Well Dawg Pound, it wasn’t the ending that we wanted, but it was exciting to watch nonetheless.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield — Image credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Browns played the Ravens in the season finale, with the opportunity to not only finish the season with a winning record and knock our rival out of the playoffs, but with a win. It would be the first time the Browns swept two division foes since returning to the league in 1999.
The Browns weren’t given a chance to win this game by many sports media outlets. The way the game played out in the first half, they seemed to know exactly what they were talking about. The Ravens rushing attack, led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, gutted Cleveland’s defense and they had no answers for it. The Browns did score a touchdown on a nice 28-yard pass to former Ravens receiver Breshad Perriman. So that was a nice piece of redemption for him after being cut by Baltimore before the season.
The Browns came out in the second half determined to not go down without a fight.
The defense, which had been gashed in the first half by Baltimore’s running game, clamped down and held them to only two field goals the rest of the game.
Mayfield threw two more touchdown passes, which was significant for a couple of reasons. One, he set the rookie touchdown passing record with 27 TD passes this season. This broke the record of 26, previously held by Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson. The second reason was those two touchdown passes, along with a George Joseph field goal, brought the Browns to within two points of the Ravens at 24-26. This put Cleveland in a position to win the game, with a little less than two minutes to go.
Now Dawg Pound, we’ve seen past Browns teams where going into halftime down 20-7, at Baltimore, we knew it was going to be a loss. But not this year!
This year has been the most exciting year of Browns football in over a decade. The fans just knew that Mayfield would pull out the victory…but it wasn’t meant to be.
Ravens Linebacker C.J. Mosley made the play of the game for the Ravens, when he blitzed, got blocked, and was aware enough to fall back into coverage to intercept Mayfield’s 4th down pass.
Game over and the Browns lose!!!!
“There’s always next year!” has new meaning.
As disappointing as this loss was to Browns Nation, for the first time in a long time, we’re extremely optimistic about the future of our franchise.
The Browns finally have a quarterback in place and a great foundation of playmakers on the team. I believe we are one or two pieces away from being talked about as one of the best teams in the league. Add some depth at a few positions, shore up the middle of that defensive line and we should be fine.
By the way, we all know Joe Thomas had been the best left tackle not only for Cleveland, but arguably the best in the NFL, during his career. His position was a big concern going into this season because of his retirement.
Early in the season, the left tackle position was an issue, along with the offensive line as a whole.
But did you know Dawg Pound that over the last 6 games of the season, Mayfield was only sacked 5 times? In three of those games, he wasn’t sacked at all. This includes a zero-sack performance by the NFL’s #1 ranked Ravens defense. So the offensive line took a big step forward this season.
A glaring problem however, that really needs to be addressed this off season is Special Teams. Let’s face it, Special Teams cost the Browns a division title this year. There’s no other way to look at it. Well that and the officials, one could say! So the special teams must be addressed this off season.
All in all, this season should give Browns Nation a sense of pride.
Because for the first time in a long time, Cleveland isn’t picking in the top 10 in next year’s draft. General Manager John Dorsey has a huge decision to make in selecting the Browns Head Coach of the future. So far Dorsey has made good on his statement to “awaken this sleeping giant that is the Cleveland Browns football team”. Browns fans just hope that with whomever he decides to hire, they don’t send the Browns back into hibernation!!! Til next season Dawg Pound! Go Browns!!!!
Anthony D. Stevenson is not only our latest addition to the Baseline Perspective team, he’s born and bred from the “HARDLAND OF AMERICA”, Cleveland, Ohio! Anthony’s passion for football has always been there as far back as he can remember and so has his love for the Cleveland Browns.
While in the U.S. Air Force, Anthony played cornerback for the Bitburg Barons CSC football team in Europe. He then played cornerback for the Tri-Country Gamecocks semi-pro football team, in South Carolina.
Anthony offers not only his insight, having played, but also his passion as a fan! It’s only right then that a “dawg pounder for life” gives you his weekly FANS PERSPECTIVE on the 2018-19 season for the Cleveland Browns.
