CLEVELAND — Eight sacks. In one football game. Against a New York Jets team that entered Sunday with a 1-3 record.
That's what the Cleveland Browns allowed in their 17-12 loss at MetLife Stadium, and it's difficult to imagine a better way to waste an otherwise outstanding defensive performance.
The Browns had opportunities to win their fourth consecutive game. Their defense forced turnovers, kept New York within reach, and gave the offense a chance to take control. Instead, Cleveland managed just 197 net yards, converted four of 16 third-down attempts, and watched quarterback Deshaun Watson spend much of the afternoon trying to escape a collapsing pocket.
There are plenty of reasons Cleveland lost Sunday, including a disastrous special teams mistake. However, the inability to protect its quarterback was a problem from beginning to end, and it's one that head coach Todd Monken needs to address immediately.
A Problem That Goes Beyond One Game
Sunday's performance was Cleveland's worst showing in pass protection this season, but the warning signs were already there.
Watson was sacked five times in the season-opening loss to Jacksonville. The Browns then allowed two sacks apiece against Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Pittsburgh before surrendering eight to the Jets. That's 19 sacks through five games, an average of nearly four per contest.
The Jets took full advantage of Cleveland's problems. Rookie edge rusher David Bailey finished with three sacks, while New York's defense repeatedly disrupted the pocket and prevented Watson from developing any rhythm.
The pressure wasn't limited to one side of the offensive line. The Jets attacked from different angles, mixed in blitzes, and consistently forced Watson to make decisions before receivers had time to get open.
The result was an offense that struggled to accomplish much of anything.
Watson completed 15 of 33 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. Some incompletions were the result of dropped passes, and the heavy rain certainly didn't help, but the Browns couldn't establish any consistency through the air.
An NFL offense cannot function effectively when its quarterback is constantly trying to avoid being tackled before he has an opportunity to throw.
The Offensive Line Isn't the Only Problem
It's easy to blame the offensive line when a quarterback gets sacked eight times, and Cleveland's blockers certainly deserve plenty of criticism. However, pass protection involves more than five players standing in front of the quarterback.
Receivers need to get open, the running game needs to keep defenses honest, and the quarterback must recognize pressure and get rid of the football when necessary.
Watson has demonstrated an ability to extend plays throughout his career, but there's a difference between creating something out of nothing and holding the ball until a manageable situation becomes a disaster.
Not every sack is the offensive line's responsibility. Sometimes the quarterback needs to accept an incompletion rather than continue searching for a play that simply isn't there.
Monken acknowledged as much after Sunday's loss, pointing to coaching, protection, quarterback decisions, and execution as areas that need improvement.
That's the correct approach. Cleveland isn't going to solve this problem by simply asking its linemen to block harder.
The Running Game Has to Help
One of the more frustrating aspects of Sunday's loss was Cleveland's inability to establish a dependable running game.
Quinshon Judkins managed just 44 yards on 14 carries, leaving the Browns without a consistent way to punish New York for aggressively attacking the quarterback.
When defenses don't respect the run, they can devote more attention to rushing the passer. The Jets recognized Cleveland's offensive limitations and took full advantage.
The Browns need to find ways to create favorable situations for their offensive line. That could mean more quick passes, additional protection from tight ends and running backs, or adjustments that move Watson away from pressure.
It also means making better use of the running game when opportunities present themselves.
Monken doesn't need to abandon the offense he's building, but he does need to recognize when the current approach isn't working and make adjustments before the quarterback takes another hit.
Baltimore Won't Make Things Easier
Cleveland doesn't have much time to figure this out. The Baltimore Ravens visit Huntington Bank Field on Sunday, and divisional opponents aren't particularly interested in giving struggling offenses an opportunity to work through their problems.
The Browns have already demonstrated that they can win close games. Their defense has played well enough to keep them competitive, and Watson has delivered important fourth-quarter possessions during Cleveland's surprising 3-2 start.
However, expecting the defense to carry the team every week while the offense struggles to move the football isn't a sustainable formula.
Sunday's eight sacks weren't simply an unfortunate statistic from a disappointing loss. They were a warning that Cleveland's offense has problems opponents will continue to exploit until something changes.
Monken, Watson, and the offensive line all share responsibility for fixing them.
Because if the Browns continue allowing their quarterback to get hit at anything close to Sunday's rate, this promising start to the season could unravel rather quickly.
