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Report Card grades on the Browns after their Week 8 loss

The Cleveland Browns had a rough time in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The offense and defense both had a rough time in Pittsburgh and will now have to relinquish their lead in the AFC North to their biggest division rivals.

Deshaun Watson and the Browns' offense could never get much going in either the air or on the ground. What had helped Watson for weeks was his mobility, but they had him figured out in this matchup after Week 4. As for the Browns' defense, they were tasked with being on the field more than usual due to turnovers and long drives, which may have affected their gas tanks.

There is a lot to learn and adjust as they get ready for the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. Before then, we have some report card grades to share from the game.

Quarterback: D

Deshaun Watson did not look like he was crafted for the moment that the Browns found themselves in during Week 8. Has he looked much better? Yes. Should that excuse him from the overall poor play outside of five quarters we have seen this year? Absolutely not. Back to square one for Watson heading into Week 9.

Running Backs: B-

Quinshon Judkins looked explosive at times, but a combination of his offensive line and vision let him down. He just struggled to help this offense much, but I saw enough flashes of promise to give a slightly higher grade.

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: B

The wide receivers and tight ends had moments on Sunday. Harold Fannin Jr. specifically looked like he can get back into a groove when given targets in this offense. Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion also got open and had chances, but quarterback play let them down.

Offensive Line: F

This was the worst offensive line performance from the Browns all season long. Between the penalties and eight sacks, it was a performance so bad that you burn the film and move on.

Defensive Line: C

Early reporting on the pressures has the Browns at just three, with one resulting in a sack. In their first matchup, they had a total of 15 pressures and five sacks, so what happened? The Steelers made adjustments while the Browns rested on their laurels.

Linebackers: D-

The Browns' linebackers have been brilliant this year, but Week 8 was not so much their best performance. Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams were negated, especially in pass coverage, but also in the run game.

Secondary: C

The secondary had moments of brilliance, but the chunk plays were there for the Steelers. Darnell Washington was beating cornerbacks and safeties for chunk plays, which should never happen. Denzel Ward continued to be the Lamborghini in the used car dealership that was their secondary in Week 8.

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