Browns needed an error-free game vs. the Chiefs and didn’t get it: 3 Quick Thoughts

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns lost to the Chiefs on Sunday, 22-17, in an AFC divisional playoff game.

Here are three quick thoughts.

1. Errors

The Browns had no room for error against the Chiefs on Sunday.

And then they made errors.

A Wyatt Teller holding call wiped out a big pass play to Jarvis Landry with the Browns trailing 13-3. That would’ve put the Browns at the Chiefs 27-yard line. Nick Chubb dropped back-to-back passes. Rashard Higgins fumbled out of the end zone while stretching for the pylon.

Baker Mayfield threw an interception on the third play of the second half.

Too many errors.

Too many when you’re facing the defending Super Bowl champs, who lost just one game with their starters this season.

The Chiefs have tons of room for error.

They missed an extra point and a field goal. Heck, they were held to field goal attempts on four drives. That’s a victory for the Browns in itself.

But the Chiefs also scored a touchdown on second-and-19, and Patrick Mahomes scrambled for 13 yards on third-and-8 despite limping with a bad toe. By the way, that was the Chiefs’ second third down of the game. It came on their 26th play. That’s how you leave room for error.

The Chiefs lost Mahomes to a concussion in the third quarter and held on with Chad Henne. Henne ran for 13 yards on third-and-14 in the final two minutes to help secure the victory.

The next step for the Browns as a franchise is creating more room for error.

2. One drive to rule them all

It’s not that the Browns didn’t have a chance to overcome those errors. They had a drive to take the lead in the fourth quarter.

That’s all you really want.

That’s the minimum.

You’ll take that.

That’s what the Browns got with eight minutes left. Karl Joseph made one of the easiest interceptions of his career, courtesy of Henne, and the Browns took over at their own 20-yard line, trailing the Chiefs 22-17.

The Browns gained 12 yards on the drive. They needed to convert a fourth-and-1 just to accomplish that.

Here’s a recap:

Swing pass to Nick Chubb.

Chubb run for no gain.

Short pass to Rashard Higgins.

Baker Mayfield sneak on fourth-and-1.

Chubb run for a loss of a yard.

Short pass incomplete.

Short pass incomplete.

Punt on fourth-and-9.

The key word for that drive is short. The word describes the length of the drive and what seemed to be the focus of each play.

It was short on risk, but ramped up the need for efficiency. The Browns had plenty of time to make that kind of approach work, and draining the clock was surely something the Browns wanted to do. But, again, it leaves little margin for error.

3. The takeaway

I said before the playoffs even began that this Browns season was already a success. I didn’t think they even needed to make the playoffs. Double-digit wins was plenty. Now they’ve added a playoff win. Everything is pointed in the right direction, from the front office to the coaching staff to key spots on the roster.

Losing by five points to the Chiefs stings, for sure. But the Browns head to the offseason with so many more knowns than in past seasons.

Browns fans should understand the value of that.

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