ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.: The Browns encountered an offense constructed to thrive in wintry weather, and the results were embarrassing.
They surrendered more rushing yards than they had all season Sunday in their 33-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field.
The Bills entered the weekend with the NFL’s No. 1-ranked rushing attack and lived up to their reputation with 280 yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries (7.0 average).
Not only did Bills running back LeSean McCoy make his 153 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries (8.1 average) look easy, but he also said it was pretty much a piece of cake to gash the 0-14 Browns.
“I mean it was kind of easy,” McCoy said. “Not easy, but just easier — seeing guys up front really blowing them out of the water.”
Coach Hue Jackson said, “He was one of the guys we had to stop, and we didn’t stop him. ... He had a hell of a game.”
The temperature in the two-thirds full stadium was 26 degrees at kickoff with a 14-degree wind chill and winds whipping at 15 mph. In other words, the conditions were perfect for smashmouth football, yet the Browns handed off to their running backs just 13 times.
They finished with 21 carries for 107 yards (5.1 average), but quarterback Robert Griffin III accounted for 48 yards and a touchdown on eight carries (6.0 average).
Backup running back Duke Johnson ran for 31 yards on five carries (6.2 average). Starting running back Isaiah Crowell finished with 28 rushing on eight carries (3.5 average) a week after he posted 113 yards on 10 carries in a 23-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“I’d like more opportunities, but it’s just how the game went, I guess,” Crowell said. “We weren’t able to.”
That’s sad because the 7-7 Bills entered the game with the NFL’s 28th-ranked rushing defense (125.8 yards allowed per game).
“That defense played well,” Crowell said. “I feel like if we handle our [responsibilities] I feel like we would have a lot of opportunities to create big plays.”
The Browns had the league’s top-ranked rushing attack through four games but its production has plummeted since then.
“Running the ball is always a focus for our offense, so we want to get more production there,” Griffin said. “We’ll continue to try to find ways to get [Crowell and Johnson] the ball and have space, so they can make big runs like they did last week.”
Johnson pointed to losing starting guards Joel Bitonio and John Greco to Lisfranc injuries as a reason for the inconsistent running game.
“We lost two of our best linemen,” Johnson said. “We have had young guys step up who are still learning. We’re still trying to figure out what works for us.”
Asked if he was disappointed Crowell had just 28 yards, Jackson said, “I’m disappointed for him. When he is given the ball and he runs it, I think he does a good job. We just sometimes get out of the rhythm of things we have to do because the game changes so fast for us. All of a sudden, to stay in it, there are different things you have to do to stay in the game.”
The way the Bills were able to run left Crowell envious.
“It’s very frustrating,” he said. “It’s always frustrating as a back to see another offense, on the other side of the ball, doing exactly what you would want to be doing. We’ve just got to keep working hard and just try to get to that point.”
Another defensive issue
The Browns trailed 17-3 at halftime after Bills tight end Charles Clay caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyrod Taylor with 34 seconds left in the second quarter.
On second-and-10, the defense employed zone when Jamie Collins passed his coverage off to fellow Browns linebacker Demario Davis, who couldn’t keep up with Clay. At the same time, cornerback Joe Haden didn’t drop to cover Clay because he was focused on McCoy.
By the time Taylor’s pass reached Clay in the end zone, he was wide open as he adjusted to secure the ball while sliding.
“Didn’t get it communicated right,” Jackson said. “We’ve had our share of those. At this point in the season, we shouldn’t have those.”
Clay’s touchdown survived a replay review.
“I still thought that ball hit the ground, but they reviewed it and said his hand was underneath,” Jackson said. “But that was a close call.”
Minimal production
Wide receiver Terrelle Pryor had just four catches for 19 yards on eight targets and dropped one pass. He had only one catch for 3 yards on three targets last week against the Bengals.
His production has dropped considerably in the past two games with Griffin back from a fractured left shoulder.
“I don’t think it’s just him and Robert,” Jackson said. “Terrelle has a reputation now. People know who you are and are trying to take you out of the game, and we’re trying to get it to him. Sometimes the ball doesn’t go where it should or protection doesn’t hold up. It’s a variety of different things. It’s not that we’re not trying to get him the ball. We’re trying to.”
Pryor leads the Browns with 67 catches for 877 yards and four touchdowns. His reception total is tied for the sixth-most by a Browns wide receiver in a season.
Bad break
Replay footage shows Griffin was inbounds when he threw a pass away with 14:01 left in the second quarter. However, the officials ruled he stepped out of bounds before he threw and credited the Bills with a sack for an 8-yard loss on first-and-10 from the Browns’ 24.
“I know I was inbounds and then got hit late,” Griffin said.
Jackson attempted to challenge the play, but by rule, it couldn’t be reviewed.
“They had ruled him out of bounds, so you can’t challenge it,” Jackson said.
Waiting his turn
Rookie quarterback Cody Kessler could receive his ninth start this season if Jackson decides to bench Griffin for Saturday’s home finale against the San Diego Chargers. Jackson said Kessler and veteran Josh McCown would be considered.
“As a competitor, you always want to be out there,” Kessler said.
But Kessler vowed to prepare the same way regardless.
“The last two weeks when I knew Robert was the starter, I still competed and prepared like I have earlier in the year,” he said, “and that’s what I’m going to continue to do this week.”
Hot seat
On Sunday morning, ESPN reported Bills coach Rex Ryan is aware the team plans to fire him after the season. He said “that one’s definitely not accurate.”
Either way, it’s widely believed Ryan had to beat the winless Browns to keep his chances of saving his job alive.
Extra points
• Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah had one sack and now has 5½ this season. He’s tied with linebacker Chip Banks (1982) for the fourth-most sacks by a Browns rookie.
• Johnson had five receptions for 62 yards. He has 51 catches this season and joined Mike Pruitt, Greg Pruitt and Earnest Byner as the only Browns running backs to compile 50 or more receptions in multiple seasons.
• Kicker Cody Parkey made field goals of 35 and 40 yards. He has converted 14 of his last 15.
• Wide receiver Mario Alford, promoted to the active roster Saturday, averaged 11.5 yards on punt returns and 18.5 on kickoff returns.