Here are my thoughts on the Cleveland Browns' 34-12 loss at the Denver Broncos:
What it means: The Browns are packing it in for coach Pat Shurmur, losing the past two weeks by a combined 39 points. Cleveland fell to 5-10, which is the ninth time in 10 years that the Browns have recorded double-digit losses. The Browns are now 1-6 on the road. Denver (12-3) won its 10th straight game.
Top picks injured: As the season continues to end on a sour note, the Browns watched their top two picks, running back Trent Richardson and quarterback Brandon Weeden, leave the game with injuries. Richardson got his left leg rolled up on during Cleveland's final (and meaningless) drive. He's getting X-rays for a possible broken ankle. Weeden was knocked out of the game with a right shoulder injury in the third quarter, when Von Miller slammed him to the ground. Weeden told reporters after the game that he's fine.
More records for Richardson: Before leaving with that late injury, Richardson surpassed Jim Brown's franchise rookie rushing record with 53 yards on nine carries. That raised Richardson's season total to 950. Brown's mark of 947 was in a 12-game season in 1957.
Tough day for Brown: The Browns were down 14-3 by the second quarter, and cornerback Sheldon Brown had to be frustrated. Despite good coverage, Brown was beaten for touchdowns by Demaryius Thomas (22 yards) and Eric Decker (10 yards) in the first half. Then, before halftime, Brown was knocked out of the game with a concussion after colliding with Brandon Stokley. This depletes an already banged-up secondary.
McCoy gets some work: Backup quarterback Colt McCoy got his most playing time of the year and took advantage of it. McCoy produced the Browns' only touchdown drive of the game, moving them 80 yards on 10 plays. He converted a fourth-and-5 with a swing pass to Richardson and then hit Greg Little for a 6-yard touchdown pass. McCoy was 9-of-17 for 79 yards, and Weeden was 12-of-19 for 104 yards.
What's next: The Browns wrap up their season at Pittsburgh.
