Breaking down the Browns bad start vs. Bengals

The first quarter of the Cleveland Browns’ visit to Cincinnati went about as poorly as a game could start. Outside of defensive heroics by Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, the Bengals completely dominated the first quarter in Week 7.

It starts with Baker Mayfield. Just like Week 6, Mayfield’s first pass attempt of the game wound up being picked off. At least the Browns tackled Bengals CB Darius Phillips, though wide receiver Odell Beckham injured his knee on the chase and was lost for the game.

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Mayfield missed his first five throws, misfiring at five different receivers. There was no flow, no rhythm, no confidence from either the QB or his receivers.

The defense was little better. Cincinnati converted all four third-down attempts in that first quarter, driving for over 100 yards and a TD drive. The strip sack from Garrett and a tipped pass by Denzel Ward that wound up being picked off by LB B.J. Goodson were the only positives for the Browns.

There were penalties, too. Four of them cost the Browns 35 yards, including a poor choice by punt coverage ace Tavierre Thomas that ruined a perfect coffin corner punt from Jamie Gillan.

The box score is reflective of how poorly the Browns started the game.

That’s an unacceptable effort against a one-win team that is playing without its starting RB, Joe Mixon. Some of the blame goes to Mayfield for his ice-cold start, but he wasn’t alone out there. If not for Ward and Garrett, the game could have been out of hand before the Browns had a chance to settle in and make it a game.