CLEVELAND — The play-calling duties were given to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees some five weeks ago. Kevin Stefanski remained the final arbiter on any decision.
The head coach made that clear in the aftermath of the Browns’ 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 7. It was a game that ultimately came down to two two-point conversion plays, neither of which Cleveland converted in the final 4:27 of the game.
“I make every call,” Stefanski said when asked about who called the specific two-point conversion plays.
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The first one came with 4:27 remaining, after quarterback Shedeur Sanders scored on a 7-yard run to pull the Browns within 31-23. Whatever the play call was supposed to be remains unknown because Sanders couldn’t get the snap from backup center Luke Wypler, who was in because Ethan Pocic left with an apparent Achilles tear.
Titans linebacker Cedric Gray nearly turned it into two Tennessee points because the Browns let up and he was able to return the fumble nearly 70 yards. Gray was finally tackled by guard Teven Jenkins to prevent that additional insult.
“Yeah, the result was the fumble snap,” Sanders said. “So that’s on me.”
The two failed two-point tries went hand-in-hand because of the ripple effect. The fact the first one failed required the second one.
The thought process behind going for the first one was simple, if not aggressive. A made conversion would’ve put the Browns down six, meaning they could’ve kicked the PAT after the second one for the lead.
“Yeah, it’s something that we’ve done in the past,” Stefanski said. “I know you see it around the league, the idea being you get the two you know what you’re doing at the at the next one, but something we’ve done before.”
The Browns’ second two-point conversion try didn’t leave questions because of the decision to go for two. The play that was called absolutely raised all sorts of questions.
Sanders hit tight end Harold Fannin Jr. on a 7-yard fade route with 1:03 remaining. Sanders, however, was taken off the field for the subsequent 2-point try, with running back Quinshon Judkins taking a direct snap on what turned out to become a spectacular failure of an attempt.
“If I’m out there any play, I would wish I would always have the ball in my hand, but that’s not what football is,” Sanders said. “Sometimes you got to run the ball, sometimes you got to kick a field goal. Everything. That’s the game. That’s the game. That’s the most important thing is the ball.
“So in any situation, of course you would want to, but I know we practiced something and we execute it and practice and we just didn’t seem to this day. So I would never go against kind of like what the call was or anything.”
Stefanski and Sanders both said they started the drive knowing what two-point play they were going to run if they scored again. As Sanders said, when asked if it had worked in practice, “Nah, we just called in the game and it didn’t work in practice.”
After the first missed try, it was the Browns’ top option on their play sheet.
“Yeah, during the week, you talk about two-point plays in total, plays that you like in those moments,” Stefanski said. “And obviously the first one, we didn’t get off exactly how we wanted to. Second one didn’t get off how we wanted to.”
That would be the understatement of all understatements. Just a massive underselling of what actually occurred.
Judkins took the snap and started to run to the right, as he’d done in previous times where they’d run that formation. However, wide receiver Gage Larvadain was coming back around to the left as well, which was where the play fell apart.
It appeared Judkins forgot to pitch the ball to Larvadain. At the last moment, he turned to toss it to Larvadain, who was well past him by that point.
Larvadain pushed back postgame on the intent of the play.
“Why do y’all keep saying Quinshon was supposed to pitch it?” Larvadain said. “You know something I don’t?”
Judkins tried to recover by reversing his own field. By that point, the Titans had converged around him, leaving him no room to escape.
The last gasp of the failed play was Judkins heaving a pass in Larvadain’s direction at the Titans 10. Tennessee’s Arden Key knocked the ball down, all but ending the Browns’ chances.
“No, we called a play and he tried to make a play,” Larvadain said. “He’s arguably the best player on our offense. He did what he was supposed to do and tried to make a play.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kevin Stefanski takes blame for Browns’ failed 2-point tries vs. Titans
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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