CLEVELAND — The Browns lost to the Tennessee Titans, the one-loss Tennessee Titans, at least at the start of the day.
Cleveland’s 31-29 defeat Dec. 7 to the worst team, at least record-wise, in the league may have been worse than its loss a month earlier to the then-one-win New York Jets. Or, in some ways, it might not have been.
There was a certain fatalistic view that came out of the loss to the Jets. There was at least one potential ray of hope to come out of the loss to the Titans.
This is labeled “overreactions,” so let’s dive in with two feet into the deep end of the pool there. Here are the three biggest overreactions — kind of, sort of — to come out of the loss to Tennessee.
Shedeur Sanders is the Cleveland Browns‘ answer at QB
Talk about coming in hot, but here’s the thing. There were certainly moments when Sanders had his struggles against the Titans. Did you see the interception? Specifically, the indecisiveness on that play that led to the pressure that led to the pick? Clearly, there’s still work to be done before anyone says anything definitive about long-term plans. However, the full four quarters showed a quarterback who has gotten better at processing in the moment, the pick notwithstanding. The final two drives, in particular, showed a command and a presence a team needs from its quarterback. The stats were, for the most part, nice: 364 passing yards, three touchdowns and a 97.7 passer rating. The thing is, Sanders’ final four games are against teams that will allow him to show that it’s true progress and not just two bad teams on a snowy afternoon in Cleveland.
Too much or just right for Browns rookie to handle
The Browns put the game in the hands of their rookies. Sanders, obviously, was at the top of the list. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. made plenty of plays with eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. However, rookies also were in spots where the play needed to be made, and they just didn’t make the play. Running back Dylan Sampson’s fumble on a swing pass with 10:54 left helped Tennessee open up a 28-17 lead. Running back Quinshon Judkins took a direct snap on the decisive two-point conversion play and, it appeared, was supposed to flip the ball to wide receiver Gage Larvadain on an end-around. That’s a lot to put the plate of a bunch of guys who were still in college a year ago, and are only in their 12th or 13th NFL game. Except for this point, it’s a roster full of rookies, because they’ve been the centerpiece of this season for better or for worse. It’s disingenuous to complain about the Browns putting a lot on those rookies when those rookies have been among the best players on the team this season.
Browns special teams need a complete overhaul, save for Andre Szmyt
Corey Bojorquez has been a capable punter for the Browns since he arrived in 2022. However, it’s been a tough season for him, although its not all on him. Bojorquez had his second punt blocked this season, which helped the Titans open up a 31-17 lead. Don’t pin this all on Bojorquez, though. The blocking wasn’t good enough on that play as well, and that wasn’t the only area where the special teams yet again hurt the Browns. The opening kickoff was returned by Chimere Dike, the Titans’ rookie return man, 41 yards to the Tennessee 47. That gave the Titans a short field in which to march and take an early 7-0 lead. Kicker Andre Szmyt did his job, though. So there’s that.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ