Worst 7 plays of the Cleveland Browns’ 2016 season

We went through the top 5 plays of the Cleveland Browns’ regular season, so now it’s time to look at the worst 7 plays of the year. If we put a camera exclusively on Cameron Erving, I’m sure we could find an endless amount of bad plays. There were also a few more I wanted to include here, like the 14-yard loss by WR Andrew Hawkins at the goal line in Week 17, but I couldn’t find video of it. We’ll just call that one an “honorable mention.” Here are the ones we could find:

#7 - Pick Six by Jason Pierre-Paul

Despite having just one good hand, in the fourth quarter of a one possession game, QB Josh McCown had his pass picked off by DL Jason Pierre-Paul and returned for a touchdown.

#6 - Who Are They Blocking?

This one speaks for itself. The quarterbacks on the Browns didn’t do themselves any favors this year, but the lack of continuity on the offensive line was a factor too. This was a lowlight in prime time after Hue Jackson had replaced Cody Kessler with Josh McCown. There was confusion between LG Spencer Drango and C Cameron Erving, allowing a free defender and Drango looking like a Madden glitch.

#5 - Defense Allows Hail Mary to WR A.J. Green

Allowing a Hail Mary feels less surprising when your team is winless and your secondary is bad. In this case, Bengals WR A.J. Green was the only receiver among four or five Browns defenders. Green not only caught the pass, but had time to tip it to himself amidst traffic and still pull it in to end the first half.

#4 - Unsportsmanlike Conduct Against Terrelle Pryor

Despite blowing a 20-0 lead to be down 25-20, the Browns were driving late in Week 2 against the Ravens, and a catch by WR Terrelle Pryor would’ve given Josh McCown several cracks at the end zone to win it from about ten yards out. However, after the play was over, the officials threw a 15-yard flag on Pryor because he flipped the ball at the defender. In reality, he was just trying to blindly flip the ball back to the official. It ruined Cleveland’s field position given the lack of time remaining, and McCown threw a desperation interception.

#3 - Blocked Extra Point Reverses the Momentum

Only in Cleveland would a team get off to a 20-0 start and then have the extra point blocked and returned all the way for two points. Fans knew in their gut that it was going to be the start of a downward spiral, and sure enough, the Ravens ripped off 25 straight points to win the game 25-20. Take this play away, and maybe Cleveland could’ve won the game with a regular field goal later on.

#2 - New Kicker Misses 3rd Field Goal, Including the Game-Winner

Browns kicker Patrick Murray suffered an injury during the practice week, so the team had to sign Cody Parkey and send him out to kick despite having no previous practice with them. Although Parkey was solid the rest of the season, his debut had fans cringing. He missed three of his six field goal attempts, including this 46-yarder that would have won it as time expired. This was back in Week 3 — just imagine that if Parkey would’ve made this, the whole “winless” talk would have gone out the window the rest of the year.

#1 - Browns Recover Own Fumble, But Official Gives the Ball to Redskins

This won’t just be the worst play of the season, it should be one that is remembered a long time from now. Cleveland had a clear recovery on the play, and yet the official ran in and signaled it was Washington’s ball while RB Duke Johnson is standing up and holding the football. The recovery was not reviewable, and the play was not only discussed locally for the week, it became a national story.