For the Browns, a loss that should have been a win

The Browns should not have lost that game.It's been said so many times over the last four decades, but it's true.Cleveland lost its season opener Sunday, 17-16, to Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.The result itself was no surprise. Cincinnati has the better roster and one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. It is a playoff and, perhaps, Super Bowl contender.By season's end, the Bengals almost certainly will have a far better record than their in-state rivals.But the Browns should have won.They didn't because of a number of things. Receivers dropped quarterback Joe Flacco's passes. Twice, those drops led to crippling interceptions.The Browns new kicker, Andre Szmyt, was horrible in his NFL debut, missing an extra point and a fourth-quarter field goal that would have put the team ahead.But none of that is why the loss is so frustrating.Over the years, this franchise has found so many ways to lose. The kicker had a bad game and the receivers dropped passes? That was essentially every Browns game from 2015-17.The reason this loss is different is because of how well the Cleveland defense played.After allowing a pair of first half touchdowns, Cleveland didn't allow the Bengals much of anything.One series in the fourth quarter summed things up.With 9:22 left in the game and the Bengals leading by what would be the final score, Cleveland was forced to punt.Cincinnati started on its 20. On first down, the Bengals called a pass.Burrow was sacked by Myles Garrett.On second down, the Bengals called a pass.Burrow was sacked by Garrett.Now, facing a third and 22 from their own 9, the Bengals again called a pass. Burrow stepped back into the end zone as the Browns defenders engulfed him.Burrow (in what was a game-saving move), stepped forward, not so much to avoid the rush, but to escape a safety. As he got to the 1, he was brought down by Cleveland's Isaiah McGuire.Three plays, three sacks. Eighteen lost yards.Cincinnati was forced to punt from its end zone.At that point, I thought "the Browns have to win this game now."They didn't, because of dropped passes and missed kicks.Flacco played well in his return to the Browns. He threw a touchdown pass and showed he still had the ability – even at 40-- to move in the pocket.He threw two interceptions, but neither was his fault. One glanced off the hands of receiver Jerry Jeudy. The other bounced off Cedric Tillman's hands.Cleveland doesn't have enough talent to overcome things like that.Then, there's Szmyt, whose only professional experience before Sunday was playing in the United Football League, as well as kicking in preseason.He made his kicks in the exhibition games and was impressive enough to convince the Browns to part with veteran Dustin Hopkins.On Sunday, the most crucial kick he made was to my stomach after the game was over.PLAYER OF THE GAME: It's got to be Garrett, who made five tackles, four for a loss. He was a big reason why the Browns defense held Cincinnati to just 7 offensive yards in the second half.That's right, seven yards.And the Browns lost.NEXT WEEK: The Browns travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens, who have to be pretty upset after blowing a 15-point fourth quarter lead in a 41-40 loss at Buffalo Sunday.The Browns have actually done a decent job containing Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson over the years.But Jackson will make his plays, Baltimore will score points, and it's hard to see this Browns offense keeping up.MY PICK: Ravens 27, Browns 17.