The Browns defense failed to execute effectively against the Texans.

The Browns‘ postseason came to an abrupt end on Saturday when they suffered a 45-14 defeat against the Texans in the Wild Card round. Despite the disappointment, the Browns are determined to learn from this experience and use it as fuel for the upcoming offseason.

DE Myles Garrett expressed the team’s mindset, acknowledging the adversity they faced throughout the year. He emphasized the importance of using this painful loss as motivation for the next season. Garrett admitted that this defeat was the most agonizing of his career, but he vowed to utilize it every day until they reach the playoffs again and make another strong push. He stressed the need to inspire and motivate his teammates to work harder, train more intensely, and reflect on what it takes to avoid experiencing this kind of defeat in the future.

Now, let’s delve into three key takeaways from the final game of the 2023 season.

The Texans presented a tough challenge for the defense, leading to a series of defensive struggles throughout the game.

The Browns’ defensive performance against the Texans on Saturday fell short of their usual standard. Despite their efforts to start strong and overcome defensive slipups on the road throughout the season, they did not resemble the top defense in the league.

“We had a subpar performance,” expressed Garrett. “We aimed to begin the game with intensity, especially on the road, and establish our presence from the moment the ball was snapped. However, the Texans simply outperformed us. They capitalized on our mistakes, and it’s unfortunate that we had an off day today.”

Garrett attributed their defensive struggles to the effectiveness of Texans QB C.J. Stroud. Stroud consistently released the ball on time and found openings to throw or escape the pocket and make downfield passes. Despite the Browns’ efforts to apply pressure on numerous plays, Stroud managed to either make a play or evade the defense swiftly enough to prevent them from making a play.

The Browns gave up several big plays, from Stroud’s 76-yard touchdown to TE Brevin Jordan, to the 37-yard touchdown pass to TE Dalton Schultz or a 38-yard pass to WR Nico Collins. Stroud finished the game completing 16-of-21 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns.

Garrett expressed his disappointment, stating that the team failed to execute properly. He acknowledged that there were positional errors within the defense and emphasized the need to focus on the fundamentals. Garrett believed that they should have made adjustments sooner and improved their communication. He felt that the lack of cohesion was unfortunate and expressed his frustration, saying, “It’s a shame.”

Joe Flacco’s tenure as the Browns

Joe Flacco’s tenure as the Browns’ quarterback began when he joined the practice squad on November 20. At that time, the team was facing the absence of Deshaun Watson due to a shoulder injury and had already gone through three different starting quarterbacks, including rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Walker. Flacco’s arrival brought much-needed experience to the team for the final stretch of the season, and he played a crucial role in leading the Browns to the playoffs.

Starting from his first game as the starting quarterback in Week 13, Flacco consistently threw for over 300 yards in four out of the five games he started during the regular season. His overall performance included 123 completed passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Additionally, he guided the Browns to four consecutive victories from Week 14 to Week 17, securing a playoff spot for the team for the first time since 2020.

However, Saturday’s game did not end as they had hoped. Flacco’s performance in that game consisted of completing 34-of-46 passes for 307 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Unfortunately, both interceptions in the third quarter were returned for touchdowns by the Texans. Flacco explained that on the first interception, he was attempting to throw the ball away.

Reflecting on the loss, Flacco expressed gratitude for his time in Cleveland and the opportunity to play football once again this season.
Flacco expressed his gratitude, stating, “Being able to join this team has been an incredible stroke of luck. This group is truly exceptional, and while many may claim the same, it genuinely holds true in our case. I am immensely thankful for the opportunity to work alongside these individuals.”

Kareem Hunt’s knack for locating the end zone.

In spite of the Browns‘ offensive struggles, RB Kareem Hunt managed to score two touchdowns in the first half, accounting for Cleveland’s only points on Saturday. During the second offensive drive, Hunt found the end zone by running up the middle, thanks to a solid block from G Wyatt Teller. Later in the second quarter, he caught an 11-yard pass from Flacco for his second touchdown of the day.

By the end of the game, Hunt had rushed for 26 yards on eight carries, with his longest run being 14 yards. Additionally, he gained nine receiving yards on five receptions.

Hunt’s performance included one rushing and one receiving touchdown, making him the fourth player in NFL history to achieve at least one rushing touchdown in each of his first four postseason games. Furthermore, he is tied for second place in Browns postseason history with a total of five touchdowns, four of which were rushing touchdowns.