Lesson learned

Kevin Stefanski learned a lot about his football team Thursday night in the Browns' home opener.

He finally remembered he had a special pair of running backs on one side of the ball and discovered for the second straight week that lots of work needs to be addressed in a far out way on the other side.

It took the new head coach exactly one game to realize running the football is the path to success for this team on offense as the Cincinnati Bengals found out in the Browns' highly entertaining 35-30 victory.

A national television audience tuned in to the game featuring moribund franchises, probably expecting a dull, monotonous exercise of bad football for 60 yawning minutes. Instead, they were treated to an offensive display that produced nearly 800 yards led by two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks.

Stefanski, whose offensive philosophy revolves around running the football, realized way too late in last Sunday's 38-6 drubbing in Baltimore that Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are elite runners and should be a major part of the game plan. He corrected that against the Bengals.

Chubb and Hunt combined for 210 yards and four touchdowns, while Baker Mayfield, in his best game in what seems like an eternity, tossed a pair of scores as the Browns hung on to halt a four-game losing streak that began with losses in the last three games last season.

They hung on because Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, in only his second National Football League game, was forced to play catchup almost all evening after the Browns raced out to a 28-13 lead with 5:45 left in the third quarter.

The Cleveland defense, which was on the field for an exhausting -- and seemingly improbable -- 88 plays, couldn't get off the field, suffering through a 61-pass fusillade from Burrow, who completed 37 for 316 yards and three touchdowns.

He dropped back to pass on 38 of the Bengals' final 44 plays as the the fatigued Cleveland pass rush operated on backup batteries. The effort was there, but effort on this night at that point was futile for the most part.

It enabled the Bengals to convert eight of 18 third-down chances and all five fourth-down plays. They put together drives consuming 15, 12, 14, 14 and 16 plays. That's 71 of the 88 plays; the Browns ran only 58 plays. 

There seemed to be no such thing as a stop all evening, although both clubs did manage a goal-line stand. The defenses were so bad, Kevin Huber punted only twice for the Bengals, which was twice as much as Jamie Gillan of the Browns. 

This one was definitely not for lovers of fundamentally solid defense. That's what made it so entertaining.

This was one of those kinds of games Browns fans will most likely have to endure this season where the offense is good enough to score enough points to overcome bad defense and win by merely outscoring the opponent. 

It got drilled by the Ravens in the season opener and regurgitated lots of yardage Thursday night. In two games this season, the very offensive Cleveland defense has surrendered eight touchdowns, 68 points and 730 total yards. It did, however, shut down Bengals running back Joe Mixon, who ran for just 46 yards.

Chubb, meanwhile, bulldozed through a Bengals defense that loaded the box in an effort  to slow him down. It didn't come even close to working as the nails-tough running back racked up most of his yardage after contact.

The final score is somewhat misleading. The Browns never trailed after scoring touchdowns on three of their four first-half possessions, building a 21-13 lead. Mayfield completed second-quarter touchdowns passes to Odell Beckham Jr., on a 43-yard beauty and Hunt on a six-yarder in the right flat.

He was more like a manager for the offense all evening. He threw the ball just 23 times, only nine times in the second half as Stefanski chose wisely to feature Chubb and Hunt. 

The only turnover was an ill-advised throw by Mayfield in the fourth quarter when Stefanski foolishly  chose to disrupt the flow of the successful ground game with a forward pass. It was picked off deep in Cincy territory when Mayfield misread the coverage.

Mayfield got all the help he needed from an offensive line that created just enough room for Chubb to slither through and Hunt to slice through. Hunt, more of a slasher, relieved Chubb in the second half and befuddled a tiring Cincinnati defense with dazzling moves reminiscent of his early days in Kansas City.

The offenses were so efficient . . . no, not really. Actually, the defenses were so were porous most of the evening, that made the offenses look efficient from a relative standpoint. Tackling on both teams suggested that aspect of football also needs to be addressed. 

Now before anyone starts believing the Browns' offensive problems are fixed, take into consideration this was the Cincinnati Bengals. This is a team the Browns are supposed to beat. 

But the offense can't cover for its own bad defensive cohorts every game. Other teams down the schedule have much better defenses than the Bengals. It is incumbent on Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods, understandably operating with several of his best players injured, to come up with a solution.

The offense cannot -- and should not -- be counted on to produce scoring bonanzas like this one. As much as it sounds like it would be fun, that's not going to happen.

It's just two games into the regular season, but Stefanski has to remember the formula that produced Thursday night's result and apply it in the next 14 outings. Mayfield might be the linchpin, but he needs help. He got it Thursday night.