Cleveland Browns in Kicker Crisis: Rookie Szmyt’s Misses Could Derail Their Playoff Hopes!
In a heartbreaking 17–16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns' rookie kicker Andre Szmyt had a debut to forget, missing a crucial extra point and a 36-yard field goal in the final minutes. With the game on the line, Szmyt’s miss sealed the fate of the Browns, leaving fans and coaches alike in disbelief. With Week 2 fast approaching, the Browns are facing an urgent question: Can Szmyt overcome the pressure, or will Cleveland be forced to make a change?
1. The Nightmare Debut – Szmyt’s Crucial Misses
Rookie kicker Andre Szmyt's NFL debut was supposed to be a moment of pride for the Browns, but it quickly turned into a nightmare. His missed extra point and failed 36-yard field goal attempt with less than two minutes remaining handed the Bengals the victory.
Szmyt, clearly frustrated, commented post-game:
“I know I let my team down, but this is just the beginning. I’m going to fix this. I’m not going to let one bad game define me. Cleveland deserves better, and I’ll make sure I’m the guy they can count on.” — Andre Szmyt, Cleveland Browns Rookie Kicker
His honesty was refreshing, but with such a high-stakes position, the pressure is already mounting on Szmyt. His words show determination, but can he back it up in Week 2?
2. Coach Stefanski's Tough Love – Can Szmyt Bounce Back?
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t mince words when discussing Szmyt’s performance. "Those are kicks that we expect him to make," Stefanski said, expressing frustration but maintaining a level of support. It’s clear that Stefanski has faith in Szmyt, but the pressure is mounting. Will Szmyt be able to shake off the mistakes, or will the Browns’ kicker woes continue to haunt them?
3. Quarterback Joe Flacco Stands By His Kicker – ‘We All Have to Do Better’
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco offered his support to Szmyt, adding a touch of perspective to the situation. “It’s a team sport. We win together, and we lose together. We all have to do better,” Flacco said. While Flacco’s leadership is valuable, it doesn’t erase the importance of a reliable kicker in the NFL. The Browns’ special teams unit must find a solution fast if they hope to compete in a tough AFC North.
4. What’s Next for the Browns? A Kicker Hunt May Be On the Horizon
With Szmyt underperforming, the Browns are exploring every possible option to solve their kicking dilemma. As it stands, the team has no backup kicker on the roster, which leaves them with few choices. The front office is reportedly eyeing veteran kickers such as Dustin Hopkins, Greg Zuerlein, and Eddy Piñeiro, who are available as free agents. If Szmyt’s struggles continue, Cleveland may turn to a more experienced leg before it’s too late.
5. A Critical Week 2 Looms: Can Szmyt Redeem Himself?
Looking ahead to Week 2, the Browns are set to face the Baltimore Ravens. This game is pivotal not only for Szmyt’s confidence but for the Browns’ playoff aspirations. Can Szmyt overcome the pressure and deliver in clutch moments? Or will the kicker issue continue to plague Cleveland, pushing the team closer to a decision they don’t want to make?
Conclusion:
The Cleveland Browns’ kicker crisis has become the team’s most pressing issue, and with no easy solution in sight, the next few games could determine Szmyt’s future in the league. Can the rookie step up to the challenge, or will the Browns be forced to find a new solution? With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the kicker’s performance in the coming weeks could be the difference between a successful season and another heartbreak.
Packers’ Colby Wooden Fires Back at Critics After Dominant Run Defense Performance
Micah Parsons, a contrarian opinion had taken hold, too–the Packers defense would get chewed up in the running game.Three days before the Packers were to play the Detroit Lions in their 2025 opener, defensive lineman Colby Wooden got a phone call. It was his father. While much attention had been foisted on the Packers in recent days after the stunning trade for pass-rusher
The Packers had to trade away stalwart defensive lineman Kenny Clark to acquire Parsons, and the feeling was, that would be costly in the team’s efforts to handle the run. Detroit, after all, rushed for 2,488 yards last season, sixth in the NFL. Without Clark, surely the Packers would be in trouble.
Wooden, who is helping replace Clark in the middle, took the call from his dad, who said, “Do me a favor, shut ‘em up.”
And he, along with the entire Packers defensive front, did just that, holding the Lions to 46 yards on 22 carries, their lowest rushing output since Week 6 in 2023. Wooden, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks held the line admirably in the middle all day for the Packers.
Colby Wooden: ‘I Took That Personal’
Wooden, for one, was insulted by the questions about the team’s inability to hold against the run.
“I for sure took that personal …” Wooden said. “So I just, did my job, went out there, stopped the run. I took it personal. Honestly, I felt like it was kinda disrespectful, like, ‘Oh, they gonna run the ball.’ So I made it my mission—we, excuse me—we made it our mission to shut them down.”
That’s not easy to do against the combo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, nicknamed Sonic and Knuckles.
“We know what they want to do,” Wooden said. “Last year, they wanted to run. They call them Sonic and Knuckles, or whatever. They want to run them 30 times. So we know they want to run that ball. We’ve got to do our job to stop the run so they can get back and let (Parsons) go get them.”
Packers Filling Roles With Micah Parsons on Board
Wooden said the effect of having Parsons on the field was obvious, and it works both ways. When offenses focus on corralling Parsons, the other Packers must step up.
“Everybody’s got a job to do, everybody got a role,” Wooden said. “Everybody’s got to buy into their role. We know what attention and what he comes with. And we know we got to stop that run, go help him out, if he is getting is getting chipped, doubled or whatever, now it’s somebody else’s turn to win their one-on-one.”
Packers Have Commanders Next
And despite the obviously encouraging results, Wooden is not getting ahead of himself. The Commanders will be next on the docket, with fearsome young quarterback Jayden Daniels on hand.
“It’s just one week,” Wooden said. “It’s Week 1. It’s great to start off with a win, dominate. But we’ve got to keep it going. We got a good team coming here on Thursday, we know we got to be ready to stop that run and contain that quarterback. So we just gotta keep going, keep getting better, keep jelling.”
