We’re at a crucial part of the season where the Cleveland Browns will have to decide who they are going to be.

At 7-5 on the season following a 36-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland needs to pick the winning ways back up if they want to make the playoffs in 2023.

Cleveland was unlucky in a few ways against the Rams in Week 13 that they usually aren’t. It hurt them and they’ll have to figure out things, or that could continue.

Amari Cooper’s drops can’t happen with the quarterback situation

Cooper didn’t play a ton before he had to exit into the concussion protocol. Against the Rams, Cooper had three catches for 34 yards. There are a couple of plays that Cooper recorded a drop that he will wish he had back. They are catches that have to be made by the No. 1 wide receiver.

Now, Cooper is in the protocol and his status for Week 14 could be in doubt at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the quarterback situation that Cleveland has by being down to their fourth quarterback, they need Cooper out there.

RB Jerome Ford is hurting the Browns in the run game

Ford has been an inconsistent runner in 2023 since taking a bigger role when Nick Chubb went down. Running the ball at two yards per carry on nine runs isn’t going to get it done and that’s what Ford did in Week 13. Cleveland handed the ball off to Kareem Hunt 12 times to lead the way.

Los Angeles did allow Ford to get wide-open out of the backfield for a 24-yard touchdown early in the game. Outside of that play, he was pretty bottled up. Ford doesn’t get upfield enough and works sideline to sideline trying to find a crease far too often.

Cleveland has to run the ball better and the hope was that it would be Ford who could step up. Hunt is getting a bulk of the handoffs and it’s not ideal.

Myles Garrett’s injury has him hampered

Garrett was not playing at his All-Pro level in Week 13 and is visibly banged up due to the shoulder injury. For the first time in his career, Garrett did not record a stat, not even a single tackle.

The Rams were getting the ball out quickly a lot of the time and often used motions to get an idea of the defense. Perhaps another week off of practice will allow Garrett to get back to himself. The star pass rusher did not record a sack for a second straight game. Cleveland needs their best player to be up to par for their defense to perform.

Jim Schwartz’s defense on the road 

For some reason this season the Browns’ defense does not travel. Cleveland’s defense has struggled to play on the road this year and it’s shocking with how dominant they’ve been at home. Week 13 was another bad day for the defense out on the West Coast.

Schwartz’s system has been great for the team this year but it does have its flaws and it does burn them sometimes. Garrett being hurt and Ward being out hurt what the scheme can do as a whole.

Browns have to get healthy for this stretch run and the defense will have to figure it out at home and on the road if they want to reach the playoffs.

LB Anthony Walker is not the same player

The injuries have taken a toll on Walker and he is not the same linebacker that he had been for Cleveland the past couple of years. I believe he isn’t the best MIKE this team has anymore, with Takitaki having shown more at the position.

Against Los Angeles you often watched Walker chasing a guy from behind because he’s failing to get to the player. Bad angles and speed are to blame, he’s not moving as well as you’d like him to.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has taken off for the Browns this season at the position, but it’s been a step back for Walker. 

Bright spots from loss No. 5 on the season for the Browns

There were some positives to take from the Week 13 loss.