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Cleveland Browns: 3 takeaways from loss to the Buffalo Bills

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:35 p.m. ET

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Dec 18, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills free safety Corey Graham (20) dives to try and make a tackle on Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) during the second half at New Era Field. Buffalo beats Cleveland 33 to 13. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns are now 0-14 after a loss to the Buffalo Bills. As expected, there were few positives to take away from the game.

Another game, another loss.

The Cleveland Browns stayed on track for an 0-16 season with a boring 33-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills. It was a day when the offense was bad and the defense was worse, combining for a game that was over midway through the third quarter.

Robert Griffin III had another rough outing, although he was not getting much help from his receivers, as drops remained a consistent theme this week.

While it is inexcusable for any NFL team to have an 0-14 record, the lack of talent on the Browns continues to stand out after every loss. Hue Jackson wants his team to play a complete four quarters, but there just isn’t enough talent for his defense to pick up several stops in a row, or for the offense to string together back-to-back touchdown drives.

This was the plan all along, but that doesn’t mean it is fun to watch. Rebuilds are a fine concept if they work out in the end, but it is a miserable process for fans to watch a terrible team in the hopes that things will get better. And when new people promise success every few years, the hope starts to fade.

But there are still two chances for the Browns to pick up a win, as unlikely a win in 2016  may seem right now. We can only take it one game at a time, so let’s look at a few things that stood out from the loss to the Bills.

Dec 18, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) runs with the ball and is pursued by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leger Douzable (91) during the second half at New Era Field. Bills beat the Browns 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

First, the positives. Robert Griffin III led the Browns in rushing against the Bills, and had a touchdown run that put the Browns down 17-10 in the third quarter. End of the positives.

Griffin had another rough outing, routinely missing short throws and not being able to find anything deep. His receivers did drop several passes, but he had several bad misses on the day.

He did run the ball well, but it nearly got him decapitated on several occasions. It is nice to see Griffin making plays with his feet, but it was also clear why that isn’t a popular strategy for players trying to stay healthy.

With next week’s game against the San Diego Chargers being the last game the Browns have a realistic shot of winning, Hue Jackson will have a hard time sticking with Griffin if he wants to win. It comes down to how desperate Jackson is to win, and whether he thinks Cody Kessler gives the team a better chance at victory, which he does.

There is no reason to fault the Browns for taking a chance on Griffin during what was expected to be a tough year, but he is not giving the offense any chance to succeed. At least Kessler had the team playing competitive football, when he was able to stay healthy.

Dec 18, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay (85) runs after a catch and breaks a tackle by Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Cam Johnson (57) during the first half at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns always find new ways to lose. Sometimes it is the defense’s fault, and other times it is because the offense couldn’t put points on the board.

The defense had been playing a bit better as of late, but that all changed Sunday. The Bills put up 33 points, gaining 451 total yards and 29 first downs. Even when Griffin and the offense gave fans hope that the game could be competitive, the Bills offense continually led long scoring drives to keep the game out of reach.

But while the defense was terrible, the offense wasn’t any better. The Browns have not scored more than 13 points since the matchup against the New York Jets back in Week 8. If Griffin is the starter, don’t expect the Browns to put up more than 13 in either of the final two games.

Youth and inexperience are the main reasons for the struggles on both sides of the ball, but it is still hard to be this consistently bad. Then again, this is nothing new for Browns fans.

Ray Horton‘s job could easily be in question at the end of the season, given the fact opponents have scored at least 23 points in every game this season, while scoring at least 30 points in seven games. Excuses about youth can be made, but there are still veterans on the defense that should be capable of having at least one respectable game this season.

Dec 18, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay (85) catches a pass for a touchdown as Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Jamie Collins (51) and free safety Ed Reynolds (39) look on during the first half at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

It is hard to keep determining what is the best remaining game for the Browns to pick up a win, as we are simply running out of time. There is also the fact the team is not capable of playing a complete game.

The rebuilding plan has worked out for the front office as the Browns are the clear favorites to earn the number one overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, thanks to a roster stripped of talent and filled with countless rookies looking to earn a spot on the team next season.

There have been mistakes made by coaches in 2016, but it would not have made much of a difference in the final outcome. The best chance to win a game was in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins, when the team was literally a few feet away from a kick sailing through the uprights and giving the Browns a 1-2 record. It’s almost insane to believe the team could have been 1-2, ending the annual 0-16 discussion before it could gain any traction.

The last two games are going to be painful to watch, but at least there’s that big parade to celebrate the perfect season. Only in Cleveland.

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