The scoreboard at M&T Bank Stadium tells a story of domination: Baltimore Ravens 41, Cleveland Browns 17.

The final score, however, only scratches the surface of a frustrating afternoon that saw the Browns squander a chance to make a statement in the AFC North. As the team returns to Berea to prepare for a daunting stretch of games, the questions that linger are not about a single play or a single player, but about the team’s fundamental identity.

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As fans, we are left to ask:

1. What Are We Doing Here?

Coming out of the preseason, a glaring weakness on this Browns team was a lack of vital depth at the cornerback position, particularly at the slot. I noted it then, and the issue was on full, painful display against the Ravens. The concern was that if the front office allowed this vulnerability to persist into the regular season, it would signal a frustrating lack of commitment to a winning season. That frustration is now a palpable reality.

With Denzel Ward leaving the game with what was reported as cramps, the cracks in the secondary became gaping holes. Myles Harden and Cam Mitchell, tasked with stepping up to play on the boundary, struggled to play competent football. We saw them get beaten in both man and zone coverage, surrendering multiple chunk plays that the Ravens’ offense capitalized on. While Mitchell did execute a textbook peanut punch on Derrick Henry, forcing a fumble that sadly was not capitalized upon by the Browns, he followed up that play by allowing a floater over his head in what appeared to be Cover 2 zone, leading to another Ravens score.

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The question is a philosophical one at this point: How much longer will this organization waste the prime of its premier talent, guys like Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and David Njoku, by fielding an incomplete roster? I will be getting to special teams soon, too, don’t you worry.

2. How Long Can Joe Flacco Last?

The narrative around Joe Flacco’s return to Cleveland was a feel-good story until it wasn’t. Now, through two games, the questions are piling up. The 40-year-old veteran has attempted 90 passes, and his four costly turnovers in two games have consistently set up opponents with short fields. In a division with explosive offenses like the Bengals and the Ravens, this is a recipe for disaster.

Flacco’s limitations were exposed against the Ravens’ defense. He struggles to create plays outside of the designed structure, and when faced with exotic blitzes, the result is often pressure, sacks, and an offense consistently playing behind the sticks.

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The schedule doesn’t get any easier anytime soon, with what appears to be a murderers’ row of opponents on the horizon. The staff cannot afford to throw a rookie like Dillon Gabriel to the wolves, as we’ve seen this team do time and time again.

While Gabriel showed a flash of the sharp, decisive football he played in the preseason during garbage time, it was against a Ravens defense that had already benched many of its starters. His performance, while promising, provides little comfort when considering the immense challenge ahead. Can Flacco, who is turning the ball over at an inexcusable rate, be trusted to lead this team through this brutal stretch? Or is it time to look elsewhere?

3. When Will Bubba Ventrone Be Let Go?

Outside of Dustin Hopkins’ remarkable 2023 season, the Browns’ special teams under Bubba Ventrone have consistently been a lowlight. It feels like a weekly tradition to see the opposing team break off a big return, and the lack of a single return touchdown during his tenure is a testament to the unit’s anemic performance.

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Against the Ravens, a blocked punt in the second quarter gave Baltimore the ball at the Browns’ 24-yard line, leading to a touchdown that extended their lead to 10-0. These are the kinds of plays that change the momentum of a game, and they are happening far too often. It’s fair to wonder if there are already mumblings in Berea about moving on from the former special teams ace.

This period of stagnancy cannot last.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns vs. Ravens: 3 questions after complete dismantling on the road