Why Browns' biggest question is no longer QB

The Browns started their fourth different quarterback of the season in their Week 13 loss to the Rams since QB Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury in Week 10. Here are three reasons why quarterback isn't the biggest question on the team.

Beat up defense

For most of the year, it has been Cleveland's defense beating up its opponents as it is allowing the least total yards per game (260.5) in the league. However, that was far from the case on Sunday. The Rams offense dominated the day with 399 total yards and zero turnovers.

The Browns' loss only further proves that the defense is far from healthy. DE Myles Garrett, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, had the first game in his career without a single tackle, per ESPN Stats & Info. Two-time Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward also missed the game with a shoulder injury, which certainly played a part in the game's outcome.

Joe Flacco

Flacco, who just signed with Cleveland late last month, got the nod to start with QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson still in the concussion protocol. There weren't a ton of high expectations for the 38-year-old, but he proved to still have some gas left in the tank, completing 23-of-44 for 254 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Outside of the interception, Flacco looked poised and made smart decisions for much of the afternoon, which would have been enough to win if the defense played like it had been all season. The team may turn back to Thompson-Robinson, who has thrown for just 429 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions in five games, once he's cleared. But Flacco did enough to earn another extended look as the Browns keep their postseason aspirations alive.

Two-headed monster

Watson wasn't Cleveland's only season-ending injury that has left a big hole to fill. Four-time Pro Bowl RB Nick Chubb suffered a serious knee injury in Week 2. But running backs Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt have stepped up just fine in his absence.

The two backs have combined for 1,236 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Many believed that the losses of Watson and Chubb would be too much to overcome, but the Browns offense seems to have found a recipe for success. Now it's time for the defense to get back to its dominant ways. But that starts with getting healthy, which is not easy to do this time of year.