CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns coach Freddie Kitchens’ gameday plate is full and it’s starting to show.

As a play-calling head coach, there is a heightened level of self-imposed responsibility on Kitchens. It is on him to ensure Cleveland is game ready in every aspect. Clock management is on him too, along with “putting his guys in positions to succeed,” as he often says.

For a coach responsible for four players in a running back room this time last year, Kitchens resides in foreign territory. He admits his experiences thus far are new to him but wisely never claims he’s overwhelmed.

Over the course of an NFL game, chaotic moments arise. In these times, Kitchens’ duties and decision making are of utmost importance. But when in a bind, Kitchens is exhibiting habits that are not routinely putting Cleveland in the best positions to win.

One of his more glaring tendencies is his likeness to call the same or similar play on back-to-back downs when there is a clock stoppage or mistake the play prior. At first, the play usually shows success but is negated or fails due to a small mishap.

Kitchens then dials up the same play and it bites the Browns.

Let’s take a look at a few of those situations and examine why Kitchens needs to reel in this habit.

Same play costs safety

In the opener, Cleveland started hot by scoring on its first drive. It took about five minutes for the Browns to march 73 yards in eight plays and score. Fans everywhere hoped that drive foreshadowed the upcoming season.

The glee within FirstEnergy Stadium vanished as the Titans eventually beat down Cleveland, winning 43-13. One of the momentum-swinging plays from Week 1 came when quarterback Baker Mayfield was sacked in the end zone by Cameron Wake for a second-quarter safety.

On the play prior, the Browns were in a two-by-two formation, with two receivers to Mayfield’s left and a tightened wideout and a tight end to his right. When Cleveland is called for a false start, Kitchens tries to disguise the play by flipping the formation and widening the once bunched receiver on the tight end side. But after watching each play several times, it is clear Kitchens called the same play.

Notice how all three Browns receivers carry vertical routes off-screen on both plays. Also, the tight end stays in to block each time.

Watch both plays below.

There is no way to definitively know if the Titans expected the same play or not, but when pass rushes know a throw is coming, it creates a massive disadvantage for the offensive line. A defensive end with Wake’s experience likely anticipated pass because he saw it the play prior. Then he pinned his ears down and rushed the passer when all Kitchens did was flip formations.

Same play costs turnover on downs

Trying to make sense of the near Jarvis Landry touchdown on Sunday in the Browns loss to Seattle caused mass confusion. Kitchens spoke to officials several times while Mayfield tried to move on to the next play. Once Kitchens decided he was going to challenge, the ball was snapped seconds later and Nick Chubb waltzed into the end zone.

Clearly some Seahawks players let up once the challenge flag was thrown, linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) being one. But the Browns blocked this Chubb dive play well and appeared to score. But the play didn’t count and Cleveland lost its challenge.

On the (kind of) scoring run, Kitchens used a goal-line formation with three tight ends. The third tight end (Pharaoh Brown) lined up at fullback as a lead blocker. It worked but didn’t count.

Kitchens followed that up by calling the same exact Chubb run, with Brown at fullback again and Seattle ate it up.

Not to sound like a Captain Hindsight, but if Kitchens was set on using the exact same formation, then at least call a play-action pass.

Same play costs interception

This play has been written about a few times already but it really encompasses much that is wrong with Cleveland’s offense.

In the second quarter on Sunday, Odell Beckham Jr. opened on a quick slant but Mayfield led Beckham on the throw instead of anticipating a stationary target. Due to the near connection, Kitchens went right back to the same play.

The first time, Cleveland is in a 3-by-1 formation to the right with Beckham as the lone receiver left and Chubb in the backfield to Mayfield’s left. On the next play, the right side of the field is unchanged, however, Kitchens places Chubb in the slot, which alters nothing for Seattle but instead causes Chubb’s defender to clip Beckham, the intended receiver.

If Kitchens keeps Chubb in the backfield, there is no interception but for whatever reason, he places Chubb there, likely expecting zone coverage when instead Seattle runs man.

This play failed right when Mayfield locked in on Beckham.

Same play cost touchdown

Against the 49ers, Mayfield had Beckham open on a deep slant versus Richard Sherman (25) in zone coverage. At first, Mayfield misses Beckham and throws to tight end Demetrius Harris instead. On the next play, Kitchens calls the same Beckham route concept while in an identical bunch formation.

First the play Mayfield missed Beckham on.

Then the following play. Notice Beckham and Landry bunched together again at the bottom of the screen.

Same play works

There are plenty of times when calling the same consecutive play can work in the NFL. Prior to the Packers scoring before halftime against the Eagles in Week 4, Aaron Rodgers ran four verticals twice, completing both passes and scoring in under a minute.

In last year’s Super Bowl, the Patriots ran the same play back-to-back in the fourth quarter, setting up the game’s lone touchdown.

Kitchens found success doing the same against the 49ers. In the second quarter, Kitchens tried running a gadget play but was forced to call a timeout because the Browns were not lined up correctly.

Despite tipping his hand, Kitchens came back with the exact same formation and likely ran the same play. But unlike the above examples, this time it worked and Chubb popped the Browns’ largest play of the game.

The goal of these film reviews is fairness and objectivity. Highlighting only Kitchens’ blunders when calling identical plays and hiding his successes is deceitful and bush league.

However, Kitchens leaning into his habits is generating predictability, which is costing the Browns more than the return is worth. Practicing play calling variance -- especially after penalties or dead balls -- will prove beneficial for the first-year head coach and is hopefully something he’ll doctor over the bye week.