Earlier in the game the Browns were struggling to run the ball.
They fell behind LATE and got shit field position in key points of the game. Hence all the throwing. Chubb really wasn't able to get going until after the Aints were in both the clock and score advantage.
My beef is the throws were chosen (like on that 4th and 2, when maybe a 2 yard checkdown was available).
O-Line continues to struggle, which trickles down to QB and RBs.
Penalties didn't help (like the one called on DPJ that almost nerfed a drive).
The outcome is what it is. Had the Browns a solid, stable, consistent defense the "playoff" situation would not be an issue; they'd be ahead of the Ratbirds and breathing down the Cincinnati Cowboys' neck. They don't, so they are here.
The NFL is elated, as their plan to dupe the noose swinging, hall monitor concern troll sector of the public into thinking they are responsible, empathetic stewards of capital with an 11-game suspension has succeeded.
In reality, the Browns were sufficiently punished by resetting the market for the most coveted position in the game, in guaranteeing more money for a player that became too "uppity" in their eyes and sat out a year requesting a trade. When it comes to gambling (an infraction the NFL takes more seriously for.... reasons), the NFL won theirs and the Browns conceded theirs (for clarity, lack of investment in the defensive line and on Joe Woods) prior to the Watson decision.
It is now a moment of clarity. The clock is now on, and Haslam/Berry have seen enough to see what's not working. IMO, the lack of serious investment post-suspension says that they already knew it would be sunken cost. Some were optimistic that maybe there was a chance to buck the engineered outcome (I was in this group), others weren't. We're here. What do the Browns do?