For the next 24 hours, the Browns will get roasted after an epic Week 1 dud at home against the Titans.
Tennessee beat Cleveland 43-13 at FirstEnergy Stadium, which stretches the Browns' winless streak in openers to 15 straight seasons. This one was supposed to be different. Cleveland was the "it" team of the offseason after trading for Odell Beckham Jr. and adding more pieces around No. 1 picks Myles Garrett and Baker Mayfield.The Browns were the NFL equivalent of Ric Flair, but this isn't the WWE.
This is the NFL. You can't commit 18 penalties for 182 yards and expect to beat anybody, at any level of football. You can’t win the Super Bowl on paper. You have to respect the climb to contention.
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Tennessee was happy to teach that lesson. The Titans are still on the climb and have gone through three 9-7 seasons figuring out who they are with 2015 No. 1 pick Marcus Mariota. Second-year coach Mike Vrabel experienced just missing the playoffs last season. That’s what the climb is about.
Again, the Browns will be toast for the next 24 hours. Analysts will hammer their lack of discipline, rip Mayfield for three fourth-quarter interceptions and look for any crease of discord among Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr. and first-year coach Freddie Kitchens. Colin Cowherd will take at least a two-segment victory lap.
You know what? That’s good for the Browns. Let them have it. Let them know that unapologetic Ric Flair B.S. doesn’t fly. The Titans might be the most vanilla franchise in the NFL. Derrick Henry and Cameron Wake might not be the flashiest superstars in the league, but they’re the ones who helped empty FirstEnergy Stadium with a 28-0 scoring run to end the game. That is what the NFL is about.
Again: That’s good. That will be good for this Browns teams, which is talented enough to make the climb. Mayfield seems to know that as well:
Baker: "Everyone is going to throw us in the trash. And I think that’s good. … I know how we’re going to react."
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) September 8, 2019
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It’s on Kitchens. The first-year coach gets his first real test heading into Week 2 against fellow first-year coach Adam Gase, whose Jets lost but kept it close in a 17-16 defeat against Buffalo. The penalties are a product of preparation, and you can say that many won’t happen again. If they do, then this is a 8-8 team at best.
It’s on Mayfield. The first drive was a work of art. He spread the ball to Rashad Higgins and Beckham. Dontrell Hilliard banged in a 4-yard touchdown. Mayfield is at his best when he’s told he’s not good enough, and there will be a lot of that going around in this week. Can the offensive line protect him long enough? Teams that go 1 of 10 on third down don’t win many football games.
It’s on the defense, too. Cleveland didn’t have a playoff defense last year, even with Garrett. The defense let Henry compile 159 combined yards and two touchdowns while allowing A.J. Brown to bring in three catches for 100 yards. The Browns got off the field on third down, but it did not matter.
At the end of the day, it’s a loss in 15 straight openers. It’s a Week 1 reality check, and Cleveland can learn from the experience. This opener hurts more because the Browns have something this year — and they can prove it against the Jets next week and when they return for Sunday Night Football against the Rams in Week 3.
MORE: Browns fans react to team's Week 1 dud
If the Browns show they’re ready for primetime, then perhaps all will be right when they travel to Baltimore on Sept. 29. If not, then well, you know how that story goes in Cleveland. There’s no choice now but to respect the climb, and here are a few gentle reminders of what that is going to take.
The Ravens — who won the AFC North last year — won 59-10 in Week 1.
The Chiefs — who hosted the AFC championship game — won 40-26.
The Steelers and Patriots — the two varsity teams in the AFC — play on Sunday night.
All of those fan bases certainly enjoyed what the Titans did Sunday, too. If the Browns want to join that class, then the Week 1 meltdown had better serve as a reminder that if you want to be the man, you have to beat the man.
Cleveland can’t do that on paper anymore.
