Browns’ disappointing loss to Raiders proves it is not just a Deshaun Watson problem this season

Cleveland Browns are now 1-3 on the season following a very disappointing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders by a score of 20-16. As had been the problem in the past, the feeling of this loss can’t be laid on the shoulders of Deshaun Watson.

The Browns have much bigger problems than the quarterback at this point. Cleveland has glaring issues on both sides of the football and has lost three of four to start the season due to it.

After losing to the New York Giants at home last week, the loss to the Raiders now stings even more. Those are two games that were penciled in as wins before the season by just about everyone.

The running game is non-existent and the offensive line is impacting a bad offense in general

Cleveland’s running game to open the season has been disappointing and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Between losing Bill Callahan and Nick Chubb being out to start the season, the run game is hurting badly. Ford had 58 yards on 10 carries but was bottled up all game outside a late 35-yard run. Ford has nice moments as both a runner and pass catcher, but he is nowhere close to consistent enough to be the every downback.

The hope is that Cleveland can improve the running game with Chubb back, but they have to be better out front too. Wyatt Teller will be out for at least three more games and is key for the run game.

While Watson was sacked three times, he was pressured a lot more than that and the offense sputtered much of the day. The play calling is questionable at best and the execution isn’t happening.

Little things add up…

Cleveland hurt themselves in ways that didn’t have to happen and it helped the Raiders beat them on Sunday evening. The Browns continue to pick up costly penalties that allow drives to keep going, such as the 15-yard penalty on Alex Wright for connecting helmet-to-helmet with Gardner Minshew.

Cleveland had a huge touchdown to Amari Cooper late in the game called back on a hold on Nick Harris. That hold wiped the game-winning points right off of the board.

If it was not for a Dustin Hopkins missed extra point following the McLeod touchdown, the Browns could have tied the game late with a field goal. Instead, they were down four points and had to go for the field goal.

It was as disappointing of a loss as we’ve seen from the Browns in quite some time and at 1-3 on the season, they are officially at a crossroads.

Related: Browns’ Kevin Stefanski showed exactly why players like him after Cleveland fell to 1-3 on the season