5 things Cleveland Browns got wrong, right vs Chiefs in Week 1

2. Cleveland Browns Got right: Stefanski doesn’t kick field goals

Broadcasters Tony Romo and Jim Nance obviously don’t watch the Browns enough to know that when Kevin Stefanski has the ball around the 10 in the Red Zone, he’s thinking touchdown–not field goals.

Stefanski’s first flex came closer to the 15 years, when the Browns were facing 4th and 3. He dialed up a 5-yard pass to Austin Hooper in which Baker Mayfield made an on-the-money throw. The drive enabled the Brown to finish off the drive, giving them an 7-0 lead.

The other option there was going for three. Hypothetically, that lead could’ve been nice because the drive would’ve resulted in something, but to settle for a field goal would’ve been deflating, especially playing the Chiefs in Arrowhead.

The Browns needed to make a statement and Stefanski’s philosophy on having the ball that close to the goal line put the Browns in the driver’s seat.

For what it’s worth, analytics will tell teams to win the coin toss and defer the opening kick. The Browns lost and received.