Browns blow opportunties in Bengals loss

The Cleveland Browns used two interceptions in the first quarter by Joe Haden to leap to a 13-0 lead,but I had a funny feeling that this was the old Browns.
The Browns that took chances to build leads with touchdowns and instead settled for field goals that would cause them misery.
That is exactly what happened as the Cincinnati Bengals scored 31 points in the second quarter and won the Battle of Ohio 41-20.
Jason Campbell threw for 248 yards and a 74 yard touchdown pass to Josh Gordon,but also tossed three interceptions.
Gordon finished the day with five catches for 125 yards to lead a less than hefty Browns offense.
The now 4-6 Browns host 4-6 Pittsburgh next week.

Brownie Bits

1) You look at 41 points allowed and think the defense was bad.
It was not.
Give Cincinnati 7 points on a blocked punt score,7 more on a fumble returned for a score and another seven set by a blocked punt and you come up with only 20 by the defense.
The Bengals were outgained and were not overly impressive with the ball.
The loss doesn't go on the D.

2) Joe Haden shut down A.J. Green and if he doesn't make the Pro Bowl,it's a travesty.
Haden picked off two passes and returned one for a score,while Green caught just two passes for seven yards.
Enough said...

3) The Browns ground game was not great,but Chris Ogbonnaya rushed for 69 yards,although 43 were on one carry.
Considering the Browns ground game status,things could have been worse...

4) Josh Gordon looked great on his long touchdown pass,but sometimes looked disinterested at other times.
Maybe I'm off,but sometimes Gordon's smooth style makes me think he is not playing hard.
I hope that's the case,anyway...

5) Jason Campbell showed a lack of poise in this game.
The slightest rush caused a checkdown,usually to Chris Ogbonnaya,for minimal gains.
Ogbonnaya and Jordan Cameron each caught six passes,but for just 30 and 29 yards respectively.
Isn't seeing "checkdown charlie's" what doomed Brandon Weeden?

6) The lack of any semblance of a downfield game other than the TD pass to Josh Gordon doomed the Browns.
Without a strong ground attack,the Browns need to open the field and the almost refusal to get the ball to any receiver other than Gordon tends to make a team dependent on the short passing game and without a ton of players that can make plays in space,it becomes tough to move the ball..

7) Awful day for the special teams with two blocked punts.Add to that a 29 yard punt that after return added three points for the Bengals,one could see why Spencer Lanning had a rough outing..

8) The Browns held the Bengals under 100 yards passing and stopped them on every third down,but one and still lost by 21!
Take those scores away not allowed by the defense and this could have been close.

9) I noted above about all the checkdowns and it's too bad because Jason Campbell throws a nice deep ball.
His pass to Josh Gordon was a beautiful toss,we just didn't see enough of them.

10) The Browns settled for field goals on the first two drives when Campbell overthrew Jordan Cameron in the end zone on one drive and had a pass batted away when he threw a line drive instead of a floater to to a wide (and I mean wide) open Greg Little.
It would have been interesting to see how things went at 21-0 not 13-0.

11) The AFC North suddenly seems weaker with 3 teams under .500 and the Bengals not reminding anyone of a Super Bowl contender.
The Browns need help at offensive spots,but if they can get at least some of them,they could contend next year.
They have to fill the holes well,but maybe...

Photo Credit:Cleveland Plain Dealer