Cleveland Browns vs. Philadelphia Eagles - Official Game Thread
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 4:02 PM EST
in 2008 Game Day Threads
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PrintCleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles, Dec 15, 2008 8:30 PM EST
| CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-9) | WEEK 15 | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-5-1) | |||
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VS. |  |
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| Date: | December 15, 2008 | Location: | Philadelphia, PA |
| Time: | 8:30 p.m. ET |
Stadium: | Lincoln Financial Field |
| TV: | ESPN (Local FOX) |
Favorite: | Eagles by 15.5 |
| Radio: | WMMS, 100.7 FM | Over/Under: | 40 |
| SBN Coverage: | Bleeding Green Nation | Announcers |
Mute |
The only excitement I can imagine coming out of this week's game is whenever Joshua Cribbs lines up at quarterback. This isn't about "parity" in the National Football League. Much like last week, we are clearly overmatched. Ken Dorsey doesn't have a strong enough of an arm or the mobility necessary to beat the Eagles' defense. Although our defense has tackled better recently, Brian Westbrook should be able to run all over us.
We're already out of it, and I can't even get into this game because I know full well that Romeo Crennel will not play guys like Beau Bell and Martin Rucker. In other words, there is virtually nothing positive we can get out of this game, even if we win. Sure, it'd be nice to increment our win column by one. At the same time, we could thank Crennel for decrementing the value of our future draft picks.
Let's start off this week's preview with the overall team statistics thus far...
OFFENSE
| Category | Browns | Eagles |
| Points Scored | 17.1 (28th) | 26.1 (6th) |
| Passing | 167.7 (29th) | 249.8 (5th) |
| Rushing | 100.1 (24th) | 104.9 (22nd) |
| Total Offense (yards) | 267.8 (29th) | 354.8 (7th) |
DEFENSE
| Category | Browns | Eagles |
| Points Scored | 21.2 (14th) | 20.2 (11th) |
| Passing | 210.8 (15th) | 187.4 (4th) |
| Rushing | 148.5 (28th) | 93.1 (6th) |
| Total Defense (yards) | 359.3 (26th) | 280.5 (3rd) |
| CLEVELAND BROWNS | Position | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES |
||
| Dorsey shouldn't be blamed for not executing -- he wasn't brought here to win games for us. |
QB |  |
Donovan McNabb threw for 376 yards and 4 TDs the last time he faced Cleveland (2004). |
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| Saying Jamal Lewis will "improve upon last week's performance" isn't saying much. |
RB | |
Brian Westbrook is utilized in many of the ways I envision Jerome Harrison being used. |
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| Braylon Edwards, Donte Stallworth, and Steve Heiden isn't a horrible starting combination. |
 |
WR | |
The Eagles have a decent group of young receivers, led by rookie DeSean Jackson. |
| The line is drained, but unfortunately we really don't have any young guys worth trying out. |
|
OL | |
While not as effective as the Titans' line, the Eagles still know how to get the job done. |
| Memo to Savage: we brought in Corey Williams to be effective -- not just to "be a healthy body". |
DL | |
Former fifth rounder Trent Cole is having another impressive season. Our first-round d-lineman don't even amount to anything. | |
| Please, please, can't we just try to move Kamerion Wimbley over to the other side for once? |
LB | |
The Eagles are ranked sixth in defending the run. |
|
| Our secondary played well again against the Titans -- can they bait McNabb into some picks? |
DB | |
Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard remain a core veteran duo the Browns are lacking. | |
| Cribbs for president. |
|
ST | |
The Eagles are fairly dynamic in the return game, thanks to DeSean Jackson on punts. |
FINAL PREDICTION: Philadelphia Eagles 27, Cleveland Browns 9.
The Browns' touchdown drought will continue, as the defense will again play tough early on but be worn down by our offense's inability to move the football. Also, if the Eagles' defense scores me 20 fantasy points today, I will somehow survive Buckeye Brad in the DBN Fantasy Football league!
This is the official gameday topic for the Cleveland Browns in Week 15 as battle the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!
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What a sad state of affairs. I respectfully disagree Chris, only Special Team are we even with the Eagles. There receivers of Baskett, Jackson, Brown and TE of LJ Smith are better than what the Browns have.
The Eagles “O” line just pushed the Giants around last week.
Can’t even get pumped for this game, wow.
Most likely 4 straight games without a TD.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
So, Chris, do you think your Eagles defense can get you the 19 points you need to catch me tonigh? If not, it will be me v. rufio for the championship.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
Eagles scored 20+ against the Steelers; why not against the Browns?
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 6:32 PM EST up reply actions
Gameday Inactives
Browns: TE Kellen Winslow, CB Travis Daniels, RB Jerome Harrison, S Hamza Abdullah, LB Kris Griffin, LB Beau Bell, OG Scott Young, and DL Santonio Thomas
…as expected…
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Petition for next year: All games on Monday night.
by DisplacedBuckeye on Dec 15, 2008 8:54 PM EST reply actions
Anyone have a link for this game? . . .
. . . so I can make sure to avoid it. :p
someday I’ll tell my children of the Ken Dorsey Era
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
I’d wait until they’re older; you don’t want to scare young kids.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 15, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions
…and we see why playing Dinkins over Rucker is the right decision…
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I’m pretty sure that was sarcasm.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 15, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions
Ha…most certainly :)
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by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 9:11 PM EST up reply actions
I was offended by this play. Not only are we playing Dinkins (a player who is probably worse overall than Rucker and will never be more than a ST player in this league) over a rookie, but we were playing him in A SHOTGUN FORMATION SPREAD OFFENSE!!!
The knock on Rucker is that he can’t block yet and he isn’t used to playing in-line. He is reportedly “ahead of the curve” when it comes to the passing game AND he came from a college where he had an ultra-productive career in the SPREAD OFFENSE.
Christ.
Nice shoulder dip by Kamerion Wimbley to hurry McNabb there. He made the left tackle pay for a rather half-hearted initial effort.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Can we have just one game where we actually send more than 3 guys after the QB. Lets try it just for the heck of it.
Also, WHY are Bell and Rucker inactive. Are they injured or is it a DNPCSDA* thing again?
*did not play Crenellelephant’s stupid decision again
Rucker is active; just stuck on special teams duties.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 9:15 PM EST up reply actions
Chris listed the inactives above.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 15, 2008 9:20 PM EST up reply actions
Third and long plays, opposing defenses are clearly going to show blitz. Dorsey even sees the blitz easily before the play, and you get the sense that he already knows the play call is doomed. Sure enough, no adjustments are made, as wide receivers are running deep down the field and no one is available on the hot route.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
hehe…nice…
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
That’s why starting quarterbacks always throw that pass high.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Indeed…I did jump a little after that one :D
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 9:37 PM EST up reply actions
On that interception, what was Dorsey thinking? He had Heiden and a CLEAN look of the whole middle of the field to throw it to. Instead, he throws it to a covered Stallworth?
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Sheesh…as if things aren’t bad enough, we get Jason Wright fielding the kickoff.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Who was it that wrote about how Fantasy Football has ruined football?
by DisplacedBuckeye on Dec 15, 2008 9:44 PM EST up reply actions
Not me.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 15, 2008 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
Ugh. You’re way too close, I’m getting scared.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 15, 2008 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
If we score more than six, I’ll lose a few points.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 9:47 PM EST up reply actions
If anyone but Dorsey was the QB, I’d be more confident.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 15, 2008 9:49 PM EST up reply actions
Let’s all flood Savage with emails in the second half, asking for Cribbs to be put in at QB.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Crennel says that coming out of the half, anything short of a touchdown is unacceptable.
Dude…we haven’t scored a frickin’ touchdown in weeks! And what do we do the first two plays? Two basic handoffs to Jamal Lewis for almost nothing.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
C.H.U.D. is back — weak runs up the middle on 1st and 2nd
by JulioBernazard on Dec 15, 2008 10:08 PM EST reply actions
Not good to see Heiden down. Will this force Crennel’s hand to put in Rucker?
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Yes! Another nice adjustment by Edwards. His best catching game of the season thus far.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Any chance Chud’s head rolls at the end of the year? I know he’s had injuries to contend with, but the offense has been awful all year.
by JulioBernazard on Dec 15, 2008 10:15 PM EST reply actions
I think there comes a point where if the defense doesn’t respect the pass or the run, they just come extra hard. Although Derek Anderson had a poor year, he could fire it strong down the field still.
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by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 10:20 PM EST up reply actions
Yet, firing it strong down the field doesn’t mean much if he can’t get it near the receiver or has no touch on the ball. Yes, Derek has a good arm and intermittent moments of glory, (watched him at OSU every game of his career) but if he or Brady or Dorsey have no time to look through potential receivers and make a decision about whom to toss the ball to, it doesn’t matter. It seems like the O line collapses quicker and has less success blocking the pass rush as last year. I realize these observations have been noted, but what’s the deal? Did Tucker have such an influence that his absence is noticed? Are Thomas and Steinbach complacent, or have given up? Are Hadnot and Shaffer overmatched? (well, yes, but stil). Did the O line coach vacate for the year? Anyway, love my Brownies. As we always say – can’t wait for next year.
Right, I agree. My point was that if you can at least get the ball down the field, the defense is a little more concerned with coverage than just flat out bull rushing the line and tipping all of the QB’s passes.
I do think Tucker had a major impact; planning on writing a piece about that after the season is over.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
It’s incredibly hard for anyone not on the team to judge offensive line play. What may appear to be one man’s fault could be another’s entirely. We have no idea who’s responsibility it is on a given play so it’s nearly impossible to judge.
Speed rushes kill Shaffer, though. That is just straight up, man on man domination.
Watch us finish with a worse record than the Bengals.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
I don’t even know what the tiebreaking procedure is in our fantasy league for playoff games.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
I was wondering that myself. Anyways, I’m off to bed — I have to be at the hospital at 6:30 for my surgery tomorrow. Hopefully the Browns don’t give Philly any more turnovers.
The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay
by Buckeye Brad on Dec 15, 2008 10:39 PM EST up reply actions
Fair enough. Four sacks will do.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
There’s another pick for Dorsey.
Vandelay Industries – 89
Pokorny Unleashed – 88
11 minutes to go.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Reference to Crennel, Chud, or both?
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
Well, some positive are
When Braylon isnt dropping any balls hes a F-ing stud…Shaun Rogers was worth the risk in taking him what a beast…. and the corners are ball hawks. You guys desperately need some pass rush
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
Most of all, we need a head coach who isn’t clueless.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 11:04 PM EST up reply actions
Oh my god…pissing me off AGAIN.
THEY THROW WITH CRIBBS WHEN WE ARE DOWN BY FOUR POSSESSIONS? IN THE RAIN?
So stupid.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Just one.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 11:05 PM EST up reply actions
Definitely. With the rain, I’m hoping for a sack/fumble recovery combo for a three point play.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 11:07 PM EST up reply actions
This game is really really really depressing me, though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
by BringBackKosar on Dec 15, 2008 11:04 PM EST reply actions
What the hell? Dammit, that counts against the Eagles’ defense in my fantasy league I think!
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Sweet play, but only Andy Reid would be throwing the ball in that situation. Although I guess he wants to give Kolb reps. Still… really?
Oh it’s not the running up the score thing, it’s much more the 2nd and five in your own territory thing. Either play the game to win or get the game over with so that no-one gets hurt.
But I can see Kevin Kolb reps I guess.
I guess I don’t follow that logic at all. Teams throw in their own territory all of the time. I see no reason why that should stop now.
2nd and 5 in your own territory is totally a running down. The Eagles would be better if they ran in that situation more often.
If the game is over, you might as well run out the clock. If you’re playing to win, you should usually run.
The real point of all this is that Andy Reid doesn’t run often enough.
You’re right…2nd and 5 in your own territory is a running down. We know that, they know that, and the defense knows that too.
What is more useful? Running into a defense expecting run and then punting, or moving the ball and picking up first downs?
Three players standing out today, one from each core position…
-Defensive Line – Shaun Rogers
-Linebacker – Willie McGinest
-Defensive Back – Brandon McDonald
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Vandelay Industries – 89
Pokorny Unleashed – 85
I had a pick six there…and the Eagles defender dropped it.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Sad state of affairs when that’s the only reason I’m still watching this ;)
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 11:22 PM EST up reply actions
Only a pick six or a fumble back for a touchdown will save me now, with under two minutes left to play.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 11:26 PM EST up reply actions
Another piss-pour game in the Crennel column.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
If I’m CBS, I don’t even send my Z-announcers to the game.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 11:33 PM EST up reply actions
Post game, I see Gradkowski saying something to McNabb. McNabb seems to mouth, “I know”. Hmmm…I wonder what Gradkowski said?
Gradkowski: “Man, the coach over here blows.”
McNabb: “I know!”
Feel free to use some creativity…
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Grad: Punting? From the frickin’ 35?!?!
McN: I know.
by JulioBernazard on Dec 15, 2008 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
When FOX 8 won the bidding rights to three Browns MNF games, I’m sure this isn’t the type of crap-play they expected.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
How about some more fun stuff from this game…
-McDonald the first player in history to have an interception in 3 Monday Night games in one season
-Edwards the third player in history to have over 100 yards receiving in 3 Monday Night games in one season
-The Browns picked off 3 different quarterbacks in this game.
-The Browns gave up 3 field goals to David Akers.
-The Browns allowed DeSean Jackson to have 3 punt returns for a total of 3 yards.
And, Cleveland State hits a miracle 3 to upset Syracuse in NCAAB at the buzzer.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
Calling DeSean Jackson a quarterback is a bit of a stretch. Passer might have been more appropriate (Did he really line up under center? Hasn’t the Wild Cat jumped the shark like a month ago?)
I know; just finding a way to mend the statistics to the No. 3 theme of that particular post. 3 different “passers” or “players” would’ve been more politically correct, I suppose.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 11:56 PM EST up reply actions
I could watch the CSU highlight all day.
by DisplacedBuckeye on Dec 15, 2008 11:56 PM EST up reply actions
That was the only good thing about taping the Browns game; I’ve been able to re-watch that highlight over and over already.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
by Chris Pokorny on Dec 15, 2008 11:58 PM EST up reply actions
One more thing before I sign off for the night — just heard a Romeo sound byte about how he thought we played pretty good.
That is all.
Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.
you are F’ing kidding me. I mean, McDonald had some highlights, but the secondary’s zone was soft, there was no pressure on McNabb, Dorsey looked like a high schooler out there, Lewis looked 49 years old, the playcalling looked like they mailed the game in, we didn’t threaten to score a TD after the first drive and were only in FG range one other time, only to punt. Crennell needs to be fired now. Now. NOW.
by Ryan Kelsey on Dec 16, 2008 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
I wasted an evening watching this debacle. Can’t blame anyone but myself for that, but I’m pretty sure that the Browns would get better leadership out of a sack of potatoes than Crennell at this point.
At least when we get embarrassed, we can say, “What are you gonna do? Our coach is a sack of vegetables.”
Bill Cowher = victory
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