Browns vs. Ravens: 5 takeaways from crushing loss in Week 11

The latest chapter in the storied, often painful, rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens ended much like too many have before for the Dawg Pound: in gut-wrenching defeat. This 23-16 loss, decided by a late-game trick play, felt like a microcosm of a season that promised very little, yet has somehow let us down.

Despite a dominant performance from the defensive line, a surprise spark at quarterback, and a 16-10 halftime lead, the team stalled out in the second half, scoring zero points and ultimately succumbing to a divisional rival that simply knew how to finish. The loss drops the Browns to a 2-8 record, a position that forces the franchise and its fans to look critically at what is fundamentally broken.

From protecting the quarterback to maximizing generational talent, the issues are systemic. As the season spirals toward an early conclusion, this game provides a harsh but necessary assessment of where this team stands and what must change for the future.

1. Our Offensive Line Is Not Good

The backbone of any successful offense is the big men up front, and for the Browns, that backbone is fractured.

Injuries have clearly taken their toll on what was once an elite unit, leaving the team with a patchwork front that is simply failing to protect the quarterback or consistently open running lanes. The loss of Cam Robinson to injury early in game further exacerbated the problem, as the line allowed consistent pressure, directly contributing to the offensive stagnation in the second half.

What was once a source of pride, a crushing, physical offensive line, has been reduced to a serious liability. The depth simply isn't there, and the starters who remain are struggling to hold up against quality defensive fronts like Baltimore’s. This is an immediate, season-defining problem that needs a complete overhaul in the coming offseason.

2. We Are Wasting Myles Garrett

Myles Garrett is having a season for the ages. The defensive end was a wrecking ball against the Ravens, racking up four sacks and forcing Lamar Jackson into one of the least productive games of his career.

He is dominating in a way few players in the league can, setting records and single-handedly keeping the defense competitive. And yet, the team loses. Every week, it feels like a transformative defensive effort from Garrett is wasted because the offense cannot capitalize.

This dynamic is unsustainable.

A player of his caliber should be the centerpiece of a playoff contender, not a silver lining for a 2-8 team. The organization must realize that this prime window of transcendent play is finite, and the failure to build a competent team around him borders on criminal.

3. Shedeur Sanders Is Fun, Even If He’s Bad

The sudden insertion of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the second half, after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion, was initially a moment of excitement, but it quickly became one of disappointment.

While his stat line was rough (4-of-16 for 47 yards, one interception, two sacks), his demeanor and ability to make a couple of notable downfield throws late in the game offered a spark the offense desperately needed. It was an imperfect, perhaps even "bad" debut, but his gunslinger mentality was a welcome change from the often conservative and stagnant offense under the prior starter.

There's a preference brewing among the fanbase: they’d rather watch a young player take chances and be exciting, even in a loss, than return to the brand of "boring and bad" football that has characterized much of the season. Sanders, for better or worse, injected energy and playmaking potential into the offense.

4. Andre Szmyt Is The Answer At Kicker

In a game where the offense struggled to find the end zone, the team’s ability to put points on the board via the leg of Andre Szmyt was crucial. He was perfect on his field goal attempts, hitting three critical kicks to account for the majority of the team's scoring and build the early lead.

In a league often defined by volatile kicking, Szmyt has quietly provided the Browns with the stability and consistency at the position they have desperately sought for years. In a low-scoring divisional battle, his reliability proved to be one of the few non-negotiable positives, affirming that the team has finally solved its long-standing kicker woes.

5. We Need More Offensive Talent

Beyond the offensive line issues, the loss underscored a significant deficiency in high-end playmaking talent on the offensive side of the ball.

The Browns could not convert turnovers into touchdowns and were shut out in the entire second half, managing a measly 64 yards of offense with Sanders under center. While a rookie QB and an injured line are factors, the overall lack of receivers who can consistently separate or make a game-changing catch in key moments is glaring.

The defense, despite being on the field constantly, did its part, generating three turnovers, including a pick-six. Yet, the offense could only muster three field goals all game.

If this team truly wants to maximize the generational talent of its defense, the front office must aggressively target elite-level playmakers to give the next quarterback a fighting chance.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns vs. Ravens: 5 takeaways from crushing loss in Week 11