-long situations. When penalties are factored in, it’s no surprise this offense ranks among the worst in the league. The results speak for themselves: the Browns have now failed to reach 17 points for the 11th straight time.
Stefanski is the architect of the offense and the leader of the team, and with the losses piling up and frustration mounting, his job security is eroding quickly. Questions about his future beyond this season are no longer whispers; they are becoming the central talking point, making a decision on his tenure seem inevitable.
2. What is the Plan?
The current state of the roster suggests an organization operating without a cohesive long-term strategy. The team is in flux, and while general manager Andrew Berry has managed the financial fallout from the large, ill-fated quarterback contract, the overall roster construction is now in desperate need of a blueprint.
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The offensive line, the supposed strength of the team for years, requires an immediate overhaul to protect the revolving door at quarterback and jumpstart the run game. The receiving corps is bland and lacks a true game-breaker who can consistently separate. Most crucially, the team is still without any resembling a long-term answer at quarterback.
While the Browns possess two first-round picks in the coming draft, those assets must be spent wisely, likely on offensive linemen, a top-tier receiver, or perhaps yet another attempt at finding a franchise quarterback.
Andrew Berry has undoubtedly been a savant at balancing the books but his personnel moves have failed to build a sustained winning team. The question is no longer about talent acquisition; it’s about the overarching organizational vision. What is the plan to move from a perennial laughingstock to a true contender?
3. How Much More Can Myles Garrett Tolerate?
Perhaps the most concerning fallout from the latest loss is the visible and audible frustration of the team’s best player, All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett. After the defeat, Garrett’s comments were blunt and revealing, particularly when asked about the Steelers’ successful pass rush: “Must be nice.” This was a clear shot at his own struggling offense, which continually puts the defense in difficult spots.
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Garrett was held without a sack and registered only two tackles against the Steelers, a rarity for the league’s most dominant edge rusher. When asked if the constant losing makes it harder to dig deep and keep pressing on, similar to how Browns legend Joe Thomas felt late in his career, Garrett simply replied, “Yep.”
His frustration is a direct result of being the premier player on a losing team, a scenario he publicly voiced his desire to escape in the offseason. He is in his prime, yet the team around him is failing to capitalize on his brilliance. Garrett is the face of the franchise and the foundation of the defense. If his commitment begins to wane, or if his internal pressure to compete reaches a breaking point, the franchise will face a catastrophic choice: whether to alienate their best player or, unthinkable as it may be, consider a path that caters to his desire for a winning environment.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns vs. Steelers: 3 defining questions following Week 6 loss