As Mike Pettine described it Monday, the Browns offense largely played into the hands of the Rams defense Sunday. The unit fell behind early and didn't have much success on first down, forcing itself into a number of predictable passing downs.
"They could just pin their ears back and go," Pettine said.
On the second play of the opening drive to the second half, the Browns offense found itself in a better place. Josh McCown found Gary Barnidge on a 27-yard pass on the drive's first play to quickly put the Browns near midfield.