3 Takeaways from Browns' Week 11 Loss vs. Bills

Another game yielded another loss for the Cleveland Browns. For the second straight week, Cleveland was handled by a playoff-caliber AFC East opponent on the road. Only this time, the opponent didn't have a true home-field advantage.

The Browns were supposed to play the Buffalo Bills in upstate New York, but a severe snowstorm forced the NFL to move the game to Detroit. The change in venue had the potential to give the Browns a slight edge—Cleveland is roughly two-and-a-half hours away from Detroit—but it didn't. The Browns looked just as listless and undisciplined as they did a week ago against the Miami Dolphins.

This game was not as close as the 31-23 final score might indicate.

Cleveland has talented players on its roster, but it's become clear that the Browns aren't good enough to hang with the best teams in the AFC. Sunday's blowout loss was further proof of this. At 3-7, the Browns are looking at yet another lost season.

Here are our three biggest takeaways from the Browns' Week 11 loss to Buffalo.

The Browns had their opportunities Sunday. Buffalo looked sluggish to start the game—understandable, as the team scrambled through feet of snow to get a flight to Michigan on Saturday. Cleveland held a lead for most of the first half. However, the Browns couldn't capitalize on their early chances, and bad plays allowed Buffalo to take control.

The defense once again looked lost after the Bills found their rhythm. Buffalo racked up 171 rushing yards while only getting seven from dual-threat quarterback Josh Allen. That's a sign of bad execution and poor planning on Cleveland's part, and the blame falls on defensive coordinator Joe Woods.

As we've discussed repeatedly this season, Woods should be gone in the offseason. A team with stars like Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and Jadeveon Clowney shouldn't be this bad.

Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer should be on thin ice as well. The Browns have experienced too many miscues in the third phase this season, and the mistakes continued against Buffalo.

A 28-yard return by Nyheim Hines set up Buffalo's first field goal of the game. Browns kicker Cade York had another attempt blocked, which kept Cleveland with a double-digit deficit entering the fourth quarter.

If head coach Kevin Stefanski isn't willing to move on from Woods and Priefer, perhaps he needs to go too. Stefanski's offense isn't without blame—it tallied 396 yards of offense but not nearly enough points—and the team has regularly made stupid mistakes (six penalties on Sunday).

The Browns have been trending in the wrong direction since making the playoffs in Stefanski's first season. Adding talent in the offseason would help, but players can only accomplish so much if they're poorly coached.

For as bad as the Browns played against Buffalo, quarterback Jacoby Brissett had a brilliant game. He did fumble a snap from fill-in center Hjalte Froholdt—after Ethan Pocic left with a knee injury—but he was the reason Cleveland even had a shot in this game.

Brissett's other lowlight—back-to-back failed QB sneaks in the third quarter—were largely on the offensive line.

In all, Brissett threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 29 yards. His afternoon could have been even better, and Cleveland might have pulled an upset, if he had more reliable targets.

The turning point in this game might have been in the second quarter, when Cleveland had a chance to go up 14-4. Brissett threw two accurate passes, but Harrison Bryant and Pharaoh Brown dropped would-be touchdowns on consecutive plays. The Browns settled for a field goal and ultimately limped into the break down 13-10.

Cleveland has one reliable receiver in Amari Cooper. Donovan Peoples-Jones is an emerging player, but he's not a star yet. Tight end David Njoku can be great at times, but he tends to run hot and cold. The rest of Cleveland's receiving corps is below-average, if we're being kind.

The Browns want to have a run-first offense, but in games where the ground game isn't working, like this one, they must be able to move the chains through the air. Cleveland was just 5-of-13 on third or fourth down against Buffalo.

It's time for Cleveland to start thinking about what it can be next season. The 2023 iteration desperately needs some surer hands on offense.

If there's a positive takeaway to be found this Monday morning, it's that Cleveland got yet another great game out of Cooper. The Browns got a steal when they acquired the 28-year-old from the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round pick and a sixth-round swap. Cooper continues to prove that on game days.

Against Buffalo, Cooper caught eight of 12 targets for 113 yards and two touchdowns. On the season, he now has 50 receptions for 698 yards and seven touchdowns. Just as importantly, he's remained a positive leader despite Cleveland's struggles.

"Everybody has greatness in them, but greatness is put on display," Cooper said after the Dolphins loss, per Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com. "Some people don't put it on display, even though it's in them. I think this team has to find a way to put it on display. It's in us, we just got to find a way to put it on display."

Coming from a Cowboys team that has regularly been in playoff contention, Cooper could voice his frustration or sulk silently, and few would blame him. However, he continues to call his teammates to action and show his won greatness on the field.

After this mess of a season, Browns general manager Andrew Berry will have the tough task of deciding which players deserve to be a part of Cleveland's future. Garrett and running back Nick Chubb are obvious must-keep players. Without question, Cooper is another.

Cooper is signed through the 2024 season, and there's no reason he should go anywhere before then.