CLEVELAND, Ohio — A mistake-filled start put the Browns in a hole they couldn’t climb out of as they were blown out at home by the undefeated Cardinals, 37-14.
The Browns trailed at one point early in the second quarter, 20-0. Despite cutting the deficit to nine, they didn’t get closer and lost back-to-back games for the first time under Kevin Stefanski.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray threw for 229 yards and four touchdowns, two of which went to DeAndre Hopkins. Baker Mayfield threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked five times and had three turnovers, including two lost fumbles.
In addition, Kareem Hunt was carted off to the locker room late in the game.
The Browns fell to 3-3 and lost back-to-back games for the first time in the Kevin Stefanski era. They will turn around and play again on Thursday night vs. the Broncos.
Here is how social media reacted throughout Sunday’s game.
First quarter
“Both backup tackles had a poor play in the first series of the game. Hudson for being lined up too far off the ball and then Hance getting beat in pass pro,” Pete Smith of Browns Digest tweeted after the Browns went 3-and-out on the opening drive of the game.
“The Browns’ defense is the league’s fourth-ranked unit. Our eyes tell us its nowhere near that good, especially against quality offenses,” Bleacher Report’s Brett Sobleski tweeted after the Cardinals scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the game.
“a throw out of structure to Odell! my dreams have come true,” Jordan Zirm of The Checkdown tweeted after Baker Mayfield found Odell Beckham Jr. for a 25-yard completion.
“Pretty obvious the Browns don’t think they can run the ball today without LT and RT,” NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano tweeted.
“#Browns are now 2-8 on 4th down their last 4 games, including 0-1 today. I’ve defended Stefanski because he said they would be aggressive and they would do it. But you have to be better then that,” ESPN Cleveland’s Matt Fontana tweeted after the Browns were stopped on a fourth down.
Fox Sports college basketball announcer John Fanta: “That’s as animated as I’ve ever seen Kevin Stefanski. There are some strange things happening in this game.”
“These refs #ARIvsCLE,” former Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas tweeted with two facepalm emojis.
“these refs in the Browns game are already on one,” Warren Sharp of Sharp Football tweeted.
“I’m sure there’s a football game happening somewhere in between all these penalties,” Brett Kollmann of “The Film Room” on YouTube tweeted.
Second quarter
“Well that was pathetic tackling by the Browns defense,” former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz tweeted after DeAndre Hopkins cut through the Browns’ defense and escaped a couple of tackles for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Cardinals a 14-0 lead.
“Browns letting the game get ahead of them vs Cardinals. Interesting to see if they turn it over to Baker or try and lean on the run game still. Mayfield hasn’t been playing well lately,” Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus tweeted.
Fanta: “What an absolute disaster occurring in Cleveland this afternoon. Wow.”
“So Baker Mayfield took a 4th down sack on a previous drive then followed it with a totally avoidable fumble these mistakes are starting to stack,” Josh Norris of Underdog Fantasy tweeted.
“Horrible,” former Browns offensive lineman Jason Pinkston tweeted.
“What was that throw!?” Dustin Fox of 92.3 The Fan tweeted after Baker Mayfield’s interception early in the quarter.
“Chargers and #Browns bad hangovers this week. UGLY,” Former Browns punter Dave Zastudil tweeted.
Smith: “Unless you’re conceding the game and taking guys like Garret, Clowney, etc. off the field, Case Keenum isn’t helping the situation.”
“Jadeveon Clowney just showed why he will always have a high-paid job waiting for him no matter the numbers. Special explosion to track down Kyler Murray for the sack,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN tweeted after Clowney sacked Kyler Murray on a third down to force a field goal.
“Needed that one. Bad,” Fox tweeted after Donovan Peoples-Jones scored on an 11-yard touchdown reception to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 20-7.
“Big drive . Needed 7 . Got 7. Get a stop here and we got action,” Blazers guard CJ McCollum tweeted.
“Rodney Hudson at home making money… cuz this guy isn’t him,” Andre Knott of Bally Sports Great Lakes tweeted after another dropped snap by Kyler Murray.
“Honestly the way this first half has gone #Browns fortunate to only be down 16 right now!” WKYC-TV’s Dave Chudowsky tweeted.
“I’m learning that it’s tough being the QB for any Ohio sports team. The criticism is wild lol,” former Ohio State safety Tvyis Powell tweeted.
Monson about Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: “JOK is the freaky LB/DB/Athlete hybrid the league has been chasing - and overdrafting - for years. He’s dominating from Day 1. Zero adjustment time. And ironically he slipped in the draft.”
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer after Mayfield’s Hail Mary TD to Donovan Peoples-Jones: “OMG HAIL MARY BROWNS.”
Schwartz: “Wow Browns get a Hail Mary to end the first half!”
Third quarter
Fontana: “Troy Hill stepped up to jam Hopkins on that 3rd down. Kyler wanted to go his way but Hill locked him up then made the tackle when Kyler went underneath. That was a huge play. #Browns”
Siciliano: “James Hudson is having a rough day.”
“#Browns fans start an OBJ chant after he hauls in a 24-yard pass from Baker Mayfield,” WJW-TV’s P.J. Ziegler tweeted.
“Like I said... worst day of my life,” NFL Network’s Rachel Bonnetta tweeted after Mayfield’s injury.
Schwartz: “That doesn’t look good for Mayfield. Watt called over the trainer right away … I was just about to tweet that the Browns have to find some offense on first down. They keep putting Mayfield in bad spots with 2nd/3rd and long.”
Zirm after Hopkins caught a wide-open touchdown to give the Cardinals a 30-14 lead: “the amount of blown coverages that have happened this season is something else.”
Knott: “Secondary needs to go to communication classes all week n skip physical practice.”
“That’s quarters cov. Why would Cleveland’s safety jump the crosser and leave bck of the end zone open. That’s not his responsibility any how,” Shannon Sharpe of Fox Sports tweeted.
“Baker is back slinging it around,” CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora tweeted.
Fourth quarter
“Two possession game and fans are leaving. Apparently not as much faith in Baker as the Chargers fans had in Herbert last week,” Anthony Lima of 92.3 The Fan tweeted.
Siciliano: “Second straight week OBJ drops. 4th down pass in the red zone that hit him the hands.”
“Now Kareem Hunt is down on all fours as teammates kneel around him. The #Browns entered this game beat up and they’ve taken a pounding again from the #Cardinals,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted.
“Perfect storm of a game. Doesn’t get much worse really,” Cody Suek of The OBR tweeted.
Zirm: “non-contact on the Hunt injury. that could be....really bad”
“Did everything they could to to preserve players for the regular season and this still happens. Cruel,” Ken Carman of 92.3 The Fan tweeted.
“The #Cardinals are legit. Adverse circumstances today - they thoroughly dominated Cleveland on the road without their coach. One of the most impressive performances of the NFL season so far,” ESPN’s Mike Greenberg tweeted.
“Big challenge coming up for Kevin Stefanski and his staff to get the #Browns ready for Denver in a short week after today’s rout,” Dave DeNatale of WKYC-TV tweeted.
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