Just How Costly Have Turnovers Been For The Browns This Season?

Through 14 weeks the Browns are near the bottom of the league in turnover differential and opponents have made the most of their mistakes

Turnovers and what a team does in the red zone on both sides of the ball, remain two of the key statistical indicators of just how good a team is. At 8-5 on the season though, the 2023 Browns have become an exception to the rule.

Through 14 weeks, Cleveland ranks 27th in the league in turnover differential, at a mark of -7 and it's not as if the Browns defense hasn't been taking the ball away.

That units 12 interceptions on the season are tied for 10th most in the NFL. An additional eight fumble recoveries are also near the top third of the league, tied with a handful of teams. The discrepancy stems largely from the Browns revolving door of quarterback play this season, which has featured the likes of Deshaun Watson, P.J. Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and now Joe Flacco each start games for the Browns. 

Each QB has been uniquely turnover prone, combining for 15 interceptions thrown – the second most in the league. Only the Las Vegas Raiders have more. Additionally, Cleveland's 12 fumbles are third worst, behind the Jets and Vikings.

Those turnover issues have had a ripple effect in the other key area mentioned above, the red zone, where the Browns defense currently ranks 28th in terms of touchdowns allowed on their opponents trips inside the 20. Cleveland is giving up touchdowns on 67.5-percent of those trips. For a defense that has been dominant in a number of other key areas, this figure stands out as blatant case of one of these things is not like the other.

It's not all their fault though.

Of the Browns 27 turnovers, 15 have resulted in their opponents scoring points off of them. In total, Cleveland has yielded a whopping 97 points off turnovers this season – that's more than one third of the points they've allowed this season. 21 of those points came off of plays that directly resulted in points for the opposing defense, including a pair of first play pick-sixes against the Steelers in Week Two and the Ravens in Week 10.

Of the other 12 turnovers that have led to points, 10 of them saw the opposing team set up for their next series on the Browns side of the field, six of them started inside their red zone. Another three started just shy of the 20. The average starting field position for Cleveland turnovers that led to points is the 26-yard line.

Joe Flacco Reacted To Being Signed To Browns Active Roster

Essentially, these "gimmie" touchdowns and scoring opportunities in general have inflated the Browns points allowed and red zone scoring allowed numbers in a lopsided way. It's hard to completely blame the defense for giving up points on drives that are starting on Cleveland's side of the field. In today's NFL that's basically an automatic three considering how good kickers are these days.

Wherever this season is headed over the next four weeks and beyond, Cleveland's offense has to find a way to break these turnover trends. Giving teams extra possessions is generally a recipe to losing, but somehow it hasn't completely derailed the Browns season so far. Come January though, those blunders won't be quite as easy to overcome.