Similar offensive issues persist for Cleveland Browns in 34-10 loss to Detroit Lions
The Cleveland Browns streak of games without scoring 20 points reached eight games in Week 4.
This time, it was the juggernaut Detroit Lions shutting down the Browns offense in a 34-10 win for Detroit. Truthfully, though, it was more about the Browns offense hurting themselves – something that at this point is just part of who they are on that side of the ball.
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco tossed two more interceptions to bring his total to six in what's still a relatively young season. Conversely, he's thrown only two touchdowns this season. He had none on Sunday, completed just 47% of his passes, for 184 yards, and continued to look like a 40-year-old quarterback.
Another lack luster performance is bound to trigger all the expected debates over whether or not it's finally time to make a change at quarterback. The fact that Dillon Gabriel replaced Flacco in the closing minutes of the game will add even more fuel to the fire, and honestly conversation is a valid one at this point.
It's also not bound to change much with the offense. That units problems go well beyond Flacco.
At this point the o-line is in shambles. With Dawand Jones done for the season and Jack Conklin once again out with an injury, the Browns rolled out Cornelius Lucas at right tackle and KT Leveston at left tackle and it went about how anyone would expect.
Even with help, Lucas couldn't keep Lions star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson out of the backfield. The Michigan product, who has a knack for owning Ohio, racked up five quarterback hits, 2 sacks, forcing a fumble on one of them that set up a dagger touchdown for the Lions with 4:04 to go.
It would be hard for any quarterback to run a functional offense behind this makeshift Browns offensive line right now. That groups struggles are only compounded by miscues from the Browns pass catchers as well.
Jerry Jeudy continues to drop passes on key downs of the game, like on a thrid-and-7 early in the fourth quarter with the Browns trailing 27-10 and needing a spark. One play earlier, rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. also dropped a pass that was right in his bread basket for a big gain as well. Even when Flacco makes the throws Browns fans remember from 2023, they're not caught.
Take Flacco's two interceptions for example. The first one was a clear miscommunication between the 40-year-old and Cedric Tillman. Flacco thought he was going to run a fade, but Tillman cut his route and ran a hitch instead, but Flacco had already made up his mind, chucked it deep and Kirby Joseph was waiting to intercept it.
The second one came with 4:36 to go in the second quarter and Jeudy slipped near the sideline allowing for DJ Reed to lay out for an acrobatic interception. Both throws end up on Flacco's ledgers, but both came with some mind-numbing context.
Quinshon Judkins provides the lone sign of hope in the Browns offense right now. He carried the ball 21 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 33 yards. Sunday proved he can't save the offense himself, he can only make it look slightly less ugly.
And so the questions about the quarterback position will persist as the team turns the corner into Week 5. If you think the Browns would choose the week they make a cross-the-ocean trip to London to face the Minnesota Vikings as the game to start a rookie QB, though think again.
That doesn't mean a change isn't coming, it is. Just not quite. And don't be surprised if it comes with more of the same on that side of the ball for Cleveland.
The quarterback is a big piece of the puzzle, but some of the issues in this offense are likely beyond fixing this season.