Freddie Kitchens made one of the dumbest coaching moves we have seen in the Cleveland Browns’ 27-13 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Kitchens’ Browns had a 4th-and-11 with 6:17 left in the game down 27-10. They were called for a false start, pushing them back five yards into a 4th-and-16 situation from their 19. Despite being in a tougher situation at 4th-and-16, Kitchens sent his offense back out on the field to go for it.
We initially thought Kitchens yanked his punt team off the field as punishment for the penalty, but here’s the twist: a report that has since been confirmed by Kitchens says the Browns false started on purpose so the offense could go out for 4th-and-16 because Kitchens didn’t want to use his final timeout.
So false start in 4th & 11, with punt unit, Freddie pulls them puts offense out for 4th & 16. Baker sacked. Nathan Zegura just reported, #Browns deliberately false started so the offense could return to the field because Kitchens didn't want to burn final timeout. Clown show.
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) October 27, 2019
I can’t believe how terrible that strategy was all around. Why didn’t Kitchens just have his team go for it on 4th-and-11 in the first place? And why false start to make it even harder on yourself? Not only did the Browns not get the first down due to a sack, but Baker Mayfield also came up slow afterwards.
Kitchens has very much been making rookie moves as coach this year. This might have been the worst we’ve seen.
