The Cleveland Browns’ season continues to spiral downward, with Sunday’s collapse marking their seventh loss in eight games.
Their post-bye week hopes for a fresh start crumbled in spectacular fashion, as a competitive game turned into a fourth-quarter nightmare against the New Orleans Saints.
What began as a promising 14-14 deadlock devolved into a crushing 35-14 defeat, exposing glaring weaknesses across all phases of the game.
Cornerback Denzel Ward didn’t mince words when addressing the team’s defensive meltdown.
During a virtual press conference, as reported by The Chronicle Telegram’s Scott Petrak, Ward expressed his frustration:
“That’s unacceptable to give up 21 points in the fourth quarter. That’s not who we say we are as a defense and as a team. And that’s not the type of tape we wanna put out there. So, we gotta make corrections for that and get that fixed.”
#Browns CB Denzel Ward on “unacceptable” defensive performance in fourth quarter vs. #Saints. pic.twitter.com/CzQnhRjlWE
— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) November 18, 2024
Despite the team’s struggles, Ward’s individual performance stood out as a rare bright spot.
The cornerback put together an impressive stat line, notching four tackles, his first interception of the season (and 16th of his career), while adding a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two pass breakups.
However, Ward’s efforts weren’t enough to mask the defense’s broader issues.
The Saints carved through Cleveland’s defense with eight explosive plays, including a devastating 71-yard touchdown strike to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Taysom Hill added to the Browns’ misery, breaking free for two backbreaking runs – a 33-yard touchdown on a direct snap and a crushing 75-yard score late in the fourth quarter.
The loss to a three-win Saints team has raised uncomfortable questions about player effort and team direction.
For a franchise that reached the playoffs last season and entered this year with Super Bowl aspirations, their current 2-8 record represents a stunning fall from grace.
With the Pittsburgh Steelers looming on Thursday and whispers of organizational changes growing louder, the Browns find themselves at a critical crossroads.
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