My thoughts on this game and my predictions on it. This game clearly didn't go as I expected in a lot of ways. I did mention the health of KC this year as far as their best players in one of my post. I certainly didn't predict an injury, but it was in the back of my mind that they are due. Mahomes plays a risky style. I found an interesting stat about Mahomes.
He has more first down runs than any other QB i think both this year and coming into the league on 3rd downs. I'm probably wrong about the exact wording. The point is that he runs a lot on 3rd downs. While it's good he doesn't do it so much on other downs, this is a problem for him long term. He doesn't run QB sneaks where he shoots a gap and gets down. It runs to the edge or in the middle of the field a lot of the time. Today that caught up to him. It is something he needs to be a little more selective about IMO going forward. If not, we will see more of this. This is twice in 2 years he has been injured now. While I expect him to play next week. If he keeps playing like this he will continue to get dinged up badly every year. Moving on!
The Browns had a good chance to win this game. Penalties were killers and that touchback really hurt. I don't hate the rule like some. I actually like the rule, as it is nearly impossible for a defender to defend someone close to the endzone who has the ball. You need to both stop their momentum and control their hands. Also i hate the fact that as long as the football counts as forward progress and your spot, while you can also catch a ball while outside of bounds if your feet are in. It seems too much like having your cake and eating it too. The spot of the ball matters for the offense when it is convenient and doesn't when it isn't. While the helmet hit is an unfortunate missed call, coaches should also do a better job of hammering into their players not to be heros in that kind of situation.
In any case that was a big swing of 10 points. Maybe KC would have gotten a FG after anyway, but it will would have kept the Browns more in the game and it was a pity it happened. One other issue I have with the Browns is a lack of urgency. This is bad coaching. You get the ball with 8 minutes left down 4. In 4 minutes you move the ball 20 yards and punt. At this point they knew Mahomes wasn't coming back. They should have tried to maximize their possessions when they had the advantage. Extending the game when you're down in the 4th is always a good idea.
That to me is on the coaching staff and unforgivable incompetence. A total lack of the Moment. The Browns brown'd No coach of the year for you! People will Blame Mahomes being out for making the game closer than it should have been. I disagree. It should have been this close, and it showed again some issues KC had. They were red hot early but got cold in the in 3rd and let the Browns back in. This defense is very vulnerable in a lot of ways and might be the worst D left, though not by much. Not that it is crap, but I don't believe in it holding a lead.
Again today KC plays with fire, and things almost turned around on them, but a few big moments and bounces of the ball went their way and they were able to hold on. I think it might catch up with them next week against a better opponent.
As for the Browns, about what you would expect. I think this loss might be good for them in the long run, but hte coaching staff needs to take a hard look at where the lack. I know it's tempting to run with Chubb when he gets about 5 YPC, but if they want to win, they need to be okay putting the game in Baker's hands and letting him learn to swim, even if he'll sink more often for now.