After seeing their hopes of an undefeated start to the season end abruptly on Sunday, the Cleveland Browns are preparing for a Week 3 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers that will decide their divisional standing. Players and coaches did their best to emphasize their disappointment in the team’s loss to the New York Jets in Week 2, but none were as blunt as linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.
In his comments to the media after the game, Walker explained that, in his eyes, the loss to the Jets was on him. He made no bones about it.
“I’m the communicator,” Walker said. “I’m the guy who is supposed to get everyone lined up, and obviously, I didn’t do my job two weeks in a row. I’ll take that one, and we will be back.”
They won’t have long to get back on the horse, though, and Walker told reporters that he sees an opportunity in the Browns’ short turnaround after the devastating defeat.
“One of the best things about taking this one is that we have a divisional opponent on Thursday,” He continued. “You can’t have any layover with this one so we will be back in the building tomorrow going on the first and second down game plan. That’s the best part about it. I wish I could be telling those guys this after a win, but we will be better and learn from it.”
The embarrassing loss to New York may prove to be a turning point in Cleveland’s season, though it is too early to tell at this juncture. It will take a team effort to bounce back from the disappointing result so early in their 2022 campaign, but after a thrilling Week 1 win, it would be foolish to count out this Browns squad.
It will take time and a concerted effort to improve after being wholly dismantled by the Jets, but with Walker leading the way, the defense might have better days ahead later in the season.
