Browns: Two Games, Two Bad Halves, And a Season Defined?

Nov 1, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack (55) and guard

(75) sit on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Cardinals won 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

After two losses in five days, and an overall 2-7 record in 2015, is it time for the Cleveland Browns to start thinking about 2016? Quarterback Johnny Manziel‘s so-so performance on Thursday night in Cincinnati didn’t inspire hope, but isn’t it time to give him the ball? Don’t we need to find out what they have in the former first round pick? If head coach Mike Pettine or general manager Ray Farmer are worried about saving their jobs, it’s no longer about wins and losses this season. It’s time to prove to owner Jimmy Haslam that the young players on this roster can take this team from perennial losers to potential winners.

Welcome back to another edition of Factory of Sadness’ own Factory Lines, and our look back at the past week for the Cleveland Browns.

With two games in the five days, the Browns season found itself at a potential crossroads. If the team could win both games against the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals, the team would have found itself in playoff talk with a 4-5 record. Wins against two playoff caliber teams would have had them in the conversation, and given them confidence with 10 days to prepare for a big matchup against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Even if they had split the two games, their record would be 3-6 and perhaps the Browns would have some potential to save the season. However, the Browns managed to lose both games and did so in ways Browns fans are all too familiar with.

Against the Arizona Cardinals, it was a 20-10 Browns lead at halftime that ended up a 34-20 loss, while the Cincinnati Bengals game went from a 14-10 Bengals lead at half to a 31-10 pounding. They were two different games, yet both games yielded the same results.

Now the Cleveland Browns are 2-7, and the season is spiraling away from them. Last week there were trade rumors involving perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas, center Alex Mack, along with linebackers Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo.

Quarterback Josh McCown is having a career year, however with the team’s current record is it time to just hand Johnny Manziel the ball the rest of the way?

There are a lot of questions facing the Cleveland Browns as they head towards the Steelers and their bye week. Lets take a look at those questions and more in this week’s Cleveland Browns Factory Lines.

Next: First Of Two Games, Halves, And Losses