During their bye week, the Cleveland Browns couldn’t escape scrutiny from a passionate fan base frustrated by the team’s lackluster 2-7 season.
The Browns currently sit at the bottom of the AFC North, trailing the 4-6 Cincinnati Bengals and division leaders Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, each with seven wins.
While quarterback Deshaun Watson initially drew the blame before a season-ending Achilles injury, the spotlight has since shifted across the organization. Before Watson’s injury, fans were vocal about his struggles and some speculated that the front office’s decision to stick with him despite a league-leading offensive line in penalties and sacks allowed.
Some questioned whether management was unduly influencing lineup decisions, potentially stalling other quarterbacks’ opportunities.
Since Watson’s absence, quarterback Jameis Winston energized the team with a 29-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, temporarily snapping a streak of sub-20-point games. However, that momentum quickly faded as Winston’s three-interception game led to a 27-10 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers the following week.
In an online poll hosted by ESPN Cleveland via social media, fans were asked, “Who is to blame for the Browns’ poor season?” Opinions varied, but a majority attributed the struggles to the team’s upper management.
Owner Jimmy Haslam received 45.2 percent of the votes, followed closely by General Manager Andrew Berry at 31.9 percent. Head coach Kevin Stefanski held just 7.5 percent, with Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta slightly ahead at 15.4 percent.
“Organizational failure, no point dividing blame,” one fan commented.
“Worst owner in professional sports. Never learns from past mistakes, just keeps repeating them.” Wrote another.
Looking ahead, the Browns face the New Orleans Saints, aiming to spark a turnaround and climb out of the AFC North cellar. As they return from the bye, fans will be watching closely to see if the team can regain momentum and begin to close out the season on a positive note.
Watson and the offense face an uphill battle as they look to find consistency and begin to string together scoring drives.
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