That looked all too familiar

At least the Browns looked a helluva lot better Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks than they did seven days ago in San Francisco. But they looked so awful against the 49ers, just about anything would look better than that mess.

And what did it get them? Another loss at home, this time by a 32-28 score to the Seahawks, who added four more turnovers to the runaway train of mistakes by the Cleveland offense.

Check off three more interceptions by Baker Mayfield, whose receivers looked as though they're  just learning how to catch a thrown football. Two of the picks were not his fault, bouncing off his guys’ hands into the hands of the other guys'.

When you turn over the football four times after taking a 20-6 lead, scoring on the first three possessions just six seconds into the second quarter, you stand an excellent good chance of losing your third straight home game and watching your overall record dip to 2-4, three of the losses coming in the last four games.

(How in the world did the Browns crush the Baltimore Ravens few weeks ago – in Baltimore no less? Perfect example of what an aberration looks like.)

The Browns, despite shooting themselves in the rear flanks most of the afternoon, managed to regain the lead at 28-25 with 9:02 left in regulation after Michael Dickson’s punt from his end zone traveled only 23 yards.

The excellent field position followed a 10-play, 43-yard Cleveland drive that died early in the fourth quarter when Nick Chubb was stopped two yards shy of a touchdown on fourth down after coach Freddie Kitchens decided to gamble.

The Cleveland offense, for one of the few times since opening up the big lead early on, took advantage of the poor boot, Chubb scoring from three yards out after ripping off a 21-yarder for his second score of the game.

But with the ghosts of the past 20 years of Cleveland Browns football hovering above, fans naturally began to wonder how will they lose this one? What will go wrong? Not could . . . will. A nine-play, 79-yard sustained drive that burned 5:32 of the clock with Chris Carson diving the last yard, that’s what.

A successful two-point play made it a four-point game, which meant the Browns needed s touchdown to win. They didn’t come close, pretty much like what happened after the initial scoring outburst.

Mayfield threw his third pick of the day, which bounced of Dontrell Hilliard’s hands into the waiting arms of linebacker K. J Wright at the Cleveland 26. Ball game, adding to the too long a list of emotionally crushing losses for this franchise since 1999.

It has become abundantly clear this edition of the team does not know how to win football games. The Seahawks, on the other hand, do and that’s why they are 5-1 and remain one of the National Football League’s premier teams.

It’s a close call, but not incorrect to say the Browns lost this game more than the Seahawks won it. Although props must be given the visitors for hanging in there while the Browns grabbed the big early lead and not panicking.

The Browns self destructed in a variety of ways. All phases of the game contributed to this loss. The offense, of course, with all the turnovers, a soft defense and yes, even the special teams..

It seemed as though the Seahawks sensed the momentum shifting after D.J.. Moore blocked a Jamie Gillan punt after a three and out on the Browns’ first possession of the second quarter. The defense stiffened after the Seahawks reached the two-yard line and settled for a field goal. A rare victory for the defense.

Mayfield fired interceptions -- targeting Odell Beckham Jr. on the first and Jarvis Landry on the second -- on the next two possessions, the Seahawks taking advantage of the second, shaving the Cleveland lead to 20-18  on the first of Jaron Brown’s two scoring receptions.

It was at that point that fans began to lose hope that an upset was imminent, let alone possible. The offense seemed stuck in neutral, the defense wasn’t stopping very much. It was only  a matter of time before a veteran quarterback like Russell Wilson, who  has yet to throw a pick this season, would take advantage.

Combine an offense that with few notable exceptions lacks focus with a defense that has arguably the softest underbelly in the NFL and you're asking for trouble. The Browns flat out do not how to stop the run right now.

When four of the top five tacklers against Seattle are the members of the secondary – T. J, Carrie, Jermaine Whitehead, Terrence Mitchell and Damarious Randall – that’s a problem. A big problem.

The main culprits, though, are members of the defensive line who are getting overwhelmed on a weekly basis. What makes that more astonishing is most of the runners don’t encounter contact until they break into the secondary. That’s why the secondary continues to pile up impressive tackle totals.

Well, they won’t next week. Not unless the NFL mandates they have to play despite a bye.

The Browns sure can attack the quarterback, though, when he drops back to pass. Did so with three sacks of Wilson, raising the team total to an impressive 19.  But stopping the run? Totally clueless.

The Seattle offensive line, operating without starters Duane Brown and D. J. Fluker, missed neither as they opened enough holes for Carson and Wilson to help compile 170 total yards, laughingly an improvement over last week when the 49ers savaged the Browns for 275 yards.

After getting off to a decent (for them) start in the first three game of the season, 306 yards infantry style, they Browns' defense has been drilled and bashed for 618 yards n the last three. That’s an embarrassing 206 a game.

Something is clearly wrong and it appears as though defensive coordinator Steve Wilks either has no idea what the problem is or has no idea how to fix it. No matter what he calls, the opposition has the perfect rejoinder and it doesn’t work.

Carson, who was questionable with a shoulder all week, scored just the one time and churned out 124 yards on 23 carries. He did not look like someone who was questionable.

But when your defense seems as though it’s playing tackle football for the first time and is constantly getting beat off the snap by the opposition, running backs can easily pad their stats.

The disappointing season – all the hype that accompanied the Browns into this season is gone – has left one of the NFL's most ardent and passionate fans bases stunned.

Beckham, who dropped three passes Sunday, can’t be happy with all the losing. And an unhappy Beckham, based on his past behavior with the New York Giants, can be a problem.

Mayfield, it would appear, apparently no longer feels dangerous. Not with these poor performances. Whether it’s getting up, sitting down or just in general, the danger is gone.

He appeared to sustain a hip injury after getting hit on a scramble during the first possession of the second half and limped to the locker room. He was good enough to return and did not miss a series.

So now the Browns lick their numerous wounds, try to figure out what the hell is happening and get ready for the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in Foxboro in two weeks.

It’s only a matter of time before the Dump Freddie Kitchens bandwagon loads up.