<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3atnuQ_0w5YrrSh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3atnuQ_0w5YrrSh00" width="1182" height="619" ><h2>Browns drop their fourth-straight game of the season.</h2>As has happened all too often in 2024, the <a href="https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/">Cleveland Browns</a> found a way to lose another winnable game, this time 20-16 to the Eagles in Philadelphia to drop to 1-5. It is the Browns fourth-straight loss on the season and fourth-straight loss to NFC East opponents this year."We're 1-5, we own it," <a href="https://247sports.com/coach/Kevin-Stefanski-3489">Kevin Stefanski</a> said after the loss. "Not going to hide from it. We're 1-5. We have a bunch of fighters and we will be back next week to fight."The Browns will return to play three-straight home games starting next week, opening division play against the Bengals.Pro Bowl running back <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/nick-chubb-19986/">Nick Chubb</a> is expected to be activated and return to the field next Sunday for the first time since a horrific injury on Sept. 18, 2023. So the Browns have that going for them. Here are some takeaways from the loss:No Spark on OffenseOn Thursday, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/amari-cooper-9272/">Amari Cooper</a> was asked if the offense was going to make any changes this week."We are making changes," Cooper said. "One of the things that Coach Kev was emphasizing is that we need a spark. It could come from anywhere. They're definitely doing some things to try to create that spark."The only spark the Browns had in the game was by the special teams on a blocked field goal by <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/myles-garrett-21127/">Myles Garrett</a> that was returned for a touchdown by <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/rodney-mcleod-4894/">Rodney McLeod</a>. The Browns failed to reach 20 points for the sixth-straight game and did not score an offensive touchdown and were limited to three field goals. According to ESPN, the Browns are the first team since the 2014 Jaguars to fail to reach 20 points in each of their first six games. The Jaguars finished that season 3-13.The Browns finished with 244 total yards, 100 rushing and 144 passing. At halftime, the Browns had just 71 total yards, including only 27 passing. Critical Mistakes Doom ChancesIn the second half, the Browns had their chances, but continued to be their own worst enemies. On the first drive of the third quarter, tied 10-10, the Browns drove to the Eagles' 29. Facing third-and-one, <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/kevin-stefanski-3489/">Kevin Stefanski</a> called for a jet sweep to <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/cedric-tillman-46046786/">Cedric Tillman</a>, who was dropped for a five-yard loss, setting up a 52-yard field goal attempt by <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/dustin-hopkins-6033/">Dustin Hopkins</a>, which was wide to the right. "There are plays to be had," <a href="https://247sports.com/coach/Kevin-Stefanski-3489">Stefanski</a> said. "We have to find ways to close games out. We had our opportunities and did not come through, but we have to learn from it."On the third possession of the second half, trailing 13-10, the Browns drove to the Eagles' 24 and Watson scrambled for 11 yards to the 13 and an apparent first down. However, Michael Dunn, subbing for <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/nick-harris-46131204/">Nick Harris</a> at center, was called for holding, killing the drive and Hopkins converted a 49-yard field goal to tie the score at 13-13. "The opportunities are there," Watson said after the game. "All of these games are super close and it's right there, but we're not taking advantage of the chances we're having."On what turned out to be their fourth and final possession of the second half, trailing 20-13, the Browns had their best drive of the game. Starting with a 35-yard pass from Watson to <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jerry-jeudy-70724/">Jerry Jeudy</a> and then a 14-yard pass to <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/pierre-strong-88873/">Pierre Strong</a>, the Browns had the ball on the Eagles' 21. Watson threw toward the end zone and it appeared Cooper was interfered with and the Browns would have a first down on the three-yard line, but the penalty was called on Cooper for grabbing the face mask. Instead of first-and-goal at the three, the Browns were first-and-25 from the 37.The Browns climbed back to the and on third-and-11 from the 21, Watson hit Cooper for 13 yards for a first down at the eight-yard line. The Browns had first-and-goal and got to third-and-goal from the three-yard line, before false start penalties on <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/zak-zinter-46056669/">Zak Zinter</a> and <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jedrick-wills-77949/">Jedrick Wills</a> forced the Browns to settle for the field goal and trailed 20-16 with 3:54 to play. The Browns did not get the ball back. <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Deshaun-Watson-13254">Deshaun Watson</a> said the Browns again, are their own worst enemy."We had opportunities, but again shot ourselves in the foot," Watson said. "We had the opportunity to get into (the end zone) and we're going backwards."Play of the GameThe Browns biggest play of the game was near the end of the first half. The Eagles were on Browns 31-yard line on third-and-one and <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jeremiah-owusu-koramoah-89224/">Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah</a> blitzed and sacked <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jalen-hurts-37059/">Jalen Hurts</a> for an 8-yard loss to the 39. <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jake-elliott-29088/">Jake Elliott</a> lined up for a 57-yard field goal with 25 seconds to play, but Myles Garrett went right up the middle and blocked the kick. Rodney McLeod picked up the loose ball and ran down the sidelines 50-yards for a touchdown and after the extra point, the Browns were tied with the Eagles, 10-10 with 14 seconds to play in the first half.Until that point, the Browns had little semblance of offense and were trailing 10-3. Instead of possibly being down 13-3 at the half, the Browns had tied the game at 10-10.Defense Still Giving Up Big PlaysThe defense kept the Browns in the game but continued to give up big plays in key situations. The Browns gave up eight big plays for 308 yards against the Commanders a week ago. They did not give up as many to the Eagles, but the plays were big in the loss."We're very close (to winning)," Garrett said. "We just need to take the next step."Backup tight end, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/grant-calcaterra-86892/">Grant Calcaterra</a> caught a 34-yard pass to set up the Eagles' first touchdown. Calcaterra was filling in for starting tight end, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/dallas-goedert-46037790/">Dallas Goedert</a>, who was ruled out early with a hamstring injury. Cornerback Martin Emerson was beaten by A.J. <a href="https://247sports.com/college/brown/">Brown</a> for a 22-yard touchdown pass in the first half for the first touchdown of the game to give the Eagles a 10-0 lead. A 19-yard run by <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/kenneth-gainwell-46040999/">Kenneth Gainwell</a> set up a 44-yard field goal in the third quarter that gave the Eagles a 13-10 lead. One of the biggest plays of the game was with the scored tied, 13-13, cornerback <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/greg-newsome-45572630/">Greg Newsome</a> got caught in a pick and Devonta Smith went 45 yards after a little crossing route and went untouched for a touchdown and a 20-13 lead with 7:54 to play.When the Browns were trying to get the ball back at the end, Newsome was beaten by Brown for a 40-yard pass that allowed the Eagles to take a knee and run out the clock. Overall, the Browns gave up 372 yards, including 256 passing yards and 116 yards rushing. They did hold leading rusher, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/saquon-barkley-35574/">Saquon Barkley</a> to just 47 yards on 18 carries (2.6 avg.), with a long of just 10 yards. Barkley caught two passes for seven yards. The defense registered just one sack, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah sacked Jalen Hurts, Garrett finished with four tackles, two quarterback pressures.Watson's PlayThe Browns maligned quarterback started slowly as he was just 5-of-11 for 46 yards with three sacks, in the first half. In the second half, the offense started to move the ball and he finished 16-of-23 for 168 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and a rating of 90.5."There were some good moments, but we have to keep him clean and have to find a way to be more explosive," Stefanski said.Watson was 11-of-12 for 122 yards in the second half.He rushed four times for 17 yards, but had an 11-yard rush called back by a holding penalty that would have given the Browns a first down at the Eagles' 13. Watson's longest play was a 35-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy on the team's final drive. He was also sacked five times and knocked down 10 times. Extra PointsBrowns Rush for 100 Yards: The Browns rushed for an even 100 yards, despite RB <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jerome-ford-90594/">Jerome Ford</a> suffering a hamstring injury on his second carry. He did not return. RB <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Pierre-Strong-88873">Pierre Strong</a> led the Browns with 43 yards on eight carries (5.4 avg.). <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/donta-foreman-20929/">D'Onta Foreman</a> had 10 rushes for 31 yards (3.1 avg.).Watson had 17 yards and Ford had 14 yards on two carries before he left the game. <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Cedric-Tillman-46046786">Cedric Tillman</a> had one carry for minus-five yards. Strong had the longest run of the game for the Browns at 14 yards. Strong had two receptions for 35 yards, including a 21 yard play and Foreman had two receptions for 16 yards. Chief Leads Receiving CorpsTE. <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/david-njoku-30655/">David Njoku</a> had five receptions for 31 yards, but did have a long of 14 yards on a fourth down play for a first down. WR Amari Cooper had four receptions for 42 yards on six targets. However, Cooper had a drop early in the game and a costly face mask penalty on the final drive.Jeudy had just one reception for 35 yards, while WR Elijah Moore had just one reception for three yards. Moore left with a rib injury after the catch. Hall's Debut: Rookie DT <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/michael-hall-46135843/">Michael Hall</a> registered his first NFL tackle and was credited with a tackle for a loss. Hall made his debut after missing the first five games due to a suspension by the NFL.Conklin Back: RT <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jack-conklin-23009/">Jack Conklin</a> started and played for the first time since having season-ending knee surgery in the first game of the 2023 season. Bitonio Record: G <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Joel-Bitonio-58022">Joel Bitonio</a> started his 150th game for the Browns. He is currently 15th on the list, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Joe-Thomas-26486">Joe Thomas</a> is No. 12 at 167 games. Harris Down: Backup C <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Nick-Harris-81010">Nick Harris</a> was carted off with a leg injury on the third play of the game. He was replaced by OL <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Michael-Dunn-85988">Michael Dunn</a>, who started at right guard. Dunn played center and rookie <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Zak-Zinter-46056669">Zak Zinter</a> went to right guard after the injury. Dunn had a key holding penalty that negated an 11-yard run by Watson for a first down at the Eagles' 13 and Zinter had a false start when the Browns were at the Eagles' three-yard line, trailing 20-13 and kicked a field goal. Harris was starting in place of C <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/ethan-pocic-11209/">Ethan Pocic</a>, who was inactive with a knee injury. </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Takeaways from 20-16 Loss to the Eagles: Browns Kevin Stefanski Says 'We're 1-5, We Own It'

Browns drop their fourth-straight game of the season. As has happened all too often in 2024, the Cleveland Browns found a way to lose another winnable game, this time 20-16 to the Eagles in Philadelphia to drop to 1-5. It is the Browns fourth-straight loss on the season and fourth-straight loss to NFC East opponents this year.

Takeaways from 20-16 Loss to the Eagles: Browns Kevin Stefanski Says 'We're 1-5, We Own It'

Comments / 0