Cleveland’s struggles aren’t surprising, and all signs point to more of the same throughout 2025 unless something extraordinary happens – which at this point seems highly unlikely. The team sits at the bottom of the AFC North with an 0-2 record after dropping their first two divisional matchups against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens.
In their season opener against the Bengals, the Browns nearly pulled off an upset. But in Week 2, they were thoroughly outclassed by the Ravens in a lopsided 41-17 loss. At no point did Cleveland find any offensive rhythm, and their defense had no answer for Lamar Jackson, who threw for 225 yards and four touchdowns.
The problems in Cleveland are obvious, and there are far more questions than answers – particularly on offense. Joe Flacco managed to throw one touchdown, but he was also intercepted. Later, with the game already out of reach, rookie Dillon Gabriel made his NFL debut and threw the first touchdown of his career.
Joe Flacco must improve if he wants to keep his job
When head coach Kevin Stefanski announced in mid-August that Joe Flacco would be the Browns’ starter, it wasn’t a surprise. He was the only quarterback with experience in the current system after spending part of 2023 with the team – even starting a playoff game for them.
Now entering his 18th NFL season, the veteran knew the pressure was on, especially with two rookies behind him: Dillon Gabriel and the highly-publicized Shedeur Sanders. From the start, his performance was bound to be under a microscope, and so far that has been the case.
Two weeks into the season, with three interceptions and an 0-2 record, Flacco is against the ropes. For now, he will remain the starter heading into Week 3, but as Browns analyst Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland noted: “He’s gotta play better to keep his job.”
The upcoming schedule won’t make things any easier – Cleveland faces the Green Bay Packers next, followed by the Detroit Lions. After those two tough matchups, it’s entirely possible the Browns could turn to a different quarterback under center, and the name to watch might be Dillon Gabriel.
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