Well, it was fun while it lasted.

The Browns stormed into Arrowhead Stadium, high off their major upset of division rival Pittsburg. This mountain top seemed even more insurmountable than the last, with the defending champion Chiefs looking to show that there would be no rust on their seemingly unstoppable offensive attack, and swift Browns exit was imminent.

And for a half, despite a sore big toe, Patrick Mahomes and company would be doing just that.

Mahomes was hobbled by a sore big toe he suffered on the opening drive, a drive many thought should belong to the Browns. I talked myself into the idea that Stefanski both wanted to receive to open the 2nd half, and perhaps help his defense make a statement against a vaunted Kansas City offense.

Despite the toe issue, the Chiefs marched the field with little resistance, thanks to some poor tackling by Cleveland, and the aforementioned cheat code Mahomes, Kelce, and Tyreek Hill have formed.

The Browns couldn’t get anything going on the ground early, and were humbled to just 3 points in the first half. This was in large part to a fumble in the end zone, when Rashard Higgins tried to get every inch he could to get the Browns into the promised land. Chiefs’ safety Daniel Sorensen got away with one of the most blatant missed targeting call, which was what ultimately the reason for the Browns coming up empty on a crucial drive.

Trialing 19-3 to start the second, the Browns came up empty on their first drive, but gained momentum on a classic Browns drive that had some Baker brilliance, strong Chubb runs, and Kareem Hunt stomping into the end zone to finish it.

It appeared that the Browns at least had their knuckles ready to knock on the door.

Then, the gates of heaven threw open.

Mahomes was brought down by Mack Wilson midway through the 3rd, and came up staggered. A scary sight not only for Chiefs fans, but for the league; the darling of the NFL looked completely disoriented, struggling to stand on his own, a blank stare on his face. I hope Mahomes can clear concussion protocols to play the Bills next week, which by how he appeared postgame, seems quite likely.

But the Browns had just scored on an impressive drive, and the Chiefs lost their Superman. The momentum swing was palpable, and my dad and I thought we were in the clear.

But, the depth of the Chiefs began to show itself.

Backup Chad Henne took over and has been getting a cavalcade of praise from analysts everywhere for doing the bare minimum, but credit him partially for not totally throwing the game, and that one run where the entire defense was guarding Kelce and Tyreek so he just walked for 13 uncontested yards.

I give most of the credit to head coach Andy Reid and his defense for stifling the Browns ground attack to limit their offensive flexibility. People are wondering why Kevin Stefanski didn’t put the ball into the hands of his running backs more often, but the Chiefs shut the run down pretty effectively from the jump, and credit Baker Mayfield for playing a really nice game to influence some of that lack of running.

Looking just at the missed helmet-to-helmet that cost the Browns a crushing would-be touchdown isn’t the entire story of the loss.

The aforementioned opt to defer to open the game allowed the Chiefs to score immediately out of the gate and get settled. In the second, the Browns wasted two timeouts, one on an understandable, but less than great challenge on an incredible catch by Hill. The second came on a 1st & 10 for Cleveland, they somehow weren’t on the same page and burned a timeout that proved costly late, as they could not stop the clock late in the 4th. And finally, Reid drew up a play on 4th & Inches on an unsuspecting Browns defense on the final play, icing the game and effectively putting the final touches on out-coaching young Stefanski in the postseason.

Losing the Chiefs wasn’t something Browns faithfuls weren’t blind to, but I must admit, having Mahomes go down and knowing the game was right fucking there for the taking does hurt.

But as I’ve said all season, the expectations for Cleveland on Week 1 were just to show any kind of improvements, whether they be in the play of Mayfield, the overall culture surrounding the team, etc. They accomplished all of that, and then some.

The established an identity behind Stefanski and the massive steps forward taken by their quarterback. And in doing so, won 11 regular season games, snapped a playoff drought against the Steelers, and we’re right there against the defending champs in their house.

Simply put, it’s just not their time yet.

This organization and its fanbase FINALLY have momentum, some positivity. And it feels fantastic.

I’m completely smitten by these Browns, and I ready to shamelessly defend them till my days are up.

Let’s fix up the defense, settle our vertical threat issue (OBJ or no OBJ), and run this shit back.

Go Brownies, it’ll be all Lakers until we get closer to Giants baseball.

Cheers.