^ So you didn't have any heart attacks like I did, Map Boy? ;)

 

How about some predictions for the Browns/Steelers this weekend?  I start them off and say that the Brownies will win 31-28, and I'm predicting that we all have a couple more heart attacks!

My prediction:  If we force 3 turnovers, we win.  Less than that, we lose.

 

I don't think this uber conservative defense is going to work against the Steelers.  We can't count on hanging 35 on them.

 

Final Score (if we blitz): Cleveland 17, Pittsburgh 14

Final Score (if we don't): Cleveland 10, Pittsburgh 38

[youtube=425,350]RrfF7L42Reg

 

I think this says it all..

Pittsburgh's KDKA did a segment on Pittsburgh Browns Backers

 

http://kdka.com/video/[email protected]

^^ Here's the article

 

-------------------------------------------------

 

PITTSBURGH -- Uh oh, Steelers fans. Can it be? A Cleveland Browns bar in Pittsburgh? Well, Peter's Pub in Oakland is not a Browns bar, according to the owner, but that doesn't stop dozens of Cleveland fans from gathering there every week. The group calls itself the "PBB," or Pittsburgh Browns Backers.

 

http://kdka.com/video/[email protected]

^ BUT, there are unfortunately more Steelers fans in Northeast Ohio than there are Browns fans in Pittsburgh.

very true lol! in the same breadth there are also more browns backers club fans all over the country than any other team fanclubs.

 

also, more stiller fans in cleve than vice versa only means that the cities are close together and that of the two cleveland is the more appealing place to live. heh. ok, i suppose we do have to account for fair weather frontrunner fans too.

When I was living in Wooster, I met a few Northeast Ohio natives that said they became Steeler fans when Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore.  I guess these people don't feel like the new Browns are "authentic"... and the Browns' pitiful performance since 1999 probably hasn't helped either.  Also, the Steelers' 4 Super Bowls in the 70s and more recent success has forged a strong national fanbase.  The Browns unfortunately haven't had much success.

 

I'm actually happy to see the Browns doing well this year... Cleveland is a real football town that deserves something to root for...good luck.. this should be a good game.

When I was living in Wooster, I met a few Northeast Ohio natives that said they became Steeler fans when Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore.  I guess these people don't feel like the new Browns are "authentic"... and the Browns' pitiful performance since 1999 probably hasn't helped either.  Also, the Steelers' 4 Super Bowls in the 70s and more recent success has forged a strong national fanbase.   The Browns unfortunately haven't had much success.

 

 

If there's one thing I've learned while traveling across the land, the browns have one of the best national fanbases around. The amount and volume of browns backer chapters across the world is truly impressive. Maybe the steelers have one, but the browns literally have a website dedicated to the local chapters so you can find one anywhere in the world.

The Browns unfortunately haven't had much success.

 

Not in the last 30 years or so at least. Their historical records (original Browns) are pretty solid though. Before the championship was renamed the Super Bowl (1970) the Browns held 4 AAFC titles and 4 NFL championships. They are/were the winningest team in the NFL (not sure if this still stands).

 

I agree that Art Modell's move converted a lot of Browns fans. I come from a broken home, the guys are Browns fans and the ladies are Steelers fans. My dad, a long time Browns fan, started following the Steelers after the move. He claims to like both teams now, although I would love to be a fly on the wall today to hear his infamous yelling at the TV to see if that is really true.

^ good story -- i am sure the politics of the new browns have left a lot of old fans cold and that is a shame.

 

however, i figured the majority of turncoat fans would be most likely to root for the bills. after all that is the team (and the whole city of buffalo) that stood staunchly by our side all during the modell debacle.

 

although everybody around the league was shocked and po'd at modell (well, probably everybody except owners davis & irsay) -- it is particularly the bills fan reactions at that time that i will never forget and always appreciate.

 

that's because the bills owner is from detroit (and born in cbus), he understands what football means to the region

^ good story -- i am sure the politics of the new browns have left a lot of old fans cold and that is a shame.

 

however, i figured the majority of turncoat fans would be most likely to root for the bills. after all that is the team (and the whole city of buffalo) that stood staunchly by our side all during the modell debacle.

 

although everybody around the league was shocked and po'd at modell (well, probably everybody except owners davis & irsay) -- it is particularly the bills fan reactions at that time that i will never forget and always appreciate.

 

 

uhhh... the Steelers stood with the Browns as well.  Dan Rooney was one of only two NFL owners that voted against the Baltimore move.  Pittsburgh also had a pro-Browns rally before the team moved.

The Browns look amazing today :(

 

Thought you guys might find this map interesting:

 

That was the most thrilling game I've seen all year.  The Browns have earned a measure of respect in failure that few teams garner in victory. 

Browns Backers invaded Pittsburgh today!

 

http://kdka.com/video/[email protected]

Today's game was one of those where it seems that Romeo said to the team at half time, "We're winning, so keep doing what we're doing."  I think that teams around the league know the Browns' reluctance to make adjustments at the half when they're ahead, and that hurts us.

 

I'm excited that we gave Pitt a run for their money, and I think that positive growth is very visible in perspective.  I really believe that the Browns will be a serious contender in 2008, their 10th season back in the league.

They're a serious contender this year.  They had their foot on Pittburgh's throat and couldn't crush them.  The defense played well but tired, you can tell their lack of depth really hurts them.  This soft pass coverage is so annoying, it's as if they are conceding the 10 yard pass play.  After the Baltimore game, their schedule is a joke so they should be able to mop the floor with the likes of the Jets, 49ers, etc.

It's just too bad that there are two halves in a game.  We can't blame the loss on the defense entirely, either.  The offense couldn't put anything together in the second half.  I think the problems was that this was a "big game" for a team that because of it's lack of success isn't used to them.  That may have caused them to psyche themselves out in the second half, getting excited and sloppy.  That and the weather seemed to mess up our passing game.

Moral victories are for losers. We had the Steelers down. No killer instinct yet.

 

But I didn't expect us to win this game, and I don't expect to win next week either. Like ks5214 said, after B-more, it's a very soft schedule. Still, we had the Steelers down on their own field....

Was I alone in screaming at my TV during the blatant holding penalties on Worthlessburger's TD run and the crucial 3rd and 17?  Their right tackle basically tackled Peek from behind.

...    The offense couldn't put anything together in the second half.  I think the problems was that this was a "big game" for a team that because of it's lack of success isn't used to them.  That may have caused them to psyche themselves out in the second half, getting excited and sloppy.  That and the weather seemed to mess up our passing game.

The Browns went from a "three brilliant receivers first half" to a "rainy,  sloppy second half".  I would have thought that they could have protected their lead by just running the ball and running down the clock, but apparently the Browns need the passing game to set up the running game.

 

And yes, Brewmaster,  the holding calls were bad.

 

 

^ good story -- i am sure the politics of the new browns have left a lot of old fans cold and that is a shame.

 

however, i figured the majority of turncoat fans would be most likely to root for the bills. after all that is the team (and the whole city of buffalo) that stood staunchly by our side all during the modell debacle.

 

although everybody around the league was shocked and po'd at modell (well, probably everybody except owners davis & irsay) -- it is particularly the bills fan reactions at that time that i will never forget and always appreciate.

 

 

uhhh... the Steelers stood with the Browns as well.  Dan Rooney was one of only two NFL owners that voted against the Baltimore move.  Pittsburgh also had a pro-Browns rally before the team moved.

 

uhhh, you don't get it do you?  :wink:

 

that's because the bills owner is from detroit (and born in cbus), he understands what football means to the region

 

much more because of the buffalo fans than any ownership.

 

 

I was screaming about those missed calls too.  Not just on that play either.  And then they call a questionable one on the punt return that cost us 29 yards (and the game)?  Nice time to get your whistles out of your a$$es jerks!  Still there are plenty of other things that we can't blame on the refs... blowing 2 timeouts on that challenge?  Poor short passes from DA all second half? 

 

Does anyone else think we need to get Cribbs more involved in the offense?  The guy's a big time playmaker who can pass, run, and create all sorts of havoc!

yeah, did da have a 3rd qtr completion? i saw lots of bad passes at that point. it was hard because you could see the d tire and the tide turning. ugh.

 

oh well, onward to next week, if they can't take advantage of the remaining schedule there are no excuses.

 

i cant complain, i predicted a .500 season and they do seem better and more exciting than that.

that's because the bills owner is from detroit (and born in cbus), he understands what football means to the region

 

much more because of the buffalo fans than any ownership.

 

oh, you know the wilson family personally?

that's because the bills owner is from detroit (and born in cbus), he understands what football means to the region

 

much more because of the buffalo fans than any ownership.

 

oh, you know the wilson family personally?

 

no, i know the fans.

 

Haven't seen this posted anywhere on the internet but heard it on ESPN radio.  With Seth McKinney out for the year with a shoulder injury, the Browns claimed center Greg Eslinger off the Denver Broncos practice squad.  Eslinger was a 6th round pick in the 2006 NFL draft, he played his college ball at Minnesota and won both the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and Dave Rimington Trophy (best center) in 2005.  He did not play during his rookie season as he was placed on IR.

Good thing that we have Tucker around.

Either something is wrong with this Eslinger cat because he was a hell of a college player, hopefully he can be the center of the future because I don't have any faith in Bentley ever being productive again.

Unbelievable finish to today's game!  The wackiest stuff happens to Cleveland!

 

Browns are 6-4 and are in the hunt for the wildcard!

Cleveland 33, Baltimore 30, OT

By David Ginsburg, AP Sports Writer

November 18, 2007

 

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Baltimore Ravens ran off the field, celebrating a comeback victory.  While their fans gleefully headed toward the exits, many of the Cleveland Browns shrugged on their way toward the tunnel.  No one could have imagined that Cleveland would end up winning 33-30 in overtime Sunday.  Phil Dawson's potential game-tying 51-yard field goal seemingly hit the upright, then tapped the crossbar before bouncing back onto the field.

 

As the stadium emptied at the end of regulation and the Ravens pumped their fists in the air, several of the Browns insisted that Dawson's kick hit the curved center support behind the crossbar.  Many of the players gathered in the end zone, pointing at the spot where the football struck before bouncing back.  It turns out they were right.  The officials ruled the kick went through the uprights and called the teams back onto the field.

 

More at http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20071118033

well it didn't turn out to be that way, but why did the booth initially say the kick can't be reviewed?

WOW!

 

It can't be reviewed, they were reviewing the rule essentially.  If you remember, the review equipment was broken in the 4th quarter also.

So it hit the crossbar which is considered the ground? so the Kick was good?

 

Question. In basketball when someone dunks and the ball comes out isn't that not counted as a goal?

The goal post is like the goal line, it's a plain.. if it crosses the plain yet comes back out, it's still a TD/FG.

I've been watching football for around 25 years.  My father's been watching football for about 50 years.  And neither one of us has ever seen this happen on a field goal before!

 

This is why you watch sports.  You never know what's gonna happen.  (Go Browns)

A bizarre ending that, for once, went our way -- and it was absolutely the right call... But before we get carried away in the thrill of this storybook ending that will be discussed for decades, consider: it should have never come to this... Once again, we were nearly victimized by our lousy D.  Just like in the '85 Dolphins big comeback (from a 21-3 deficit) win, the 2 Denver drives that denied Bernie a taste of a Super Bowl (we celebrate that D as the rough-tough Dawgs, don't we?)... and then there are the "New Browns" collapses, like the playoff loss to the Steelers and then last week...

 

And mind you, today our D was torched by Kyle stinkin' Boller, not Peyton Manning; not Tom Brady; not Dan Marino ... I'm glad we won, but you can just sense our lousy D is, once again, poised to rip our hearts out.  Poor Defense is as much a part of Browns lore as Jim Brown, Paul Warfield and Lou "the toe" Groza.

As reported on NBC's "Football Night in America" with Keith Olbermann:

 

The two officials under the uprights called it as "no score".  Then one of the officials put on the headset to talk to the replay official up on the video tubes.  The replay official told him that NFL rules say that video cannot be used to review a play*.  And then the replay official said, "you know there is a good chance that I could recommend to you a good restaurant where you could have a good meal."

 

So, all the officials conferred again.  When they came out of their huddle, the officials said that the back judge had joined the discussion and made a strong case that he had seen the ball hit the stanchion and then bounce back onto the field. 

 

"That's our story and we're sticking with it"

 

*The reason for the "no replay on field goals rule" is for those occasions when the ball goes over one of the uprights and the officials don't get a good view looking up into the sky.  The NFL does not want endless deliberations over these kicks.  And, talking about "The Drive", I can remember seeing replay video from the Broncos' famous drive where they tied the game with a field goal and they won the game with a field goal: the final kick looked like it was no good.  :sigh:  (I think that was how the scoring sequence went.)

A bizarre ending that, for once, went our way -- and it was absolutely the right call... But before we get carried away in the thrill of this storybook ending that will be discussed for decades, consider: it should have never come to this... Once again, we were nearly victimized by our lousy D.  Just like in the '85 Dolphins big comeback (from a 21-3 deficit) win, the 2 Denver drives that denied Bernie a taste of a Super Bowl (we celebrate that D as the rough-tough Dawgs, don't we?)... and then there are the "New Browns" collapses, like the playoff loss to the Steelers and then last week...

 

And mind you, today our D was torched by Kyle stinkin' Boller, not Peyton Manning; not Tom Brady; not Dan Marino ... I'm glad we won, but you can just sense our lousy D is, once again, poised to rip our hearts out.  Poor Defense is as much a part of Browns lore as Jim Brown, Paul Warfield and Lou "the toe" Groza.

 

I wouldn't use the word "torched" and "Kyle Boller" together, MaGahee did more damage than anyone else.

 

The biggest flaw was not the defense and their play, they played great in the first half with lots of pressure from the D-line alone.  The failure was the failure to make adjustments at halftime, which is an ever present problem with this team..

How bout' them Brownies?!?!

Great game!  Anderson, Lewis, and Winslow were all phenomenal.

Anderson played well, but I'm not ready to put him next to Marino or Montana yet.. he throws a good deep ball, and puts any pass that he has to fire in there on the money, but his touch passes leave something to be desired.

How bout' them Brownies?!?!

 

We talk more about the Browns during the offseason than we do when they're playing and winning!

 

Go Browns!

Nobody wants to jinx it.

I found tickets are still availablefor the Bills game in sec. 543 row 30 in the NW corner.  You can see halfway to Erie, PA from there.

I agree that Winslow and Lewis had fantastic games.  DA was spotty... when he was on, he was phenomenal.  When he wasn't, he missed some simple passes.  Braylon was again hot and cold.  The biggest surprise and the deserved recipient of the game ball was Brandon McDonald.  The rookie really stepped it up for the game and could've been the difference in the game.  It's hard not to think about winning out our last 5 games, but I keep telling people that I'll be disappointed if we don't!

The Subway commercial with Brady Quinn is airing nationally. It was on CBS this past Sunday.