The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Can the Browns Dig Themselves Out of the Hole They Created?

This is an op-ed by Marcus Donald, Cleveland 13 News/ TMDE Sports.

CLEVELAND, OHIO — First, I’d like to say that there hasn’t been much good this season. Week 7 marked the return of Browns star running back Nick Chubb, who had 11 carries for 22 yards and a touchdown. There was a lot of hype around this game because Chubb had sustained a devastating leg injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers last year and has worked hard to return to the team. Seeing him back on the field was the only bright spot, but nobody expected him to single-handedly save the Browns.

Photo: Tim Phillis

The Browns also released a team statement this week announcing their plans to build a new dome stadium in Brook Park, OH. The city of Cleveland and its mayor have expressed disappointment over this decision. The new dome is set to open by 2029.

The Bad

In Week 7, the Browns suffered a 14-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on their home field at Huntington Bank Stadium. During the opening drive, Bengals’ wide receiver Charlie Jones returned a punt for 100 yards, with Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins missing a critical opportunity to stop the play. Statistically, the Browns outperformed the Bengals in many key areas, including total yards (336 to 223), passing yards (259 to 164), and rushing yards (77 to 59). Despite this, the loss essentially ended any realistic hope of a postseason appearance.

Photo: Tim Phillis

Before I address the Deshaun Watson injury, it’s worth noting that Dorian Thompson-Robinson made his starting debut, going 11 for 24 with 82 yards and two interceptions. For the life of me, I can’t understand why seasoned veteran Jameis Winston didn’t start the game. This decision highlights Kevin Stefanski's questionable game strategy and raises concerns about what the front office, along with owner Jimmy Haslam, really has planned for the city of Cleveland.

The Ugly

Now, let’s talk about the ugly. Deshaun Watson sustained a torn Achilles tendon during what appeared to be a quarterback sneak or draw play. He tried to evade defenders but fell to his knees in agony. To make matters worse, the city of Cleveland chose to boo Watson as he lay face down on the field, being carted off by the medical team. As a dedicated Browns fan, I’ve seen a lot in my time, but I would never wish harm or pain on any professional athlete. This classless display of disrespect was disturbing, a testament to the infamous "Factory of Sadness" that Cleveland has been known for. Booing Watson at the beginning of the game when he entered the stadium was also a low point.

Here’s my message to you, Cleveland: How can we ever attract free agents if we can’t even show respect to our own players? Granted, they’re million-dollar professionals, but they put their bodies on the line for the sport we love. Booing them is immature, asinine, and disrespectful to the game.

The Bigger Question

Now, onto the bigger question: What are the Browns going to do to salvage the season? Some believe the team is tanking—losing games on purpose. Others still think there’s a slim chance of a postseason appearance, which is ridiculous. I want to point out two main culprits who have contributed to the demise of this 2024-25 season.

Culprit 1: Kevin Stefanski Throughout this 1-6 record, Kevin Stefanski has displayed the same lack of execution and creativity in his offense. This has led to significant punishment for our quarterback, Deshaun Watson. It seems like Stefanski is forcing his style of offense on a quarterback who may not have the capability or understanding to execute the game plan. The result? Costly errors, multiple penalties, and losses. Stefanski’s job is definitely on the line.

Culprit 2: Andrew Berry My next culprit is General Manager Andrew Berry. He orchestrated the trade for Deshaun Watson and showed former Browns quarterback, now Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Baker Mayfield, the door. Berry’s refusal to re-sign players like Kareem Hunt and Joe Flacco (who is now on the Indianapolis Colts, looking as sharp as he did during his Baltimore Ravens days) has been a mistake. These continuous errors by Stefanski, Berry, and the front office have left the Browns in a state of embarrassment.

Photo: Tim Phillis

Berry has given extensions to players who didn’t deserve them and let go of players who did. The Browns now have three choices with Watson. Option one: keep Watson on the roster after he rehabs his torn Achilles, though it’s likely he’ll miss half of next season. Option two: come to an agreement to release Watson, with the team responsible for 80-90% of his salary. The NFL has done this in cases like Baker Mayfield and J.J. Watt, where teams saved a few million and moved on. Option three: trade Watson before next season starts to gain draft compensation and lower his pay.

No matter the choice, the Browns are in a tough spot, and this situation needs to be resolved. If it isn’t, I don’t see Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski keeping their jobs with the Browns organization.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of Cleveland 13 News. As a balanced and unbiased public news network, we believe it is important to share diverse perspectives, which is why we publish opinion pieces like this. We encourage readers to join the conversation and share their thoughts in the comments or on social media, where our team actively engages and fosters open dialogue.