Browns Lose An Epic Heartbreaker. That One Hurt.

Heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking. A 55 yard field goal with 2 seconds left was the difference between the Browns sitting at 10-3, essentially guaranteed a playoff spot and thinking potential AFC North Championship, and now being right back in the thick of things. This one hurts and it's going to be tough to sleep tonight, thinking about what could've been.

But here's my official stance: Chins up boys. 

That was the game of the year. The Cleveland Browns just went toe to toe on Monday Night Football in a big game that had a very playoff like feel to it. This team, if we can beat the Jets and/or Giants, is still heading to the playoffs. And tonight's game is going to mean a whole lot more in the long run than a win or loss. We played in a big game. We played in a close game. And we'll be better because of it.

But here's the thing: we need to get better. Especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Browns defense had glaring problems tonight. We simply could not contain Lamar Jackson on the ground. I mean, we gave up 47 points for God's sake. But even worse than that, when all we needed to do was to contain the Ravens offense with 1 minute to go, Lamar Jackson took them right down the field and set up a field goal. We couldn't stop a nose bleed tonight when we needed to. Even on 4th and 5 in the most critical moment of the game with 2 minutes left, Poopy Lamar Jackson trotted back onto the field and threw the go ahead touchdown.

That can't happen. Dude came fresh off the shitter and made the play of the game. Our defense needs to get better. ASAP.

Offensively, I'm not too concerned right now. Our rushing attack is incredible. Baker made one terrible throw tonight (but the LB made an even better play), but other than that we moved the ball, made plays, and put lots of points up. Cody Parkey absolutely sucked by leaving 4 points off the board, but that's not why we lost the game. We lost the game because we couldn't stop anyone when we needed to.

Listen, at the end of the day we're 9-4. I think we're still a lock for the playoffs. I mean, the Jets are literally trying to lose. That's 10 wins, and I think that will do it. Beating the Giants would make it a guarantee at 11. I'm still very optimistic about this season and while we lost tonight, everything I saw made me more convinced that this team is legitimate. We've got to sure up some things, but someone is going to have to knock us out of the playoffs this year. This is a heartbreaking loss, but it's not a season ending loss. Everything we want is still right in front of us, and we control our own destiny. I'll take being 9-4 thirteen games into the season. 

I'd also take Justin Tucker on my team.....

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Automatic. Could you imagine having a kicker like that?