Red Zone Woes for the Cleveland Browns

Close to Disaster

Sunday’s red zone performance from the Browns was almost enough to doom them against the Buffalo Bills. Two trips were especially bad, with one being a catastrophic meltdown of offensive game planning. With playmakers like Odell Beckham Jr. and Nick Chubb, punching the ball in the end zone from within 20 yards should not equivocate to pulling teeth. It just so happens that head coach Freddie Kitchens likes to play dentist. 

Metaphors aside, these issues need to be addressed for Cleveland. Not to take anything away from Buffalo, who have a top-three defense in terms of yards allowed. Problem is, the Bills are just 22nd overall in red-zone defense. So again, with as much talent as the Browns have, it should not have been this hard for them. But it was. And it almost cost them dearly.

First Red Zone Attempt

This entire first goal-line sequence of events was enough to make any Browns fans put a hole in their television. Seven total cracks at the end zone, only to walk away with nothing.

The back to back toss plays by the Browns were beyond inexcusable. Luckily for them, Buffalo’s defense bailed them out with a defensive pass interference called for early contact with OBJ. No problem, another first down, easy peasy, right?

Wrong. A run to the right where that side of the offensive line gets obliterated, a great pass breakup by Tre’Davious White, and another run with no lead blocker set up fourth and goal. Finally, a lead blocker was brought on in the form of tight end Stephen Carlson. Problem is, he is no fullback. And it showed. He goes straight into the pile to the right and blocks, well, nobody. At all. Chubb proceeds to get tackled, and the Browns walk away with zero points. ESPN let everyone know how historically bad this trip was for Cleveland.

Second Red Zone Attempt

Following a Josh Allen touchdown run, the Browns had a chance again from Buffalo’s three-yard line. A one-yard pass to Jarvis Landry, a loss of two from Chubb, and a Mayfield incompletion set up yet another 4th and goal. Kitchens left the offense on the field to go for it before Chris Hubbard saved his own coach with a false start penalty (I think he did it on purpose truthfully), and the Browns settled for a field goal, which gave them a then 9-7 lead.

To recap, that’s a grand total of seven lost yards on nine plays called within the opponent’s five-yard line. Plain and simple, that does not cut it in the NFL. It’s easier to see each week why Cleveland natives want Kitchens relieved of his play-calling duties if nothing else.

Hollywood Higgins

Fortunately for the Browns, they did manage the one truly successful red-zone trip. It also happened to come on their final possession and serve as a game-winner. On a 2nd and goal, Mayfield found receiver Rashard Higgins. Playing in just his third game this year, Higgins hauled in a laser in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, suitable for a 19-16 Cleveland victory.

Higgins, who’s supposed touchdown dream the night before the game has made headlines, had a simple explanation for how he ended up open on the play. “Juked the defender out of his shoes.”

By the Numbers

Putting up six points in the red zone has been beyond a struggle for Cleveland this season. After converting over two-thirds of their red zone visits into touchdowns last season, the Browns are converting at just a 46.2% rate this season, according to TeamRankings.com. It has been especially bad as of late, with that number dropping to 36.4% over Cleveland’s last three games.

Browns tight end David Njoku, who is out for the year dealing with a wrist injury, caught four red zone passes in 2018 and one this year (despite playing just two games). His absence hurts, but it should not make the Browns red zone offense inept. Mayfield has been dreadful inside the twenty as well, tossing just four touchdowns and totaling three interceptions on a 35.9% completion rate. It gets even worse inside the ten for Baker, with his completion rate plummeting to just 25%. Completing one pass every four attempts in that area of the field is simply unacceptable. OBJ, who has 26 career red-zone touchdown catches, has totaled zero this year.

Moving Forward for the Browns

After the game, Mayfield was asked about the Browns red-zone struggles. “I don’t think we played nearly well enough as we should have,” Mayfield said. “Just stalling out. We still have a lot of room for improvement, so that’s the good thing.”

From watching today, multiple parties should be held accountable. Kitchens toed the line of insanity with some repetitive calls. Mayfield’s ball placement could have been better. Even Chubb slipped on one of the toss plays that could have been a touchdown. Of course, the Bills defense deserves their proper credit as well. Regardless, a solution is needed moving forward if the Browns hope to string together wins against a weak second-half schedule. I continue to believe in the traditional fullback here, as a good lead blocker can get the extra block or two needed to punch it in. However, without a true fullback on the roster (watching Carlson flail on his attempt at it today), it might be out of the question. Something needs to be figured out and fast, as another tough defense in the Pittsburgh Steelers awaits them this Thursday night.