Similar Problems Persist For Cleveland Browns Offense In Loss To Eagles

The Cleveland Browns fell to 1-5 on the season following a 20-16 Week 6 loss in Philadelphia

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) returns a blocked field goal for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Browns defense has put it on themselves to create opportunities while the team's offense has struggled throughout a 1-4 start to the season. During the team's 20-16 Week 6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, they held their own for the better part of 52 minutes.

Even special teams made a play, courtesy of Myles Garrett blocking a field goal that veterans safety Rodney McLeod returned 50 yards for a touchdown just before halftime. It still wasn't enough to overcome Cleveland's incompetent and clumsy offense.

The unit continued it's third down ineptitude well into the third quarter, failing to convert 26 consecutive third down plays until they finally moved the sticks on back-to-back third downs on the second to last play of the third quarter and the second play of the fourth quarter. Of the 16 points scored by the Browns, just nine of them came from the offense as they crossed the 50 only four times and got into the red zone once.

Naturally, the one trip inside the 20 brought the Browns offense to the doorstep of tying the game from Philly's three, only for two false start penalties to cancel their plans to go for it on fourth-and-goal, settling for a field goal instead. That pair of flags were two of Cleveland's three false start penalties at the most inopportune time nonetheless.

That series was arguably one of the best of the season for the Browns, a glimmer of hope that the offense has some life after all. Spoiled, however, by inopportune penalties, which has been the calling card of this team in 2024.

Also promising was Deshaun Watson's play in the second half. Despite only finishing with 168 yards passing, he was completed 11 of his 12 passes for 122 yards in the second half. Almost reminiscent of the Ravens game last year that remains a calling card of Watson's Browns tenure to this point. Only Cleveland won that game.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Browns had accounted for just 244 yards of total offense. They were 3-of-12 on third down. Watson was sacked five more times. The offense has now gone 29-straight drives without a touchdowns.

Meanwhile, aside from a 45-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith in the fourth quarter by Philadelphia, the Browns defense did it's best to limit the damage. Despite the the offense gaining just 71 yards of offense in the first half and putting up three points the game was somehow tied 10-10 at halftime thanks the Garrett and McLeod heroics. That score was a far cry from the 24-3 deficit they faced a week ago in Washington.

Jim Schwartz group played a bend but don't break style for most of the day. The Eagles lead was never further than a score away in the second half, which for most teams in the NFL that's manageable. For this Browns offense though, that's a chore.

So another week goes by and the Browns find themselves with many of the same questions and not many answers for how to solve them.