CLEVELAND -- Despite the miserable offensive showing Sunday, the Cleveland Browns had a shot in the final minutes for their sputtering passing attack to finally deliver them a come-from-behind victory.

Instead, that passing game fizzled out in the fourth quarter once again.

Receiver Jarvis Landry dropped what would’ve been a first-down catch inside the Steelers' 25-yard line. Quarterback Baker Mayfield and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. couldn’t sync up -- yet again -- for a big play that would’ve given Cleveland fourth-and-goal, if not the go-ahead touchdown. And even after a roughing the passer penalty handed the Browns a huge break, Landry dropped another catchable pass across the middle on fourth-and-12, effectively clinching Pittsburgh’s 15-10 win.

As the 4-4 Browns approach the halfway point of this season -- a season that began with Super Bowl aspirations -- Cleveland’s passing game has regressed to the point of teetering into a total mess.

Yes, injuries have played a major part. The torn labrum in Mayfield’s non-throwing shoulder. Beckham’s right shoulder. Landry’s knee. Running back Kareem Hunt’s calf. Left tackle Jedrick Wills’ ankle, and now right tackle Jack Conklin’s dislocated elbow, which is expected to keep him out weeks.

But the issues with Cleveland’s faltering passing attack go way beyond injuries. And if the Browns can’t resolve it -- and fast -- this season could rapidly devolve into one massive disappointment.

“We didn’t score enough points yesterday. We haven’t scored enough points the last few weeks,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday. “We have to look at it. We have to find ways to be explosive with the ball.”

One myth about Cleveland’s run to the playoffs last year was the Browns got there simply with their overpowering running game. That running game, led by Nick Chubb, Hunt and an imposing offensive line indeed was overpowering.

But from Week 7 to 15, the Browns also featured one of the league’s most efficient passing attacks. In fact, during that stretch, Mayfield ranked third in QBR, trailing only the past two MVPs, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. So far this year, Mayfield ranks 26th in QBR (43.0), trailing the likes of rookie Mac Jones, Teddy Bridgewater and Daniel Jones.

Mayfield has been dealing with the shoulder injury since Week 2, and eventually was forced to sit out against the Denver Broncos last week. Playing with a restrictive harness on that left shoulder, Mayfield’s off-target rate (17.8%) ranks 24th and his completion percentage, which before the injury was among the NFL’s best, has tumbled to 66.7%, putting him at No. 14 in the league. Despite missing the Denver game -- and despite playing in front of an offensive line that leads the NFL in pass block win rate -- Mayfield has been sacked 22 times, more than any other AFC quarterback, save Ryan Tannehill.

But Cleveland’s rather impotent passing game is hardly just about Mayfield. And against Pittsburgh, Mayfield in many ways was the least of Cleveland’s problems.

Landry’s drops on the final drive -- and fumble ending the previous possession -- were the difference in solidifying Pittsburgh’s victory. But that unfortunate sequence from Landry overshadowed just what a total non-factor in the passing game Cleveland’s other highly paid wide receiver has become.

After catching one pass for six yards Sunday, Beckham now ranks 150th in the league in receptions per target, 138th in receptions per route run, 136th in yards after the catch per reception and 31st in drop rate. To be sure, Beckham’s gravity on the field has opened up opportunities for Cleveland’s other receivers and created more lanes in the running game.

But the sheer lack of production for a former Pro Bowl wideout making $15 million a year is staggering.

Stefanski reaffirmed Monday he believes Beckham to be a “dynamic” playmaker. But the reality is, the only time the Browns' offense has been dynamic since Beckham was traded to Cleveland three offseasons ago came when Beckham was off the field, following last year’s season-ending knee injury in Week 7. And despite Stefanski's belief in Beckham, the Browns are simply unable to get him the ball.

Sometimes they force it to him when he’s covered. Sometimes they don’t go to him when he’s wide open. Sometimes -- most notably on what should’ve been a game-clinching touchdown in Week 4 in Minnesota -- Beckham runs a route different than one Mayfield is expecting.

And still other times, Beckham is unable to come through with a game-changing play -- whether it be the fourth-down drop in Week 5 in Los Angeles, or curiously going up with one hand, instead of two, on the final drive against Pittsburgh.

Stefanski noted it “would’ve been a difficult catch.” But that’s exactly what the Browns brought in Beckham to do.

OBJ’s connection with Mayfield remains a mess. The same now goes for an entire Cleveland passing offense, which, if not fixed, will sink what once was such a promising season.