Cleveland Browns still bought in with coach Kevin Stefanski
CLEVELAND — From Myles Garrett’s perspective, the Browns fighting like they did Saturday in a 13-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens “was never in doubt.”
Perhaps the All-Pro defensive end never really questioned whether his team would collectively check out after its playoff hopes had been dashed last week in Cincinnati, but the truth is actions speak louder than words, so the Browns needed to prove they would put forth the requisite effort on a cold, snowy night at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Circumstances were ripe for throwing in the towel.
The Ravens (9-5) entered the game neck and neck with the Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) in the race for the AFC North title.
The Browns (6-8) are all but mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the postseason, a position solidified with their 23-10 loss to the Bengals on Dec. 11.
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In other words, the Ravens had much more at stake than the Browns in a game televised nationally on NFL Network.
But the Browns showed no signs of quitting as a whole, and it’s reflective of the players buying into coach Kevin Stefanski and his assistants.
It doesn’t mean the coaching staff will be untouchable next month after the season ends with a Jan. 8 finale in Pittsburgh.
It does mean Stefanski has not lost the locker room — a positive sign for his job security.
Long term, he’ll still need to convince ownership and Deshaun Watson he is the right head coach for the $230 million quarterback, but the team playing like this down the stretch would be a reason to retain him for a fourth season.
The Browns have three games left: home against the New Orleans Saints (4-9), at the Washington Commanders (7-5-1) and at the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8).
After the way the way they played against the Ravens, albeit with two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Lamar Jackson inactive while recovering from a knee injury, it would be stunning if the Browns were to mail it in the rest of the way.
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer have overseen problematic units this season. Progress made in recent weeks may be viewed by team brass as too little, too late.
Stefanski is in charge of everything, and the Browns regressing since 2020, when he led them as a rookie head coach to a record of 11-5 and into the playoffs for the first time since 2002, certainly falls on his shoulders.