The Cleveland Browns have ended their 2023 regular season with a record of 11-6. Despite solid performances by wide receiver David Bell and defensive end Alex Wright, the Browns’ backups fell to the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 14-31 as they now prepare for the Houston Texans next week.
The Bengals did not rest their starters as running back Joe Mixon had his best game in two years against this reserve unit. Jake Browning was also able to find success through the air, ending the game with 156 yards and three touchdowns passing.
Overall, the game is about what you would expect for a team resting all of their starters with their spot in the playoffs already locked down. The real test lies ahead as the Browns get set to travel to Houston to take on the Texans in the first round of the playoffs.
And for the last time this regular season, here is your 4 Downs from this meaningless Week 18 loss to the Bengals.
1st Down: WR will once again be a priority this offseason
No Amari Cooper, no Elijah Moore, and no production at the wide receiver position.
And this was not just a Jeff Driskel issue as this has been a season-long trend. However, every wide receiver not named Cooper or Moore had a chance to step up today, and nobody answered the call. David Bell scored two late garbage time touchdowns, but other than that there was no pulse on this room.
Whether it is taking a big swing in free agency or prioritizing it in the 2024 NFL draft, wide receiver will again be at the top of the needs list this offseason. And beyond that, Cooper returning despite his massive cap hit is no longer questionable.
This room would be putrid and among the league’s worst without him.
Luckily the Browns are doing what they need to do to stay healthy for the playoffs, and they will need Cooper and Moore in a massive way.
2nd Downs: Alex Wright, 2024 starting defensive end opposite Myles Garrett
A third round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Alex Wright was thrust into the starting lineup in Week 3 of his rookie season after entering the NFL from a Group of Five program at UAB. His rookie season did not go as planned as it was likely too much too early for him.
However, taking a step back into a rotational role, Wright has burst onto the scenes for the Browns this season. Wright has racked up four sacks over his last four games, giving him five now in his sophomore campaign. He is also among the best run defenders on the team as well.
As the Browns prepare for Za’Darius Smith to enter free agency, they now have some assurance that the next man up is already in the building. If Smith seeks out the highest bidder on the open market and departs Cleveland, Wright is your starting defensive end opposite of Myles Garrett.
The Browns needed a leap from him, and they got it.
3rd Down: Joe Mixon's incentives and the art of making the Bengals feel better about themselves
Joe Mixon made an additional $250,000 in incentives today against the Browns. He was one of many Cincinnati starters who played in this game.
And I hope that makes Mixon and the Bengals feel a bit better about their nine-win season as they beat a preseason roster in Week 18. Pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, sitting two sacks out of the league’s lead, was hunting sacks against Cleveland’s backup tackles.
And yet, their season ends the same. Cincinnati will clean out their lockers tomorrow after a Week 18 win, and Mixon will do so a quarter-million dollars richer.
May they sit on their sofas with smiles next week while the Browns travel to Houston to take on the Texans in a playoff game.
4th Down: Houston, we have a problem
We’re onto Houston.
After the Jacksonville Jaguars choked away five of their last six games and the AFC South title, it is C.J. Stroud and the Texans who win the division and will host the Browns next weekend. It will be a bittersweet moment for Ohioans who love Stroud and also love the Browns as Jim Schwartz looks to get the best of the rookie.
The Browns have dismantled Houston once this year already, but that was with Case Keenum under center. The second act is sure to be a tougher ask of the Cleveland defense.
Can Flacco and Cooper connect for another historic day on the same defense they erupted on just three weeks ago? The regular season is over and the real football begins.
Extra Point: So uh, P.J. Walker is your backup quarterback.
The Browns gave Jeff Driskel an audition to see if he could take on the role of backing up Joe Flacco for the upcoming playoff run. And he answered them with a resounding no.
Despite some garbage time touchdown throws to Bell that made his numbers look prettier, it was an ugly outing for Driskell.
Driskell will likely stay on the 53-man roster as the Browns more than likely utilize the emergency third quarterback in the playoffs. But it will be P.J. Walker who will head into the game if anything were to happen to Flacco the rest of the way out.
Hopefully, though, it is a moot point anyway and Flacco stays healthy to lead this team to a Super Bowl.
