The Browns had high hopes going into 2021. Then, they proceeded to go 8-9 to miss the playoffs.
After 2021, the Browns had basically fallen apart. Baker Mayfield was ready to leave Cleveland after the Deshaun Watson signing, and now there are many uncertainties.
But if Watson could get off the hook, many fans dream of another season like 2020.
What Made 2020 So Memorable?
The reason it was so memorable was that the 2020 season was the most the Browns accomplished in 18 years.
But the most memorable game they had was their wild-card win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With the Browns making the playoffs for the first time since 2002, the stage was set. The Browns would be taking on their division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers in round one.
With coach Kevin Stefanski out with covid, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer took over with head-coaching duties.
And as soon as the game started, the Browns were off and running.
THAT WAS QUICK.
📺: https://t.co/vcgHu2syur pic.twitter.com/Y3Xn6DhI0S
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 11, 2021
Then, on the Steelers’ next drive, Roethlisberger would end up throwing an interception. This would then lead to a 39-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Landry.
JARVIS. LANDRY.
📺: https://t.co/NyBDmNclTK pic.twitter.com/DESCrHfqWx
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 11, 2021
This would lead to a 28-0 first quarter, and Cleveland would get their first playoff win since 1994 by a score of 48-37.
However, all good things must come to an end. The Browns would go on to get eliminated in the next round to the Chiefs by the score of 22-17.
Their loss wasn’t without controversy, though.
Near the end of the first half, Rashard Higgins dived for a touchdown. That was when safety Daniel Sorensen hit Higgins with what appeared to be a helmet-to-helmet play, and the referees missed it. Higgins lost the ball due to the hit and it rolled out of play in the endzone, resulting in the Chiefs getting the ball back.
Rashard Higgins’ fumble results in a touchback and #Chiefs football tough break for thr #Browns #CLEvsKC pic.twitter.com/ht7m9xzmal
— JWAL Productions LLC (@JWALprod) January 17, 2021
We will never know if the Browns would’ve won if a flag was called, but it probably should’ve been called by the referees.
So, What Happened to the Browns in 2021?
One of the biggest reasons they regressed was injuries. The amount of players that missed time is kind of ridiculous. Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, Anthony Walker, Jacob Phillips, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jack Conklin, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, and Troy Hill all missed some games. Injuries are a part of football, but Cleveland was really banged up.
Their inability to close games was also a deciding factor. About five times this past year, the Browns lost a game because they couldn’t get a stop or score. These games were against the Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders, Ravens, and Steelers.
Now there were some games where the Browns just got blown out like the games against the Cardinals and Patriots, but other than that they could have won many other games.
It’s difficult on who to blame for this, it could be bad play-calling or players not executing, but it was definitely bad.