Browns 18, Jaguars 13
DOUG PEDERSON: Comes down to awareness, comes down to just execution on the field, comes down to coaching. There's a lot of things I think we can maybe point a finger at.
But it's definitely an area that needs to improve.
Q. End of the first half, the timeouts situation...
DOUG PEDERSON: Just the situation. The situational awareness. Clock was running down. It can't happen. It just can't happen. Had to take the two timeouts.
Q. What happened on the safety? Was it a protection issue? Were there bad routes run? What was your thought process?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, we knew what we had to do. We had to go 98 yards obviously. We had a chance to push the ball down the field at that time. It just felt like the pocket collapsed a little bit on his left side. Just nowhere to go with the ball.
We just got to clean that stuff up.
Q. I think at halftime you said to the TV or radio that the nonsense has to stop. Can you explain what you were talking about there?
DOUG PEDERSON: Just execution.
Q. Is the offensive line good enough to execute the way you guys want to or need to?
DOUG PEDERSON: I feel they are, yes.
Q. I don't know if you would call it lack of energy, lack of rhythm. How do you explain the first half?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, that's something we need to look into and find out why. We have an opportunity to play a football game. We're blessed to coach and play. You should be excited about stepping on the field and giving everything you have.
It's a tough sport. It's something I got to try to figure out with the guys and see what's going on.
Q. How stunned are you at just the lack of offensive execution the last six quarters?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, I mean, it's not who we are. Guys, coaches, players work too hard during the week.
Listen, that's a good defense. A really good defense. Probably one of the best in the league. If there's a measuring stick, then we didn't measure up very well today. Something we got to look at.
There's too much talent, I think. There's signs of it, but just not consistent enough.
Q. I think you had 22 plays for 74 yards about two minutes to go in the third. What changed where you did start to get some things going?
DOUG PEDERSON: I don't know. I guess we went a little up-tempo. I think just the tempo really. Just executed with our backs against the wall.
Q. Looked like you took exception to the two roughing the passer penalties on your defense early. Looked like there might have been a no call on Trevor late. Anything you got from the officials?
DOUG PEDERSON: No.
Q. In terms of third down, an issue last week in the loss to Miami. Today three and nine. Anything you can put your finger on as to why execution isn't better on third down?
DOUG PEDERSON: We definitely got to look at the film and see why. Third down is an important down. We know they got some great pass-rushers over there. We just didn't do our part.
Maybe it's on us as coaches, we didn't help our guys out enough. We just got to look at the tape and figure out why.
Q. What happened with Evan and how much of a hole does that put you in when you lose your tight end an hour before the game?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, it was unfortunate. It was during his warm-up prior to pregame. It was right at the time when we put our inactives in. We didn't have an opportunity to make a change.
It's no different if he goes down play one. We still have to go out and play.
Q. It seems like you're just at a loss to figure out why this team is performing at the level it is. Is that correct? What's next to try?
DOUG PEDERSON: Well, I'm at a loss because we've been together for a while now, right? We shouldn't be playing the way we're playing. We shouldn't be coaching the way we're coaching. I take accountability there. It starts with me. Then it goes to the assistant coaches and players.
I just know that we're a better football team than what we played today.
Q. You put a lot of work into lead-up to this point through camp and everything. Do you have to avoid hitting the panic button early? Do you do anything to jump-start these guys, the locker room?
DOUG PEDERSON: I don't think you hit the panic button. There's a long season ahead. We got to figure some things out in a hurry. We got to coach some things and do some things. Each person as to look at themselves in the mirror, me included. We've got to do better.
It's disappointing. It's disappointing 'cause there's glimpses of greatness out there, but it's not consistent enough.
Q. One of the glimpses was Brian Thomas Jr. How do you feel he's adjusted to the pro game in two regular-season games?
DOUG PEDERSON: I think he's done a nice job. Made a couple big plays the last two games. Has helped us score some points. It's good to see him coming along and doing the things that we've asked of him.
You just see his ability to make plays down the field.
Q. Could you talk about the frustration of losing the timeouts in the first half. How tough is that?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yeah, it's tough.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports