It may have been enjoyable, however Browns kick it away – Terry Pluto

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Games like this are why it’s terrible to comply with the Browns.

Don’t you’re feeling that means after their 17-16 loss to the Bengals on Sunday.

The missed additional level …

THE MISSED EXTRA POINT!!!

That was with 7:20 left within the third quarter. Joe Flacco had simply thrown a reasonably 5-yard TD move to Cedric Tillman. Cleveland had a 16-14 lead.

Andre Szmyt lined up for the additional level. The rookie had already kicked one within the first half. He additionally had boomed a 45-yard discipline objective. All that within the second quarter of his first NFL sport.

So when Szmyt lined up for the additional level, there wasn’t a way of panic.

Only his kick was large proper.

When that occurs in a ball-control, defensive type sport, it’s straightforward to assume, “The Browns will be chasing that point for the rest of the afternoon.”

That’s what occurred.

Szymt additionally had an opportunity to place the Browns forward with 2:22 left within the sport. Cincinnati had a 17-16 lead. Szymt lined up for a 36-yard discipline objective. Just like with the additional level, he booted it … large proper!

The crowd turned so silent, you may hear a coronary heart break.

Catch the ball!

But it wasn’t over. The Browns protection did a terrific job, forcing a punt.

Veteran Joe Flacco had yet one more likelihood to drive the ball down the sphere. And maybe, Szymt had yet one more likelihood to kick a sport profitable discipline objective.

But Flacco fired a move to Cedric Tillman. It went by the receiver’s arms, popped up into the air, and was intercepted.

That just about was the ball sport.

It was Flacco’s second interception of the day.

The first interception additionally wasn’t Flacco’s fault. The ball went off Jerry Jeudy’s arms.

I counted at the least 4 dropped passes. Rookie Harold Fannin Jr. and Jeudy had them on back-to-back performs when the Browns had been driving.

Still surprised

As I sat in a subdued stadium pounding away on my keyboard, I virtually stopped writing.

How do I clarify this?

How do I put into phrases that Flacco gave the Browns what they wanted to win this sport? He was 31 of 45 passing for 291 yards. The interceptions are hooked up to his title, however they belong elsewhere.

How do I clarify how the Browns couldn’t run the ball … in any respect. They had solely 49 yards in 24 carries, one thing else that made Flacco’s job more durable.

How do I illustrate how the group was excited, loud and optimistic. How do I write, “The Browns played a pretty good game overall.”

But they misplaced.

They misplaced as a result of they couldn’t catch the ball when it counted they usually actually couldn’t kick it accurately when it meant probably the most.

For the Browns, this was an opportunity to begin the season with a smile and a way of enjoyable.

Instead, it was … THIS!

As the sport ended, I acquired this e-mail from a reader named Tim Long: “EXASPERATING … In training camp, the Browns indicated that they might keep four QBs on the active roster. It’s four kickers they need to keep.”