CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns are off to their worst start since 2017 as they fell in Las Vegas to the Raiders, 20-16, on Sunday.
The Browns got out to a 10-0 lead, but then they gave up 20 consecutive points against a Raiders team that didn’t have Davante Adams or Maxx Crosby. Deshaun Watson had some moments in the game, completing 24 of 32 passes for 176 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
He also had an 82-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper wiped out because of a holding penalty against Nick Harris.
The Browns defense scored a touchdown, but they gave up 152 yards rushing and two TDs, one of which came from CVCA alum Tre Tucker, in the loss.
Cleveland fell to 1-3 and now continues its three-game road trip in Week 5 against red-hot rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Commanders.
Here is how social media reacted to Sunday’s game.
“Really Bad 2nd half (2nd quarter also) football leads to Disappointing L in #Vegas #Raiders despite a Tuff Strong Performance by @deshaunwatson,” former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar posted.
“Deshaun Watson, 2 mins remaining, first down at Raiders 17, down 20-16
First down – Botched snap by center, lose 6
Second down – knocked down pass
Third down – Underneath complete for 11
Fourth down – Sacked It’s like the story of his time in Cleveland in four plays,” pro football writer Jason Cole posted.
“This would actually be easier if Watson just sucked(.) Not saying he was great today but showed some improvement(.) It’s just everything else,” BIGPLAY network host Matt Fontana posted.
“The Browns have a flawed roster and a coaching staff that appears incapable of accounting for it. Lasero eyes are cancelled,” Ben Axelrod of Awful Announcing posted.
“Today felt like Chudzinski/Pettine/Mangini football. No matter what happened you had that sinking feeling that it was destiny to lose the game. I can’t stop thinking about a 10-0 lead and how it all dissipated against a below average team missing its best two players. Sad,” Fox college basketball announcer John Fanta posted. Fanta also posted a video lamenting Sunday’s loss.
“RG can’t get beat inside by a 4T. Unreal effort by @csnoww3. But this play happens because of the penetration from the 4T. Rookie mistake,” former Browns center LeCharles Bentley posted in his explanation of the game-ending fourth down sack of Watson.
“This is not a team that cares enough to compete. When its easy, they are all in. The second adversity hits, they turtle like Donatello,” Nick Wilson of 92.3 The Fan posted.
“Welp. The #Browns are 1-3. You are what your record says. It ain’t gonna get easier,” WKYC-TV’s Dave DeNatale posted.
“The offensive line was bad, absolutely. Saying a quarterback that threw for under 200 yards — as he has in every game this season — played incredible is absolutely hilarious,” ESPN Cleveland’s Danny Cunningham posted.
“Ya’ll ready to have a conversation about Deshaun Watson now?” former NFL defensive end Justin Tuck posted.
“Deshaun Watson played much better than the box score indicates. Drops, penalties, and a terrible OL gave them almost no chance,” Marcus Mosher of the Locked on Cowboys podcast posted.
“The Cleveland Browns’ offense is averaging -1.24 EPA per drive, the lowest number in Weeks 1-4 for any Browns offense since at least 2000,” Austin Gayle of The Ringer posted.
“Inconsistent. Maddening. Mistake-prone.. too much talent to be 1-3 but this is the reality,” former Cleveland sportscaster John Telich posted.
