Robert Griffin III

Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III last started a game in Week 1 against the Eagles. With Griffin expected to return to his starting job - possibly Sunday against the Bengals - let's take a look back at that Week 1 performance.

(John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Now that it's official that Robert Griffin III will start against the Bengals on Sunday, it makes sense to remind ourselves how Griffin played the last time he started a game.

That was back in Week 1, Griffin's first start since the 2014 season. The result was a 29-10 loss to the Eagles. Griffin was 12-of-26 for 190 yards and an interception. He also had 37 yards rushing, including a scramble resulting in the injury that sidelined him most of this season.

Griffin, especially when compared with Carson Wentz's impressive debut for the Eagles, underwhelmed many observers. So let's take a closer look at what went right and what went wrong 12 weeks ago.

FIRST HALF

Griffin was 9-of-15 for 118 yards and an interception in the first half, but those stats are misleading because he actually played well.

For example, three of his passes were flat-out drops. One from Gary Barnidge on the Browns' first play, another from Barnidge on a third-down play, and the one below from Corey Coleman on a play that should've been a big gain.

There was also a bobbled catch by Pryor that could've gone for much more than 13 yards had he kept his stride.

Pryor was on the receiving end of Griffin's best pass vs. the Eagles, the 44-yarder below. It got the Browns into the red zone for the first time.

But once the Browns got near the end zone, Griffin had trouble. First, he overshot Andrew Hawkins, despite having a lot of room to work with. (Griffin's inaccuracy near the end zone was also a problem in the second half, as you'll see later.)

Griffin used his mobility to extend the next play, avoiding the rush and throwing to Duke Johnson at the goal line, resulting in pass interference. That led to Isaiah Crowell's 1-yard touchdown run.

Griffin's interception came on the Browns' next drive. Coleman broke free over the middle, but the pass was tipped by a linebacker and bounced off a defensive back before being intercepted.

Before we get to the second half, we should mention Griffin's mobility. It got him out of some jams against the Eagles, and should certainly help behind a makeshift offensive line over the final four weeks of the season.

Against the Eagles, he got out of the pocket in the first half for a 20-yard gain, making a tackler miss along the way.

In the second half, he escaped his own end zone on third-and-14 for an 11-yard gain, but, as we all know, that one didn't end well.

SECOND HALF

Griffin's second half is what we really remember from this game. He was 3-of-11 passing for 72 yards. While one of those passes was a throwaway to avoid a safety, too many were simply off target.

The Browns' first drive of the third quarter was the epitome of Griffin's second half. First, he got lucky on a 58-yard heave to Coleman. The ball was underthrown, and three Eagles defenders somehow lost sight of the ball, allowing Coleman to catch it.

Later on the drive, Griffin twice missed open receivers in the end zone. The first was intended for Pryor, and didn't give him a chance to used his size against smaller defenders.

The second was intended for Hawkins, who ran a great route to get open.

The Browns settled for a field goal and trailed 13-10. Cameron Erving snapped the ball through the back of the end zone on the Browns' next drive, and the Eagles followed that with a scoring drive for a 22-10 lead. Everybody points to the Erving snap as the turning point, but Griffin's inability to connect with Pryor or Hawkins in the end zone prior to that was just as damaging.

Griffin's final five passes were incomplete, including a deep ball for Coleman and the fourth-down pass below intended for Hawkins. The Eagles took over on downs after that and put the game away with their final touchdown.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Griffin certainly didn't put on an offensive show in Week 1. While his receivers -- and offensive line -- didn't always help him, he had a knack for making his worst throws as the worst times. Had he never gotten injured, maybe he progresses and Week 1 gets chalked up as a first game in a new system with new teammates.

But instead, Griffin watched for 12 weeks. That leaves the Browns seeking the answer this question: Can a quarterback sidelined for three months avoid earlier accuracy issues when it matters most? We'll see.