Why that loss more than the Pittsburgh loss, the Baltimore loss or any other future close loss to a division rival?

because the browns did not beat a team that they were suppose to beat!

 

The Browns must win their remaining divisional games.  The Browns have improved, but they still do not have the "blood is in the water" killer mentality.

 

The Browns must win their remaining divisional games.  The Browns have improved, but they still do not have the "blood is in the water" killer mentality.

 

Right. They not only should've beaten Baltimore, they should have won by two TD's. The season has been marked by such inconsistency. It's almost as if the players conserve their energy and focus to certain parts of the game.

 

The Browns must win their remaining divisional games.  The Browns have improved, but they still do not have the "blood is in the water" killer mentality.

 

Right. They not only should've beaten Baltimore, they should have won by two TD's. The season has been marked by such inconsistency. It's almost as if the players conserve their energy and focus to certain parts of the game.

 

To some degree the inconsistency has been Hoyer's accuracy.  How he plays tomorrow night will say a lot because it is such a key game.

^ I was harsh on Hoyer's first-half performance last week, but he led them back and they won. I think he still as a 2+ game margin of error to work with.

^ I was harsh on Hoyer's first-half performance last week, but he led them back and they won. I think he still as a 2+ game margin of error to work with.

 

Exactly.  That's why I'm optimistic that his inaccuracy comes from a lack of focus rather than stress.

 

It still has made some games closer than they needed to be.

Predicting a loss today!

 

Thought I save Mr. Media some time with this week's pick too.

^ I was harsh on Hoyer's first-half performance last week, but he led them back and they won. I think he still as a 2+ game margin of error to work with.

 

Exactly.  That's why I'm optimistic that his inaccuracy comes from a lack of focus rather than stress.

 

It still has made some games closer than they needed to be.

 

I think more of the inconsistency comes from the fact that we run Ben Tate for negative yardage on some drives, and Terrence West for (short, but) positive yardage on others.

 

The reason our offensive production is lagging can mostly be attributed to the lack of a running game all of a sudden.  Sure, Hoyer has been a little inconsistent, but how many QB's could consistently throw for over 200 yards every single game?  Let alone when defenses are pinning their ears back knowing we can't run the ball on them?  (Answer, nobody since Brian Sipe in 1983 has passed for more than 200 yards in eight consecutive games for the Browns until Hoyer just did it with his 300 yard performance on Sunday.)

 

Especially after closely watching some "elite" quarterbacks the last couple weeks in other games with a more critical eye and seeing them get a pass from the announcers on occasional errant throws, I'm convinced that the media is magnifying every error Hoyer makes in hopes that their wet dream of Johhny Manziel seeing the field comes to fruition.

ESPN... :roll:

Is that zipper burn at the tip?

Well, I did not see that game coming.

Well, I did not see that game coming.

 

We should thank Dalton and the Bengals for that "gift"of a win!  It's a W, but the Browns should not get cocky or over confident.  We're still underdogs and must earn (the leagues) respect.  The Browns are somewhat a "Jekyll & Hyde" team.  Which team shows up next week?

I need therapy. I found I couldn't enjoy that game because I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and the Browns to lose. It's going to take awhile for me to trust.

 

 

 

Well, I did not see that game coming.

 

We should thank Dalton and the Bengals for that "gift"of a win!  It's a W, but the Browns should not get cocky or over confident.  We're still underdogs and must earn (the leagues) respect.  The Browns are somewhat a "Jekyll & Hyde" team.  Which team shows up next week?

Nope, we need to thank the browns defense, Joe haden, and th rest of the secondary, for the coverage they had on receivers, and forcing Dalton to make some bogus throws to jsut get rid of the ball.  We need to thank the front men for putting pressure on the QB on third downs.  QB's don't just have bad games.  If you could see the game live and witness what was occuring downfield versus the TV quaterback pocket view, you would understand why Dalton looked terrible.  That was not a gift of a win, that was a superbowl defense playing. 

Yep, Joe's hip seems to have fully healed and he is back in prime form.  Skrine played well too.... that was a pleasant surprise.

 

Everyone is talking about the pre-game speech Whitner gave.  That's what a veteran like him adds which is not seen on the field.

 

We should thank Dalton and the Bengals for that "gift"of a win!  It's a W, but the Browns should not get cocky or over confident.  We're still underdogs and must earn (the leagues) respect. 

 

Browns play well with that swagger, especially the defense.  I want them to be cocky.  As for underdogs, anyone in the league who hadn't got the memo by now, was served notice last night that the Browns are a legit threat each and every Sunday.  They may not be a Super Bowl contender, but they can beat.....no, they can whoop..... any team, any given Sunday.  Just ask Pittsburgh and Cincy.

 

... and Josh is set to return to the Party when we play Atlanta on Nov. 23rd.  I understand Ray Farmer's comments re Gordon, which predated last night's Cincy beat-down of course... who would want to mess with THAT offense!? ... Nevertheless, having a Pro Bowl WR-- one of the elite pass catchers in the League, can only be gravy for the stretch run of a team that's gaining momentum with each passing week. 

 

And the D looks at times, like last night and against Pittsburgh, like a 12-foot high wall -- I'm sure Andy Dalton sure thinks so (and was that really Buster Skrine out there?).  Suddenly it's looking like the playoffs are not just doable but, at this point, darn near expected.

^Having our pro-bowl, all-pro WR will help.  It will also help to get our pro-bowl TE (Cameron) back our leading WR (Hawkins) back too.  Wish our pro-bowl C could join the party.  Oh well, even with those guys out, the offense took care of business.

via SBNation

 

I think it was a team effort between the Browns defense, Dalton, and the Cincinnati receiving corps.

Dalton certainly had some ugly throws last night, but I also see a lot of good coverage and a collapsing pocket on many plays in that clip.

The secondary coverage last night was stifling. I noticed that even Gilbert was step for step with the receivers.

How about Greg "Catches" Little?  He had a nice penalty which got us off on the right foot.  And then he allowed an INT by running his route wrong.  Good to see that he finally produced a little for the Browns.  I still think he was a waste of a 2nd round pick

^ Jabaal Sheard smokes Little on the 1st Buster interception.

Well, I did not see that game coming.

 

We should thank Dalton and the Bengals for that "gift"of a win!  It's a W, but the Browns should not get cocky or over confident.  We're still underdogs and must earn (the leagues) respect.  The Browns are somewhat a "Jekyll & Hyde" team.  Which team shows up next week?

 

From what I saw the Browns fans were well-behaved last night.  Nothing at all like Pittsburgh fans, who for unknown reasons a few dozen showed up to this game and were talking trash like usual. 

 

Well, I did not see that game coming.

 

We should thank Dalton and the Bengals for that "gift"of a win!  It's a W, but the Browns should not get cocky or over confident.  We're still underdogs and must earn (the leagues) respect.  The Browns are somewhat a "Jekyll & Hyde" team.  Which team shows up next week?

 

From what I saw the Browns fans were well-behaved last night.  Nothing at all like Pittsburgh fans, who for unknown reasons a few dozen showed up to this game and were talking trash like usual. 

 

HUH??

We should thank Dalton and the Bengals for that "gift"of a win!  It's a W, but the Browns should not get cocky or over confident.  We're still underdogs and must earn (the leagues) respect.  The Browns are somewhat a "Jekyll & Hyde" team.  Which team shows up next week?

 

This Browns team plays to the level of their competition, which really isn't that unusual. Besides, most teams are playing Jekyll & Hyde football this season. Every good team has played a stinker against a bad or mediocre team at some point (except maybe Denver).

ESPN... :roll:

 

Luckily most of us know Cleveland has a better skyline than that.

 

Go Browns!

Cincinnati has a great skyline, and I'm not talking the chili either.

Well, I did not see that game coming.

 

We should thank Dalton and the Bengals for that "gift"of a win!  It's a W, but the Browns should not get cocky or over confident.  We're still underdogs and must earn (the leagues) respect.  The Browns are somewhat a "Jekyll & Hyde" team.  Which team shows up next week?

 

From what I saw the Browns fans were well-behaved last night.  Nothing at all like Pittsburgh fans, who for unknown reasons a few dozen showed up to this game and were talking trash like usual. 

 

HUH??

 

Probably local frontrunner types. 

Probably local frontrunner types. 

 

Exactly. Where were they when the Browns ran over the Steelers in Cleveland?

well i can tell you where they weren't. at metlife. and neither was their team. i watched the whole game and i have never seen rothlisberger play so bad. he stunnnkkk it up. its like his body was there, but his mind was elsewhere. the jets D looked like the old steel curtain. and the jets O played smashmouth running + vick was a hustler. wow did pitts stink because the jets arent very good, but the stillers made them look like worldbeaters today. and so the browns have first place to themselves yep.

#1.... has it really been 19 years?

well i can tell you where they weren't. at metlife. and neither was their team. i watched the whole game and i have never seen rothlisberger play so bad. he stunnnkkk it up. its like his body was there, but his mind was elsewhere. the jets D looked like the old steel curtain. and the jets O played smashmouth running + vick was a hustler. wow did pitts stink because the jets arent very good, but the stillers made them look like worldbeaters today. and so the browns have first place to themselves yep.

 

The whole upper deck was Steeler fans. You wouldn't know it because they didn't have anything to cheer for! :)

 

#1.... has it really been 19 years?

 

Yes, since September 1995. But we haven't been alone in first place this late since November 1994.

 

The Cincinnati changed everything. That was one of four most difficult games we're due to face in the last half of the season. I was hoping we would go 4-4 in the last half to finish 9-7, or more likely expecting us to go 3-5 to end 8-8. But with that win, now 10-6 is possible -- if we don't fall asleep like we did against Jacksonville. If we get another surprise win against either the Bengals at home (it would actually surprise me if we lost that game), Buffalo, Indy or Baltimore, then 10-6 is realistic.

Cincy will come looking for blood at CBS.  Typically, however, that is not a good road team and we have had way more success at home against them than our other two divisional opponents...... way, way more.  The good news is that we should have Gordon, Cameron, and Hawkins back for that game and won't have to rely on a bunch of rookies and former undrafted free agents to provide our offensive punch.  Cincy, otoh, might have their two top LBs and Leon Hall back for that game.  I'd pick us to win at this point, but it will be much more competitive....... or, better put probably, it will be competitive this time.

 

Buffalo is a must win given us having their 1st rounder.  The Chief pulled it out yesterday, dropping the Bills to 5-4.  They are notorious for not playing well on the back 8 games of the season, so we can hope they lose 5-7 more games and finish with a top 10 pick as many expected when the season started.

 

We owe Baltimore one.  I would love to see a blowout in their home stadium to go with our rompings of Cincy and Pittsburgh this year.

 

Indy is going to be tough.  Their is no way around that.  Not a good matchup for us IMO.

Cincy will come looking for blood at CBS.

 

Maybe we can talk them into saving their energy for Pittsburgh!

We have to get Cincinnati at home and at least one of Buffalo, Indy or Baltimore, and all of the games vs Houston, Atlanta and Carolina.

in espn news, the browns moved to #11 from #19 in power rankings, tate wants more carries and why the browns will make the playoffs.

 

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/rankings?wjb

Gipson returned to practice today.  Looks like he is going to play.  More good new came when Houston announced Arian Foster has been ruled out for Sunday.

 

EDIT: Foster is now listed as questionable, but word is it is very doubtful he will play

^Foster not playing is HUGE. 

Phil Taylor has been placed on the IR as he needs another knee surgery.

^Out for the year.  Ouch.  That's a big blow to our defense, no pun intended.  Phil doesn't show up too often on the stat sheet, but his ability to hold the point of attack against two blockers at the same time, and generally just cause a log jam at the line of scrimmage, is invaluable.  Winn will step in and will have more 'sexy' plays (sacks, TFLs, etc) but Phil's absence will be felt.... albeit maybe not very noticeable to the casual fan

Jordan Cameron may also not play the rest of the year. His concussion symptoms aren't going away and it has the medical staff concerned.

Jordan Cameron may also not play the rest of the year. His concussion symptoms aren't going away and it has the medical staff concerned.

 

Dang... Well, at least Gordon is coming back Monday.  Even if his routes are rusty, I'd just have him run streaks down the field to draw attention and open up our other receivers.

Dang... Well, at least Gordon is coming back Monday.  Even if his routes are rusty, I'd just have him run streaks down the field to draw attention and open up our other receivers.

 

The streak? From my youth....

 

Phil Taylor made a huge difference in the Cincinnatti game. As Hts said, the fact that he can hold position at the line of scrimmage against two blockers enabled our ILB a direct line to their running backs. Same on passes. His ability to command two blockers left Sheard and Kruger to not have to worry about inside help on pass rushes. This one will hurt.

Glad to see Arian Foster won't play today. All I ask is that we don't give some unknown second-stringer a name.

All I ask is that we don't give some unknown second-stringer a name.

 

And the Browns did exactly that with Bubba Blue.

The year of inconsistency continues.

The year of inconsistency continues.

 

...Throughout the NFL. Look at all the upsets today.

Front seven is now officially decimated.  Phil gone for the season.  Bryant gone for the season.  Rubin battling injury.  Mingo playing with one arm.  Hughes out.  Jabaal possibly hurt.  Dansby looking like he will miss some significant time.

 

I love Crowell, but I can see why the scouts were skeptical about his success in the NFL.  He has a lot of problems changing direction.  Does anybody else notice him waiving his arms to catch his balance whenever he does try to make a cut or stop himself from going out of bounds?  That said, I think they should stick with him as the primary back due to the way his downhill running style fits the zone blocking scheme.  Terrell Davis certainly did not have the best hips.

Front seven is now officially decimated.  Phil gone for the season.  Bryant gone for the season.  Rubin battling injury.  Mingo playing with one arm.  Hughes out.  Jabaal possibly hurt.  Dansby looking like he will miss some significant time.

 

 

I think they ought to bring in some of the players that didn't make the final cut in preseason. And they brought up Jaccobi McDaniel from the practice squad a couple weeks ago. I'm hoping he gets some playing time.

Browns have just released RB Ben Tate. That's what you get when you complain about your playing time.