BALTIMORE

The Cleveland Browns can only hope that a week off will allow them to find solutions to a long list of issues hampering their quest to return to the playoffs.

Seeking to close the gap on leaders AFC North Baltimore (8-3), Cleveland put in an impressive performance Sunday night in a 16-10 loss. Untimely and senseless penalties, an ineffective attack and a failure to capitalize on four interceptions added to an excruciating loss that brought down the Browns (6-6) in a tie for last place.

“Very, very disappointed and frustrated,” said Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. “We’ve got to get to that week off, fix some things, be healthy, unplug for a minute, then we’ve got Baltimore again for a stretch run.”

In a scheduling oddity, the Browns are taking the weekend off the coming weekend before a rematch with the Ravens at home on December 12. The Browns will have to do better than run 40 yards on 17 downs. They’ll need to get more production from quarterback Baker Mayfield and reduce penalties such as brutalizing the passer and having 12 men on the pitch – twice.

Baltimore took a 3-0 lead after the Browns had an extra player on the field with the Ravens in punt formation. Things like that shouldn’t happen so late in the season, but that’s how the Browns went on Sunday night.

“It’s training. It’s mine, ”Stefanski said.

Last December, the Browns amassed 42 points in a loss to Baltimore. This time around, they intercepted Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson four times and still finished with a meager 10 points.

“Very frustrating,” Mayfield said. “For me, it’s kind of the story of our season so far, not being able to play complementary football.”

Mayfield has recently struggled with injuries, although he was feeling better on Sunday than the week before, and is hoping a week off will bring more improvements.

“We just need to make more plays,” said Mayfield, who scored 18 for 37 for 247 yards, including a third quarter touchdown pass for David Njoku. But he also lost a fumble and was sacked twice.

Wide receiver Jarvis Landry also fumbled, holding the ball to catch it while looking to pass a rigged play. Luckily for the Browns, Jackson was knocked out in the possession that followed and the Browns managed to score a field goal after running 25 yards.

Even Cleveland’s kicking game is under duress. Chase McLaughlin missed an opportunity to give the Browns a lead as he was on the sidelines with a 46-yard try. His successful effort reverberated from the upright and through the posts.

Cleveland’s defense was pretty good, with the exception of a few plays that only the elusive Jackson could pull off – including a 39-yard run to Mark Andrews and a 13-yard strike in which he threw a dart at Andrews afterwards. backing up for the 35.

“He’s a great player. He makes games like that, ”Stefanski said. “You have to try to find a way to get him to the ground. And you know you have to cover your guy for a really long time when you play him.”

This is one of the things the Browns will be working on during the off week. That, and find a way to get back into the playoff hunt.

“I think we’re all very frustrated. It stings, “Stefanski said.” We did some really good things. The defense took the ball four times. But then we don’t get any points. At the end of the day, we’re going to get in, we’re going to review it, we’ll learn from it, and then we have to prepare for a stretch run.