The Cleveland Browns sweeping the Pittsburgh Steelers was a thrilling thought for fans in Northeast Ohio, but it was always a long shot.
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In reality, the Steelers secured a 27-14 victory, at one point leading 27-7 before comfortably closing out the game.
Cleveland’s offense continued to falter, a persistent issue throughout the season. Now at 3-10, the Browns’ disappointing year only grows worse.
A standout issue in this game was the Browns’ kicking unit. Dustin Hopkins missed two crucial field goals—one from 38 yards before halftime and another from 43 yards afterward. Such misses, from distances typically expected to be routine for an NFL kicker, dealt a major blow to an already struggling offense.
Is It Time for the Browns to Move On from Dustin Hopkins?
The Browns’ decision to extend Dustin Hopkins after his impressive 33-of-36 season last year now appears to have backfired. While some decline was anticipated, Hopkins’ performance this season has been significantly worse.
He has converted just 16 of 25 field goal attempts, a dramatic drop from 2022, when he hit all eight of his attempts from 50+ yards. This season, he’s 4-for-8 from that range and has missed two extra points as well.
With the season already a lost cause, the Browns may opt to keep Hopkins for the remainder of the year. However, his struggles have undoubtedly hurt the team.
Despite his strong performance in 2022, Hopkins’ current form leaves little room for confidence. After committing over $5 million annually to him, Cleveland must recognize their error and move on from a kicker who is no longer meeting expectations.
