Browns put on an awful show in 27-12 loss to Vikings

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Instant takeaways from Browns’ 27-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings …

1. File and forget it: It’s a good thing the Browns got in “good work” in the two joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings. Because they didn’t get in much good work in the game among the backups, won by the Vikings, 27-12. Starting QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson put together one touchdown drive in his first half work. That was as good as it got on a day that Kevin Stefanski appeared to give offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey a turn at play-calling. (Stefanski has done that with other assistants in previous preseasons.) Tyler Huntley replaced DTR and produced one field goal. Worse, the three main backup offensive tackles all were lost to injuries. And the defense … what defense? The first batch of backups surrendered 13 points to starting QB Nick Mullens. In the second half against the “threes,” second-year QB Jarren Hall play-faked receiver Jeshaun Jones open, and Hall sailed the ball over rookie cornerback Myles Harden for a 71-yard TD play. Shortly after that, it rained, chasing home many of the 10,000 die-hards still on hand. The sun came back out and the Browns' deep end of the bench produced a safety when defensive end Chris Williams sacked Matt Corral in the end zone.

2. Paging Jedrick: The Browns’ offensive tackle situation went from bad to worse. With Jedrick Wills still on PUP, the offense started with Germain Ifedi at left tackle and James Hudson at right tackle. They flipped sides midway through the second quarter. Then Hudson got his ankle rolled on late in the half and left the game. He was replaced by Hakeem Adeniji. In the third quarter, Ifedi suffered an injury to his hand and left the game, followed closely by Adeniji, who suffered a knee injury. So the game proceeded with Lorenzo Thompson at left tackle and Nigerian international player-designee Roy Mbaeteka at right tackle. A few things have to happen fast. Wills has to be cleared to practice and GM Andrew Berry has to bring in at least one veteran tackle.

3. High and wide: Huntley stormed out of the locker room for second-half action and provided some quick energy to the offense. He worked the ball downfield with a couple passes to tight ends. Then, from the Vikings’ 11, Huntley threw ridiculously high for tight end Treyton Welch and ball was intercepted by Dwight McGlothern. He returned it 90 yards before Huntley chased him down and forced a pile-up out of bounds. Adeniji suffered his injury at the bottom of the pile. Huntley tossed a second interception in the final minute of the game.

4. Good and bad: DTR had two decent series in four possessions in the first half. The first ended in a D’Onta Foreman 1-yard TD plunge. DTR made two good completions of 17 yards to James Proche and 15 to slanting Jamari Thrash on a very poised throw on fourth-and-2. The next down, DTR extended the play with a scramble and tight end Giovanni Ricci read it and drew pass interference on linebacker Brian Asamoah in the end zone. At the end of the half, DTR had a nice, 2-minute drive going. He started at the Browns’ 6 and moved the offense to the Vikings’ 34. But he blew it with a pass over the middle behind Thrash that deflected to safety Lewis Cine for an interception. Overall, DTR was 13 of 17 for 126 yards, but only one score. The Browns were 0 for 4 on third-down conversions.

5. Sir Nick: I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nick Mullens take over for Sam Darnold at some point this year as Minnesota’s starting QB. Mullens put up 13 points in the first half, making some big throws on third downs (6 of 10 conversions) and showing some good pocket awareness. Mullens converted two third downs on the opening series and connected with joint practice trash-talker Trishton Jackson for a 14-yard TD, beating Tony Brown in the near left corner. Mullens was 11 of 21 for 135 yards.

6. Kickoff foibles: Both teams seemed to grapple with the new kickoff format. On three occasions the Vikings were penalized for leaving the line of scrimmage before the ball was touched. After their first touchdown, Cade York’s kickoff sailed out of the end zone on a fly. I mean, I thought the point of the new rule was to discourage touchbacks. Actually, that was called by coordinator Bubba Ventrone because York did it again later. The two teams worked on kickoffs both days of the joint practices and evidently had enough of it.

7. Preseason for everyone: The officiating crew of referee Clete Blakeman proved refs need practice, too. Defensive tackle Shelby Harris pressured and made contact with Mullens’ throw on an incompletion on third down from the Browns’ 23. The ball one-hopped to safety Chase Williams and the Vikings’ field goal unit trotted out. But wait, Blakeman ruled the play a fumble and awarded the Browns the ball. Nobody expected that call to hold up under replay review, and it didn’t. Will Reichard came on a converted a 41-yard field goal.

8. Red zone fever: The Browns are hoping to improve on their 32^nd-ranked red zone defense this year. The third-stringers offered some encouragement in the second quarter. Mullens took the Vikings to the Browns’ 14. On second down, Mullens rolled right and cornerback Tony Brown almost intercepted the pass. On third down, Mullens was pressured by Isaiah Thomas and Mohamoud Diabate and Jeremiah Martin cleaned up for the sack. Reichard kicked a 38-yard field goal for a 13-7 Minnesota lead.

9. Pre-game notes: The Browns listed 39 players not expected to play. One surprising omissions was Michael Hall. Hall suffered a stinger on Wednesday and did not practice on Thursday. At the time, Stefanski said he ‘potentially’ could be out a while. Hall was credited with a tackle and a quarterback hit in his first-half play time.