Baltimore Ravens outclass Browns on a chilly, gloomy day in Cleveland: Terry Pluto

On this day, the Browns simply lost to a far superior team.

Because his job is on the line, much of the discussion after the Browns 20-10 loss to Baltimore is the future of Eric Mangini. But if the Browns coach does lose his job, it won't be because of what happened on this gloomy, windy, bone-chilling Sunday.

That's because the Browns were defeated by a far superior team with tough veterans on defense and a young quarterback headed to stardom in Joe Flacco.

Flacco is only the fourth quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs in each of his first three pro seasons since 1970. Since 2008, only quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Drew Brees have more wins that Flacco.

Baltimore came to town knowing it needed to win to keep the pressure on Pittsburgh. The 11-4 Ravens hope the Browns can somehow end the season with a victory over the Steelers, giving Baltimore a first round bye in the playoffs.

So this was a big game for Baltimore, which played like it. The Ravens were determined to shut down Peyton Hillis, and they did it. In Game 3, Hillis rolled over Baltimore for 144 yards.

This Sunday, he had only 35 yards in 12 carries. He averaged 2.9 yards per carry. His longest gain was 7 yards. He also is physically beat up, and missed some snaps.

Just like Buffalo, Cincinnati and even Miami (a 13-10 Browns victory), the Browns' limited, All-Peyton-All-The-Time offense has been exposed for all its limitations. No matter who is the Browns coach next season, they need more depth at running back, more depth at wide receiver, more of an offense suited for rookie quarterback Colt McCoy.

Don't be discouraged by McCoy's three interceptions. A rookie game was due, and it came on this day with a 20-mph whipping wind and facing a defense ranked No. 5 against the run, No. 10 overall. And yes, the weather was a factor, because the Texas native never played in 13-degree wind chill with the breeze whipping all over the stadium.

McCoy was 15-of-29 for 149 yards, no touchdowns. His three interceptions equaled the total that he had in his first six starts, covering 152 passes.

By comparison, rookie phenom quarterback Sam Bradford when into Sunday with 17 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions for the season. But in his previous three games, the Rams quarterback had five interceptions and zero touchdowns.

Every rookie has rough stretches.

In the big picture, the real problem for the Browns and Mangini is not McCoy, or this game.

It's that the Browns failed to capitalized on heir back-to-back victories over New Orleans and New England.

That moved their record to 3-5. Suddenly there was a sense the Browns were headed to respectability -- at least 7-9, maybe even 8-8.

Since then, they are 2-5.

Today, the overall record is 5-10. This is the seventh time in the last eight years that the Browns have lost at least 10 games.

The last four losses have all been close -- New York Jets (26-20 in overtime), Jacksonville (24-20), Buffalo (13-6), Cincinnati (19-17) -- before this 20-10 verdict to Baltimore.

The Browns could have easily tied the Jets game, but gambled near deep in their own territory near the end of overtime. The losses to Cincinnati and Buffalo are especially discouraging because the Browns were the more talented team. Both the Bengals and Buffalo entered their games with the Browns owning only two victories.

Now, the Browns are on a three-game losing streak as they head into their final game.

Mangini was able to save his job a year ago despite a 5-11 record because the Browns had a final four-game winning streak, followed by some very positive meetings with new president Mike Holmgren.

Holmgren has remained quiet about Mangini's future. His last public comments came after the bye week when the Browns were 1-5. Holmgren's comment were vague, even confusing, about the coaching situation. But it is clear the former Green Bay and Seattle head coach didn't rule out the possibility of coaching in 2011.

Who knows what Holmgren will decide. Perhaps he will coach the team himself. Or hire another coach. Or surprise everyone by keeping Mangini but wanting major changes on the offensive coaching staff.

But one thing is certain -- the Browns will have a different look when it comes to the coaching staff next season.

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