Game: Seattle Seahawks (4-3) vs. Cleveland Browns (4-3)
Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium  (Cleveland, OH)
When: 4:05 PM EST
Announcers: Sam Rosen/Tim Ryan (FOX)

I just had to do it: instead of showing a Browns or Seahawks player in the headlining image, why not display Tom Brady and Peyton Manning? Until this morning, I thought that was the only game being played this week. After taking four years to build another two-game winning streak, Romeo Crennel will try to make it three in a row today against the NFC West's division-leading Seattle Seahawks. Match-up wise, this game would've been considered an automatic loss prior to the season starting. Now, it's the Browns who enter the game as the favorites to win due to the consistent offensive production that has been displayed. I know I say that we need every game, but we really do need this game. I don't see the Baltimore Ravens winning this week, and that means that next week's showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers could very well determine the AFC North Champions come the end of the season. One step at a time though, let's get to the breakdown of this week's game...

OFFENSE

Category	Seahawks	Browns
Points Scored	19.5 (16th)	27.7 (4th)
Passing	232.3 (12th)	238.9 (9th)
Rushing	92.6 (22nd)	117.6 (14th)
Total Offense (yards)	324.9 (16th)	356.4 (6th)

DEFENSE

Category	Seahawks	Browns
Points Scored	15.4 (3rd)	29.0 (30th)
Passing	212.7 (16th)	270.7 (31st)
Rushing	107.4 (13th)	139.4 (29th)
Total Defense (yards)	320.1 (13th)	410.1 (32nd)

	Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck may have more experience, but Derek Anderson is the hottest quarterback in the league aside from Tom Brady right now, particularly at home. Hasselbeck has not done very well on the road this season, where he's thrown two touchdowns and three interceptions in three games. That included a game in which the Seahawks were blown out 21-0 by the Steelers. Anderson faces the toughest defense he'll have seen since opening day in all likelihood, but the receivers haven't shown signs of being dominated by anybody. Hasselbeck will probably be without Deion Branch as well, limiting another potential weapon.
	Running Back The Seahawks are averaging less than 100 yards a game this season, as Shaun Alexander hasn't been able to get his motor going strong on the road or at home. Part of the problem has been the offensive line, but I'd imagine that all of the "minor" injuries for him over the past couple of years have simply added up to a negative result. The Browns have started to work in an effective three-man rotation: Jamal Lewis gets most of the carries, Jason Wright spells him regularly, and Jerome Harrison comes in for a series or two in the second half to change the pace on the ground.
	Receiver Braylon Edwards is playing up to a Pro Bowl level, while Kellen Winslow and Joe Jurevicius have been just as effective in their own ways: Winslow with mismatch problems over the middle and Jurevicius with a league-best third-down target and catch ratio. The Seahawks have had a fair three-man rotation at receiver between Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, and Bobby Engram, but none of them have really been the "identity" of the offense. Branch probably won't play due to injury, but the team has been salivating over the fact that they are getting D.J. Hackett back. With the Browns settled and the Seahawks seeing change, Cleveland earns the receiving advantage.
	Offensive Line Hasselbeck hasn't fared too well without the great Steve Hutchinson at guard, but Walter Jones remains the best left tackle in the NFL. Fortunately for the Browns, we also have a top-tier left tackle in rookie Joe Thomas, who will have his hands full versus some effective Seahawks' pass rushers. When it comes down to the running game, the Seahawks used to dominate the line of scrimmage, which was the reason Alexander was a touchdown machine two years ago. Now he's only averaging 3.4 yards-per-carry, and even Mike Holmgren has attributed some of that blame to the line rather than Alexander.
	Defensive Line The defensive side of the ball is where the Browns are clearly overmatched against Seattle in comparison. The Browns only have one sack from a defensive lineman all season, and that came last week. The Seahawks have 3.5 sacks from Patrick Kerney, 5.5 sacks from Darryl Tapp, 2.5 sacks for Rocky Bernard, and 1 sack for Brandon Mebane. Keep in mind that this is only what their defensive line is doing, and does not include the linebackers' production. Part of Seattle's strength has come down near the red zone area, where they've kept the running game in check.
	Linebacker Speaking of another overwhelming defensive position in comparison, Julian Peterson and Lofa Tatupu have been a tremendous duo for a Seahawks defense that is only allowing about 13 points per game. Peterson has registered seven sacks this season, while Tatupa leads the team in tackles. Meanwhile, I think the Browns have gotten better at linebacker slightly due to Willie McGinest's leadership on the field, but I can't say I'm too thrilled with D'Qwell Jackson being out with an ankle injury. Jackson had been playing fairly well, and this means that Andra Davis will see more playing time again.
	Secondary Leigh Bodden was torched last week by Torry Holy, but came away with a game-winning interception. The Seahawks won't be foolish; they'll test our secondary often, especially with a deep-ball threat like Hackett returning to action. It'll be critical for Bodden to receive some help early on in recognition of this, because although his coverage has been pretty tight, teams are still attacking his side of the field often. Seattle's more equipped in their arsenal with veteran Marcus Trufant at corner and former Cleveland Brown Brian Russell at safety. Boy, do I miss Russell or what?
	Special Teams Phil Dawson has been accurate this season, but so has Seattle's Josh Brown, who has connected on 13 of his 14 attempts. Seattle has started using Nate Burleson on kick and punt returns, and it has turned out well for them. Burleson is averaging over ten yards a pop on punt returns and already has a 91 yard kick return this year. Of course Joshua Cribbs still gives us all of the faith in the world, but you still can't automatically discredit what the Seahawks have to offer.

FINAL PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 27, Seattle Seahawks 23.
Who would have thought that at the mid-way point of the season, these offenses would be heading in opposite directions. Matt Hasselbeck has been in dire need of a big-play receiver, but Deion Branch's chances of seeing the field against the Browns don't look very good. Shaun Alexander has been criticized and booed by his fans for turning in career lows week after week. Something in Seattle's offense needs to click, and they'll hope that's the case against a Browns defense that still struggles all around and lost their leading tackler, D'Qwell Jackson, to an ankle injury. It's easier said than done against the Browns though, because they can strike at any time.

It almost is beginning to seem impossible for Derek Anderson to not hook up with Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow for at least a pair of touchdowns per game. The Browns' offense has been lights out at home, and even executed their gameplan to perfection on the road last week to improve to 4-3, building their first two-game winning streak in years. Anderson's thrown six touchdowns to zero interceptions over his past two games, and has played fairly well overall against any type of defense he's had to face. The Seahawks definitely has higher expectations heading into the season, but without the assistance of their home crowd, the Browns, who are actually favored in this game, should come away with the win.

This is the official gameday topic for the eighth game of the regular season, featuring the Cleveland Browns against the Seattle Seahawks. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

  Game: Cleveland Browns (3-3) vs. St. Louis Rams (0-7)
Where: Edward Jones Dome (St. Louis, MO)
When: 1:00 PM EST
Announcers: Don Criqui/Steve Beuerlein (CBS)

If you told the Browns prior to the season that they'd be facing the winless Dolphins, a bye week, and the winless Rams over a three game stretch, they'd probably think you were crazy. Fortunately, that's the way the schedule was made for what appears to be the most competitive Browns team since Butch Davis' lone playoff season back in 2001. Things were somewhat cloudy with the Browns' running back situation, but Jamal Lewis' foot is now good to go after a three-week break. On the other side of the field, the Rams are finally getting Steven Jackson back, as he looks to turn back the clock to last season and perform like one of the best running back in football. An upset loss to the Rams would kill us here, but the Rams are the type of team where nobody expects them to go winless for much longer. Let's hope they don't start clicking until next week...

OFFENSE

Category	Browns	Rams
Points Scored	27.3 (7th)	11.2 (32nd)
Passing	239.3 (8th)	192.0 (24th)
Rushing	115.2 (14th)	82.6 (28th)
Total Offense (yards)	354.5 (7th)	274.6 (30th)

DEFENSE

Category	Browns	Rams
Points Scored	30.5 (30th)	27.4 (27th)
Passing	263.5 (29th)	201.1 (10th)
Rushing	149.5 (30th)	129.6 (24th)
Total Defense (yards)	413.0 (32nd)	330.7 (18th)

	Quarterback After heading into the season with a sizable contract extension, it seems unusual that Marc Bulger has played in the worst offense in the NFL. Bulger missed three games due to injury, and he played poorly in his return game last week against the Seattle Seahawks. Many of his struggles have come from a lingering injury, but most of it has been due to getting knocked down as soon as the ball is snapped to him. Derek Anderson's key will be to lead Cleveland's offense to some scores in the first half, something he failed to do against the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots on the road.
	Running Back It's been confirmed that both teams will see the return of their starting running backs. Steven Jackson has only participated in three games this season, but in those contests, he wasn't the same player as year's past. He only averaged 3.4 yards a pop and was prone to fumbling the ball. With that said, having him back should be an upgrade over rookie Brian Leonard at the very least. On the Browns' side of the line, I question whether or not Lewis was actually limited, or if Romeo Crennel simply used the phrasing of the injury reports to his advantage. Jerome Harrison has earned his stripes: he is active today against the Rams (as is Jason Wright).
	Receiver Just as they are getting Steven Jackson back, the Rams will also see the return of veteran Isaac Bruce and Dane Looker to compliment veteran standout Torry Holt. Holt and Bruce were an intimidating duo several years ago, and while they still remain a threat, no one talks about them being involved in "the best show on turf" anymore. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow will be ready to play, but I'm a little concerned about them playing on turf. Injuries seem to haunt the Browns in domes, and I'd really hate to see Winslow's knee get any worse with a rough fall. Joe Jurevicius will start as well, as he will be fully recovered from his injury.
	Offensive Line The Rams have a joke of an offensive line right now due to injuries or idiotic personal decisions, and it all started with Orlando Pace going down early in the year. The Rams can't pass block at all for the Rams' quarterbacks, but they've done an ok job keeping the running game a threat if the team doesn't fall behind early. The Browns' offensive line has been healthy every week of the regular season, and after having the bye week to relax, I'd expect them to be even stronger than before. Joe Thomas has been solid on the left side of the line, and if there were any minor errors in the first six games, hopefully they were patched up over the past two weeks.
	Defensive Line The Rams took another hit on the other side of the line with defensive end Leonard Little being officially ruled out this week. Much like the Browns' defensive line, the Rams' defensive line hasn't been anything special. One person I'll have my eye on is first-round draft choice Adam Carriker, who has made a minimal impact this season with the Rams. The Browns do not have Ted Washington active for today's game, and Orpheus Roye should be healthier than he's been all season. That should finally allow Shaun Smith to receive a significant amount of reps inside, and I'd be interested to see if he possibly starts over Ethan Kelley today.
	Linebacker This is similar to the defensive line in the sense that neither unit has really made a "big" difference for the defensive side of the ball. With how porous the Rams' offensive line has been though, I'm looking forward to one strategy that I don't think Todd Grantham will call: rush Kamerion Wimbley from the edge, and have Antwan Peek lined up at middle linebacker to blitz through the gap while Willie McGinest is anchoring the other side of the line. Wishful thinking perhaps. Will Witherspoon has been a pretty good veteran linebacker over on the Rams line, and overall the sack total has been "ok" for St. Louis.
	Secondary I haven't been fond of the Browns' safeties this year, and I'll have to see the play of Sean Jones' improve before I actually believe it. Leigh Bodden and Eric Wright have started coming together better, but the Rams' pass defense is ranked 10th in the league this season. Oshiomogho Atogwe and Corey Chavous have more overall experience at the safety position than the Browns do, while Ron Bartell and Fakhir Brown have held their own at the cornerback positions. Maybe I'm only throwing a bone to the Rams here so their logo can at least be shown once.
	Special Teams At first, I could've considered Dante Hall a threat on the Rams' return team. Guess what though? He is not going to play this week due to injury, after he had been the Rams' best threat of scoring this year. Meanwhile, Jeff Wilkins has only connected on 66% of his kicks this season. I want to see if Dave Zastudil punts the ball like he's capable of without any weather elements involved. If he shanks a few, then we'll know his injury is still playing a factor. The Rams' coverage team gave up a kick return to Nate Burleson last week - look out for some great returns from Joshua Cribbs today.

FINAL PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 31, St. Louis Rams 21.
Quite a few people are projecting this to be the Rams' first win of the season, but don't expect me to fall into that crowd. I picked the Rams last week to upset the Seahawks, only to see Marc Bulger not have a single productive play in a 33-6 stomping. St. Louis will get Steven Jackson back this week, and even though the Browns' defensive line is rather weak, the Rams' offensive line supercedes that. The Browns' offense hasn't shown any signs of slowing down with Derek Anderson at quarterback, but they've gotten off to slow starts on the road. Getting off to a productive start in the first quarter will guarantee victory (sorry Randy McMichael) for the Browns. Don't forget also - the Browns are trying to build a two-game winning streak for the first time in ages as well.

This is the official gameday topic for the seventh game of the regular season, featuring the Cleveland Browns against the St. Louis Rams. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

  Game: Miami Dolphins (0-5) vs. Cleveland Browns (2-3)
Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium (Cleveland, OH)
When: 1:00 PM EST
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Soloman Wilcots (YES!)

Heading into the bye week, the Browns are facing one of the worst teams in football at home. Anything other than a win would be unacceptable to the tenth power against a Dolphins team that has been just as bad defensively as the Browns, and are without starting quarterback Trent Green indefinitely. Throughout the week, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter has tried to fuel something -- what exactly I'm not sure -- with Kellen Winslow. Porter seems to think that a little run-in with Winslow back in his Steeler days should carry over to this week's game Fortunately, rather than providing bulletin board material for the Dolphins to thrive off of, it seems to be that Porter doesn't have too many followers in Miami. When the Browns walk all over him today, there's no need to make a big deal about a guy who has only made the Dolphins defense worse than years past. Let's get to the breakdown of this week's game...

OFFENSE

Category	Dolphins	Browns
Points Scored	19.4 (18th)	25.2 (7th)
Passing	215.4 (17th)	238.4 (9th)
Rushing	103.4 (19th)	110.2 (16th)
Total Offense (yards)	318.8 (19th)	348.6 (8th)

DEFENSE

Category	Dolphins	Browns
Points Scored	28.2 (28th)	30.4 (30th)
Passing	171.6 (3rd)	267.0 (31st)
Rushing	174.2 (31st)	157.4 (30th)
Total Defense (yards)	345.8 (24th)	424.4 (32nd)

	Quarterback After a scary concussion for Trent Green last week, the Dolphins are forced to start six-year veteran backup quarterback Cleo Lemon today. If Lemon struggles early on, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw John Beck, the quarterback Miami chose to draft instead of Brady Quinn back in April. Derek Anderson's numbers at home are tremendous, with over a 100 quarterback rating and significantly more touchdowns than interceptions. And, for once, we can actually claim that Anderson has more on-the-field experience during live games than the opposing quarterback does. You can't like Lemon's chances without many proven receivers.
	Running Back Ronnie Brown is on pace to have a career year for the Dolphins, as he is averaging 5.1 yards a carry. If the Dolphins weren't forced to throw the ball so many times after being behind early in games, Brown's numbers would only grow. As much of a threat as he is on the ground, he is equally a threat in the receiving game. He is tied for the team lead in receptions with 25 catches. For the Browns, running back Jamal Lewis has been ruled out after his foot injury last week. Wright has shown he can step in and fill the gap well enough for a week's time, but not having Lewis prevents us from wearing down the defense physically.
	Receiver I think it's a complete joke that Ted Ginn Jr, the Dolphins' first-round draft choice, only has two catches this season. The team has taken way too long to involve him in the offense, although there's a chance that he could see more action against the Browns this week. Chris Chambers has yet to develop into a big-game receiver due to constant mediocre quarterback situations. The Browns should have Joe Jurevicius ready to return to action, but even if they don't, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow are consistently averaging solid numbers against every defense they match up against.
	Offensive Line The Browns get to say "hello" to L.J. Shelton this week, who is playing right tackle for the Dolphins this year. Miami's offensive line has been a problem in the past, much like the Browns', but they improved enough to only allow Green to be sacked seven times in five starts while providing blocking lanes for Ronnie Brown. The Browns' offensive line gave up two sacks last week against a tough Patriots defense, although I blame the coaching staff partially for that for inserting Ryan Tucker into the second quarter of the game.
	Defensive Line Although I still feel the Browns have the worst defensive line in football, I was actually considering marking this as an "even" category. Jason Taylor is getting older along with other members of Miami's defense, but he's still better than anyone on the Browns' defensive line. Miami is just as ineffective at stopping the run as the Browns are, but they have been able to get a little more pressure than the Browns have. I'm very curious to see if Louis Leonard gets any surprise playing time this week, but I'd expect him to be inactive. Ted Washington will probably be active again, but any moves we make on our line don't seem to make a difference.
	Linebacker Joey Porter, take a seat courtesy of Kellen Winslow again. This guy really has no credibility in my mind because he doesn't talk trash to be competitive, he does it because he's a born asshole. Porter hasn't even made much of an impact this year for the Dolphins' defense, which is why Cam Cameron had to be happy to see Zach Thomas return to the lineup last week. The Texans weren't able to run the ball as effectively as they had envisioned with their backup running back (sound familiar this week?). This week, we need to see an emergence from Kamerion Wimbley. Cleo Lemon isn't used to evading pressure, which could force him into traps set by the Browns' defense.
	Secondary Miami's secondary is ranked third in the league, but this is a case where it's not really a fair statement. It's similar to when the Browns were merely an average team in the secondary, only because teams would be wise and pound the football on the ground over and over. Neither team has made a mark with interceptions, as Miami and Cleveland have three picks a piece. If you're looking for another Cleveland Brown in this game, you should find the name "Michael Lehan" familiar, as he is the Dolphins' nickel/dime back. Gary Baxter won't return this week, meaning we'll have to wait until after the bye for another update on him.
	Special Teams Phil Dawson could be a key contributor in this game at home (call it a hunch). With Scott Player being waived during the week, Dave Zastudil is ready to return to action. The Browns will have to be weary not to allow Ted Ginn Jr. to break a big play on special teams. Ginn hasn't had a "huge" return this season yet, but coming back home may fire him and his teammates up for a big play. Since Joshua Cribbs has provided actual results through the first five games though, it's safe to say that special teams continues to roll in the Browns' favor this week.

FINAL PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 31, Miami Dolphins 17.
As soon as the Dolphins start getting some help back defensively, the offense takes a step back with the concussion suffered by Trent Green. Cleo Lemon will get the start this week against a Browns secondary that has individually been playing better as of late. The biggest match-up the Dolphins will try and exploit will be the Browns' run defense with Ronnie Brown, who is among the league leaders on the ground. The Browns will be without Jamal Lewis, but besides being able to run on the ground, Derek Anderson has the playmakers to beat Miami through the air.

This is the official gameday topic for the sixth game of the regular season, featuring the Cleveland Browns against the Miami Dolphins. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

  Game: Cleveland Browns (2-2) vs. New England Patriots (4-0)
Where: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)
When: 1:00 PM EST
Announcers: Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf

It's impossible, right? Bill Belichick is the mastermind of football, and any significant advantage that Romeo Crennel may have had in terms of knowing New England's system has been erased with his two years of separation from the team. Keeping that in mind, there are some players in the Patriots system, like the returning Rodney Harrison, that Crennel may be able to offer some insight to. Likewise, a veteran linebacker like Willie McGinest may be able to clue the rest of the defense in on some of the tendencies of the Patriots' offensive line and where it is appropiate to attack them. Football comes down to how you play on gameday. The Patriots have been lights out on both sides of the ball, but the Browns' offense is showing that they can compete with the top defenses in the league. Could the "hot" Cleveland Browns be the team to stun the Patriots? Let's get to the breakdown of this week's game...

OFFENSE

Category	Browns	Patriots
Points Scored	27.25 (6th)	37.0 (2nd)
Passing	232.8 (10th)	274.8 (5th)
Rushing	114.8 (15th)	157.0 (4th)
Total Offense (yards)	347.5 (11th)	431.8 (2nd)

DEFENSE

Category	Browns	Patriots
Points Scored	29.5 (28th)	12.0 (4th)
Passing	267.5 (30th)	156.3 (4th)
Rushing	160.0 (30th)	69.8 (3rd)
Total Defense (yards)	427.5 (31st)	226.0 (1st)

	Quarterback Tom Brady. I could stop right there, as there's really no need to explain the Patriots' advantage here. This season, Brady has thrown 13 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions, and he has completed an unheard of eighty percent of his passes. We've seen Brady work magic without big-name receivers before, but now that he has Randy Moss and Wes Welker -- two players that are perfect matches for his skills -- Brady has reached a new level. Derek Anderson has been very aggressive and calm in the pocket, which is why the Browns are suddenly averaging 27 points per game. His decision-making is still flawed at points in a game though, leading to picks that Brady wouldn't have,
	Running Back The Patriots have been able to throw Laurence Maroney or Sammy Morris in the game and receive the same production from either guy -- a near 5.0 average and a couple of touchdowns. Maroney may not play against the Browns due to injury, meaning the red-hot Morris could get the start again. The Browns are only ranked 15th in the league in comparison, but against a great defense in the Ravens last week, the team proved just how important Jamal Lewis is to the offense. Lewis has been able to drive the ball forward on all of his carries, and has alleviated some of the pressure teams bring on playaction passes.
	Receiver It's a first this season in which I'm completely ranking the opposition over Cleveland's receivers. As good as Joe Jurevicius, Braylon Edwards, and Kellen Winslow have been, they are no match for the best group of receivers in football this year in Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth. Through four games, Moss already has over 500 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. While Winslow is a better all-around threat as a tight end than the Patriots have, New England isn't forgetting about Benjamin Watson. Despite only having eight catches, Watson already has three touchdowns, showing how often his number has been called near the goal line.
	Offensive Line The Browns' offensive line has turned heads this year, especially after Derek Anderson was kept clean against a defense like the Baltimore Ravens last week. It was the first time in ages that a Ravens defense failed to record a single sack. The Patriots' offensive line provides a better pocket of protection for Brady overall. While Anderson knows how to get rid of the ball quickly, Brady has the luxury of being able to sit back there for five seconds on a consistent basis. The Patriots block better in the running game as well, in about the same comparative level as the two team's pass blocking ability.
	Defensive Line Just as the Ravens' defensive line was able to do a fine job against the Browns last week at defending the run, the Patriots are even better across the board. Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork, and Jarvis Green have combined for the third best run defense in the NFL so far. Green has already piled up three sacks on the right side of the line and will be a chore for Kevin Shaffer to defend, especially with the linebacking help on the same side of the line. The Browns seemed to rotate the defensive line effectively last week in comparison to the first three games, but were still gashed on the ground by Willis McGahee and failed to pressure Steve McNair until the final drive.
	Linebacker You mean Junior Seau still hasn't retired? The veteran is now a backup, because the Patriots have a ridiculous amount of depth at the position. The Patriots were able to make a big addition in the offseason by signing linebacker Adalius Thomas, a player that many Browns fans hoped Phil Savage would be able to steal. Thomas leads the Patriots in tackles and can play any defensive position on the field. Mike Vrabel may be getting older, but he leads the team in sacks with three and a half. The Browns welcomed Willie McGinest back last week, but the Browns' blitzes failed to work when they were brought.
	Secondary How different could the Patriots' secondary have been if Asante Samual had actually gone through with his holdout? The Patriots' pass defense is ranked fourth in the league defensively, and to say that Derek Anderson will be able to have his way with the secondary is illogical. The Patriots are also welcoming safety Rodney Harrison back for the first time this season after he served a four-game suspension. One key for the Browns secondary will be to tell Brodney Pool to run around and constantly help on double-teaming Randy Moss. With Brady at quarterback, there's no way even Leigh Bodden can hold Moss in check in single coverage.
	Special Teams It wasn't a pleasant sight to see Phil Dawson miss one of his attempts last week, but thankfully it didn't count due to a Ravens' penalty. The Browns feature Joshua Cribbs at kick returner, who has been at least returning one kick to beyond the 40-yard line per game. Getting the ball first to start the game has been a difference for Cleveland, because Cribbs provides an electric start to the game. The Patriots aren't particularly weak on special teams -- in fact, Ellis Hobbs had a 108-yard kick return earlier this season. Overall, the Browns are more complete though.

FINAL PREDICTION: New England Patriots 37, Cleveland Browns 20.
Nobody wants to miss it when the New England Patriots do battle with the Dallas Cowboys next week, in a game where both teams could be undefeated. Before the Patriots get there though, they'll have to keep their attention focused on the Browns. Romeo Crennel is getting his first crack at defeating the team he previously coached with, even if it was a few years ago. The Patriots are looking forward to the return of safety Rodney Harrison after he served his four-game suspension. With New England's top-ranked defense in the league though, do they really need him?

Maybe so, because the Browns have put together an offensive football team. Believe it or not, this will be the best offensive team the Patriots will have seen this season, considering how poorly the Chargers have played and the fact that the Bengals were too one-dimensional last week without Rudi Johnson at running back. The difference for Cleveland hasn't been just one player -- it's been the entire offensive line, Jamal Lewis running the ball, and Derek Anderson getting rid of the football (he's only been sacked twice in four weeks of play). Cleveland's problem will be that no matter how well they could potentially do on offense, the Patriots' offense will shred a Browns' defense that is ranked near the bottom of the league.

This is the official gameday topic for the fifth game of the regular season, featuring the Cleveland Browns against the New England Patriots. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

  Game: Baltimore Ravens (2-1) vs. Cleveland Browns (1-2)
Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium (Cleveland, OH)
When: 1:00 PM EST
Announcers: Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon

Last week's offense wasn't as explosive as the one we saw against the Bengals, but I think it's safe to say that the unit has improved tremendously last year due to the offensive line's production. The focus now falls on the defense, which is giving up an average of 35 points through the first three games. Getting our defenders lined up correctly in practice has been a "priority", but things aren't going to get much better talent wise. Willie McGinest may return, but then you have a guy like Orpheus Roye that is listed as out. The big story in this game is the fact that it marks Jamal Lewis' first game against his former team. For our sake, let's hope that the first time Ray Lewis and Jamal Lewis collide, that the Browns are getting the better of the situation. Let's get to the breakdown of this week's game...

OFFENSE

Category	Ravens	Browns
Points Scored	22.0 (14th)	27.3 (6th)
Passing	214.7 (17th)	242.3 (11th)
Rushing	118.0 (14th)	120.0 (12th)
Total Offense (yards)	332.7 (16th)	362.3 (9th)

DEFENSE

Category	Ravens	Browns
Points Scored	21.0 (16th)	35.0 (32nd)
Passing	239.7 (19th)	254.3 (24th)
Rushing	61.7 (1st)	176.3 (31st)
Total Defense (yards)	301.3 (8th)	430.7 (31st)

	Quarterback Since when did the Browns go from disaster with Charlie Frye in Week 1 to respectability at the position by Week 4? In fact, it suddenly seems like ages since fans were calling for Brady Quinn, and that may be a good thing for the time being. The Ravens have gone with a dual quarterback system over the first two weeks with Steve McNair and Kyle Boller. For this game, I'd actually like to see McNair play more than I want to see Boller play. The past few times we've seen McNair, he has been ineffective against us. If you recall, McNair was replaced by Boller when we faced Baltimore last year. Boller proceeded to throw it well against our defense, leading the Ravens to victory.
	Running Back Jamal Lewis is up against a tough test: he's facing his old team, who just happens to be ranked as the No. 1 run defense in the NFL right now. The Ravens are only giving up an average of 61.7 yards per game. If Lewis is going to hope for success, he'll have to hope that the Browns' defense doesn't allow us to fall behind early. The Ravens feature Willis McGahee this year, who has done an adequate job with his new team. He hasn't been spectacular, but there is an eerie feeling that McGahee could have his breakout game based on the way we've been allowing running backs to rip through us.
	Receiver Some things never seem to change. The Ravens haven't had a great group of receivers since returning to the league really, besides tight end Todd Heap. Derrick Mason has 23 receptions this year and has gotten off to a better start than he did last year, but nobody else stands out on a consistent basis. The Browns should look out for Demetrius Williams though - he's a fast slot receiver that burned us last year. Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius, and Kellen Winslow has another impressive showing last week, at least in the second half against the Raiders. Edwards may have a nice edge against Baltimore with cornerback Samari Rolle ruled out.
	Offensive Line Just how good has the offensive line been over the past two weeks with a quarterback that gets rid of the football? Anderson has only been sacked once, and that was on a play where he actually was stripped of the football last week. The Ravens have done a fair job keeping their quarterbacks on their feet as well, although Steve McNair has had some problems of hanging onto the ball too long at times, exposing the football to defensive players that come from the edge. Both run offenses have been about equal, but again, the Ravens' defense could make our line look like crap.
	Defensive Line Kelly Gregg. Now that is a defensive tackle. When you compare the current levels of talent between Gregg and Ted Washington, the scale shift towards Gregg's favor in a major way. I'd trade all seven-eight of our defensive linemen today to get Gregg, because him alone would would be better than what we presently have. The Ravens also have Haloti Ngata, whom the Browns passed up for Kamerion Wimbley last year. There's a reason why teams can't run the football against the Ravens, and it's based on my defensive rant in my blog entry below this gameday preview.
	Linebacker Just like the Browns' defense line shouldn't even be in the same sentence as the Ravens' defensive line, the case is the same when comparing Baltimore's inside linebackers. Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs run absolute circles around the capabilities of Andra Davis and D'Qwell Jackson. Not only are Lewis and Suggs much better players, they both have that intimidation factor. Teams will try to run at them, but they know they can't. When teams look at the Browns inside linebackers, fear is probably the last thing that would ever cross their minds. On top of that, where the Browns are strong at outside linebacker, the Ravens are still just as good. With Bart Scott's comments about our stadium this week though, it'd be nice if the Browns gave him a little reality check this week.
	Secondary Samari Rolle is out this week, meaning that Corey Ivy will start in place of him. The Ravens still have Chris McAllister, Ed Reed, and Dawan Landry to pick up the slack, but the Ravens' secondary has been vulnerable against hurry up offenses this season. Kellen Clemons and Kurt Warner have each torn apart the Ravens' secondary in the past two weeks during the fourth quarter. The Browns are staying loyal to Eric Wright for another week, but all eyes should be on Brodney Pool and the possibility of Demetrius Williams sprinting down the field. I called Lewis' success off left tackle against the Bengals, I called Wimbley's sacks last week, and I'm calling the fact that the Ravens will try to target this matchup at some point in this game.
	Special Teams Can the Ravens run anyone that they want at the punt return position and score touchdowns? B.J. Sams, Ed Reed, and Yamon Figurs have each done very well on punt returns, with Reed and Figurs scoring a touchdown in the past two weeks. Joshua Cribbs balances that threat due to his kick return ability: after all, doesn't it seem like he's going to score every week? For our sake, if the game comes down to a field goal this week, at least we're on our home field and don't have to worry about the dirt.

FINAL PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 23, Baltimore Ravens 17.
Again, the big story here in terms of the national media is the fact that Jamal Lewis will be going head-to-head against Ray Lewis and the Ravens' defense. It should be a sight to see the first time that those two meet each other on a play. The Browns were a field goal away from being 2-1 last week, and are playing pretty well on offense. Our defense has been a liability, but sometime the Ravens' "platoon quarterback situation" will come back to bite them, whether it be a lack of continuity or a question of who to put in at what time. You may not want to take my prediction for much though; I'm 0-3 at projecting Browns games this season.

This is the official gameday topic for the third game of the regular season, featuring the Cleveland Browns against the Baltimore Ravens. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

  Game: Cleveland Browns (1-1) vs. Oakland Raiders (0-2)
Where: McAfee Coliseum (Oakland, CA)
When: 4:05 PM EST
Announcers: Bill Macatee/Steve Beuerlein

In last week's preview, I made one firm statement: "Today's game is all about being competitive". To everyone's surprise, not only were the Browns competitive, we won the game. We scored 51 points. We responded every time the Bengals scored. Each of those statements deserved their own sentences to emphasize just how rare they occur with the Browns. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come, as Romeo Crennel has a shot at building his first two-game winning streak since becoming the Browns' head coach. The Browns defeated the Raiders last year, a team that has been very competitive this year despite starting at 0-2. This is the ideal situation for our first road game, because the conditions aren't too difficult on paper. The faith is restore in our offense, but now it's time to improve upon the defensive numbers below, including the one the says we're giving up 39.5 points per game thus far. Let's get to the breakdown of this week's game...

OFFENSE

Category	Browns	Raiders
Points Scored	29.0 (6th)	20.5 (12th)
Passing	251.5 (8th)	168.0 (26th)
Rushing	136.0 (9th)	146.0 (7th)
Total Offense (yards)	387.5 (7th)	314.0 (19th)

DEFENSE

Category	Browns	Raiders
Points Scored	39.5 (31st)	29.5 (28th)
Passing	276.5 (30th)	272.0 (29th)
Rushing	171.5 (29th)	206.0 (26th)
Total Defense (yards)	448.0 (32nd)	416.5 (28th)

	Quarterback Derek Anderson's five-touchdown performance last week took everyone by surprise, but you'd have to be crazy to think he'd duplicate that performance this week. Thankfully, 79% of you voted that Anderson will only throw 1-2 touchdowns this week, which should be the norm if the Browns operate a smart gameplan. Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders could be in the middle of a makeshift situation. Despite having JaMarcus Russell signed, he's not the man the Raiders would consider putting in. Although Josh McCown has done an ok job the past two weeks, Daunte Culpepper could see action at some point in the game. With that indecision at quarterback, the Browns have the edge.
	Running Back I'm quite surprised that LaMont Jordan has run for an average of 114 yards per game, and 5.7 yards-per-carry over the first two weeks of the season. More surprising is the fact that he caught nine passes for 89 yards in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, and the ran for 159 yards against the Denver Broncos last week. Jordan's versatility will be the bread and butter of Oakland's offense, so stopping him will be critical for the Browns' defense. The Raiders haven't been much better than the Browns at stopping the run due to a couple of holes up front. Jamal Lewis and Jordan should go at it all day on the ground back-and-forth.
	Receiver Besides the Minnesota Vikings, there isn't another team in the NFL that are as thin at receiver than the Raiders are. Beyond Ronald Curry, who has 12 catches for 145 yards receiving, the Raiders' next best receiver is Jerry Porter, who only has three catches. Besides a couple of tight ends or fullbacks with a catch or two, nothing else is worth noting. The Browns had breakout games from Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius, and Kellen Winslow last week. It doesn't take a genius in math to realize that three playmakers are better than one.
	Offensive Line Personally, I'd almost negate the amount of sacks the Browns gave up in Week 1 due to Charlie Frye. The same negation shouldn't be applied to the Raiders though, as Josh McCown has been taken down seven times over the past two games. Both teams were outstanding at blocking the run last week, but the edge in pass protection should go to the Browns by far. The Raiders need to pay particular attention to Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach, the left side of the Browns' offensive line. They were mauling the Bengals last week and will look to do the same thing this week.
	Defensive Line Neither team really has a strong edge here. Robaire Smith had an above average game last week, but I think it's time that we started seeing more of Shaun Smith in the game, both at defensive tackle and defensive end. Getting pressure on the Raiders is possible if the rotation schemes are called early and often. The Raiders could be without their sack master, Derrick Burgess, who has only recorded one tackle this season. Burgess had 27 sacks over the past two seasons, but injuries have held him back and prevented Oakland from getting their usual amount of pressure. Even if he does play, he won't be 100%.
	Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley has been double teamed for two weeks and has barely missed a couple of sacks. Call me optimistic, but I'm calling it this week: one and a half to two sacks for Wimbley against McCown or Culpepper. I'd actually think that seeing Culpepper in the game would benefit our pass rushes more, because he has not been able to feel pressure well since his days with the Vikings. Thomas Howard had a fantastic game for the Raiders defense last week, including a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown. Overall though, the Raiders' linebackers don't make a whole lot of noise, remaining their vulnerability defensively.
	Secondary Two things to consider here by the Raiders' secondary: be fooled, but don't be fooled. The Raiders have not lived up to their expectations through the first two games, but the amount of young talent they have back there is sick. Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington have a nose for the football, and safety Michael Huff was the seventh overall pick last season. The Browns' secondary has given up ten touchdown passes in two weeks, and are probably going to be without safety Brodney Pool. I wish Gary Baxter was ready to play, but we'll probably be forced to see Mike Adams in there, a person that I didn't think was good enough to make our roster.
	Special Teams The Raiders were victimized big time by Joshua Cribbs last year, but it's key to remember that the Raiders have two very powerful kickers: Sebastian Janikowski (kicker) and Shane Lechler (punter). On kickoffs, Janikowski can drive the ball into the end zone often, while Lechler can kick it deep and away from Cribbs. The Browns will probably be without Dave Zastudil this week due to injury, meaning Scott Player would get the start. Player has experience to make me comfortable, but it's still a short week that he had to build chemistry with a new team.

FINAL PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 24, Oakland Raiders 14.
The drastic offensive turnaround from the Browns last week against the  Bengals under Derek Anderson restored hope among fans. The thing that no one around the league is looking at is how dominating the offensive line was: Cincinnati had no sacks, rarely got pressure, and were mauled on the ground. Anderson won't have the same success throwing the ball this week, but Jamal Lewis should have a great day against the Raiders defense. Until Oakland gains offensive stability, they won't be a winning football team.

This is the official gameday topic for the third game of the regular season, featuring the Cleveland Browns against the Oakland Raiders. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

  The Browns have a new starting quarterback after just one week. Last week's effort against the Pittsburgh Steelers was downright embarrassing, but I'm not even saying that I was disappointed for a victory. When the Browns are out of a game like that as early as we were, it's easier to stomach. Sure, it pisses us off that we were dominated overall, but knowing that we didn't have a chance doesn't have a long-lasting effect. Sure, I'd like to win every week. However, if we lose, I want to lose by three points. I'd much rather have the agony and sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach, wondering "why couldn't we have completed that final driver" or "why did our defense allow that final touchdown", instead of saying "there was no point in watching the game past halftime". Today's game is all about being competitive. Let's get to the breakdown of the game...

OFFENSE

Category	Bengals	Browns
Points Scored	27.0 (7th)	7.0 (28th)
Passing	181.0 (18th)	175.0 (20th)
Rushing	55.0 (30th)	46.0 (31st)
Total Offense (yards)	236.0 (25th)	221.0 (27th)

DEFENSE

Category	Bengals	Browns
Points Scored	20.0 (18th)	34.0 (27th)
Passing	207.0 (23rd)	159.0 (7th)
Rushing	107.0 (17th)	206.0 (31st)
Total Defense (yards)	314.0 (19th)	365.0 (23rd)

	Quarterback The advantage here is a no-brainer: Carson Palmer is leaps and bounds above and beyond Derek Anderson. Palmer's had the advantage of being in the Bengals system for several years now with two of the best receivers in the AFC in Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. If Ben Roethlisberger was able to exploit the young secondary of the Browns, Palmer will look to do the same exact thing early on, just like he did last year in the team's 30-0 blowout. Anderson should provide for some better results than Frye did due to his quick release, but many of the fans will be hoping he falters early to pave the way for Brady Quinn.
	Running Back Don't read much into the fact that the Bengals and the Browns were the 30th and 31st ranked run offenses in the league, respectively, for Week 1. Both teams faced perhaps the best run stopping defenses in the league, although it does show that the ground games are not a strength for these teams compared to their passing attacks. Jamal Lewis has faced the Bengals defense for many years, but the main issue will be whether or not he gets enough carries based on what the score is after halftime. The Browns have actually stopped Rudi Johnson in their past few meetings, which makes the running back situation close to even for both teams.
	Receiver As much as I like Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, they are far from making the type of impact that Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh can make on gameday. A lot of that has to do with not having an efficient quarterback under center, but that's the breaks in the NFL. Johnson desperately wants to get into the end zone so he can leap into the Dawg Pound. Let's hope that if he does score, the game isn't out of hand already so that the fans can toss him right back out. The real concern involves Houshmandzadeh though, who will probably be matched up against youngsters Eric Wright and Brodney Pool all day long.
	Offensive Line As much as I've blamed Frye for most of the sacks last week, the fact remains that we gave up six sacks against the Steelers. The unit has a chance to redeem themselves publicly this week by holding off a less-than-impressive Bengals defense in front of a quarterback that gets rid of the ball quickly. Eric Steinbach will be facing his former team, but if you ask the Bengals, they're just fine without him. That's what having the same quarterback and the same offensive line for years can do for a team - establish continuity. If the Bengals were able to hold off the Ravens' blitzing, the Browns' chances of getting to Palmer aren't too great.
	Defensive Line Neither defensive line is particularly strong. With a 4-3 defense, the Bengals feature Robert Geathers and Justin Smith on the ends of their line, a group that is stronger than their interior. However, looking back to last week, a lot of Willis McGahee's success against them came on quick halfback counters to the left side of the line. If the Browns are able to get that initial push, Lewis will reach the second unit fairly often. The Browns may be able to plug the line at times, but they aren't going to be the difference maker in terms of getting in Palmer's face.
	Linebacker Cincinnati's been plagued by injuries at the linebacker position, but Ahmad Brooks is the person the Browns must keep away from Derek Anderson. Despite giving up a lot of yards on the ground last week, the Browns linebackers did a great job at forcing Roethlisberger to get some lucky breaks due to his mobility. Since Palmer is not as mobile, there's a chance that guys like Kamerion Wimbley and Antwaan Peek will be able to bring him down or force him to throw the ball away rather than pitching it for a completion. It's critical for the offense to do well though, because if the linebackers get fatigued early, we'll be killed by the fourth quarter.
	Secondary I'm not excusing the secondary for giving up four touchdowns last week, but to be fair, they had their backs up against the wall all day long due to our offense. On two drives early on, the Steelers basically started in the red zone. Even if the Bengals don't have good field position to start off this week though, Eric Wright and Brodney Pool will need to tighten up their side of the field, because they will be facing a better quarterback and a better receiver. The Bengals' secondary relies on tipped passes to make or break their success, which boils down to how Anderson plays. If his ropes are on target, they could be picked apart often. If his ropes are behind receivers, the Bengals will have multiple interceptions guaranteed.
	Special Teams I'm hoping that Dave Zastudil is back, because having Ernster in the game is just a downer, for whatever reason. A huge factor in this game involves the Browns' return game though, when you look back at how much the Bengals struggled here last week. They gave up a kickoff return to B.J. Sams of more than 40 yards, and he also nearly broke a punt return. Later in the game, Ed Reed actually returned a punt for a touchdown against the Bengals.

FINAL PREDICTION: Cincinnati Bengals 27, Cleveland Browns 20.
With everything that happened in Cleveland after last week's game, it may seem as if the team has already conceded. That is far from the truth though, because getting rid of Charlie Frye means the club admitted to their mistakes as soon as possible in hopes that they could "start over" in Week 2. The Bengals are coming off of a big victory over the Baltimore Ravens last week. While Cincinnati's offense handled Baltimore's defense extremely well, the defense almost gave it up despite having an unbelievable amount of turnovers. Cincinnati's defense remains a liability, but it won't deter them just yet.

This is the official gameday topic for the second game of the regular season, featuring the Cleveland Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

  Game: Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) vs. Cleveland Browns (0-0)
Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium (Cleveland, OH)
When: 1:00 PM EST (CBS Today begins at 12:00 PM. WOIO coverage begins at 11:00 PM. WEWS and WKYC also have Browns programming; check your local listings.)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan/Rich Gannon (Game in HD) The last time the Cleveland Browns opened the season off against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was our re-birth year and we were promptly blown out. Nearly a decade later, both teams are combating on opening day, and many things have changed, even from just one season ago. The Steelers said "goodbye" to long-time Steelers head coach Bill Cowher, making way for former Minnesota Vikings assistant Mike Tomlin. Tomlin is trying to put a slightly different scheme on the Steelers' defense, while giving Ben Roethlisberger some more control offensively. As for the Browns, it may be do or die time early on in the year for head coach Romeo Crennel. He has been horrible in division games, and will play three of them within the first four weeks of the season. After making the decision to start Charlie Frye in favor of Brady Quinn Week 1, will the decision pay off? Let's get to the breakdown of the game...

OFFENSE (LAST YEAR)

Category	Steelers	Browns
Points Scored	22.1 (12th)	14.9 (30th)
Passing	233.3 (9th)	181.1 (23rd)
Rushing	124.5 (10th)	83.4 (31st)
Total Offense (yards)	357.8 (7th)	264.6 (31st)

DEFENSE (LAST YEAR)

Category	Steelers	Browns
Points Scored	19.7 (11th)	22.3 (22nd)
Passing	212.1 (20th)	202.6 (15th)
Rushing	88.3 (3rd)	142.2 (29th)
Total Defense (yards)	300.3 (9th)	344.8 (27th)

	Quarterback Before the draft, I was against the thought of drafting Brady Quinn so much, because I wanted the Browns to focus more on getting Joe Thomas. After getting the best of both worlds and seeing Quinn perform in the preseason, I wouldn't have had any issues with him starting on opening day. With that said, I completely agree and am in favor of starting Charlie Frye. I don't feel Ben Roethlisberger is an elite quarterback in this league, especially after his efforts at times last season, but he does have a tremendous winning percentage and a Super Bowl ring to brag about. Both quarterbacks are mobile, but Roethlisberger is able to dodge defenders a little bit better, especially when the game is on the line.
	Running Back The Browns made a definite upgrade with Jamal Lewis in the offseason, but there's no questioning that the Steelers always dominate the Browns on the ground. The last time these two teams met, Willie Parker ran for over 200 yards with ease. As Browns fans, we're hoping he doesn't crack that mark in the season opener, but our run defense is still quite vulnerable. Pittsburgh also has more depth in veteran Najeh Davenport, although Browns backup running back Jason Wright did have some success last year against the Steelers. For the Browns, having a running back that's already so used to facing Pittsburgh will not necessarily help pad the stats, but it can move the chains.
	Receiver No one does it better than wide receiver Hines Ward, although when Leigh Bodden has been healthy, he has done a fine job at shutting him down. After Ward, the next biggest threat is Santonio Holmes, who looks to be on the verge of having a breakout second season with the way he finished last year. The Browns bring Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow to the rivalry again, both of whom are in desperate need of a huge game against the Steelers to further their popularity in Cleveland. Neither team has the greatest amount of depth past the top players, which is why the ranking is even.
	Offensive Line I'm hoping that I don't have to eat my words with this one, because I think I may have only ranked the Browns' offense line even or better than the opposing team's offensive line twice all of last season. Did the additions of Eric Steinbach, Joe Thomas, and Seth McKinney put us on the same level as the Steelers' offensive line? I think it's a case where two parts cancel out. While I would still give the slight overall advantage to the Steelers, they have the better run blocking abilities while the Browns have the better pass blocking abilities.
	Defensive Line Considering all of the positions, this is the one in which the Browns aren't even close to competing. I'd take Casey Hampton as our nose tackle in a heartbeat, and I'd probably ditch all three of our starting linemen if necessary just to get him. Defensive ends Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel are solid as well, and play a huge role in the reasoning why Pittsburgh is able to shut down the running games of almost every team in football. It'll be interesting to see if Orpheus Roye is able to return for the Browns, and also how well Robaire Smith will do in the rivalry.
	Linebacker The Steelers are full of veterans, even after dumping the loud-mouthed Joey Porter, but the Browns are full of youth that could wreck havoc in the NFL this year. Kamerion Wimbley and Antwaan Peek have the potential to cut down on all of the side-to-side running plays the Steelers try to pull off. The Steelers are counting on James Harrison to play at a starting level in place of Porter, which is something the Browns may want to try and see if they can exploit early on.
	Secondary With the exception of Troy Polamalu, I've never been very high on the Steelers' secondary, and I don't think they did anything in the offseason to address the issue. The Browns may have had a problem in the secondary too had they not drafted cornerback Eric Wright, who has the potential to be complete the best secondary the Browns have had since returning to the league. Safety Brodney Pool will heavily be depended on to ensure that the non-impact players on the Steelers don't break out. He's finally a starting safety and needs to show that he's not a vulnerability.
	Special Teams The status of Dave Zastudil is still in question after the signing of Paul Ernster, which could pose big problems for the Browns. Zastudil has been so good at consistently punting the ball deep and getting it down inside the 20, and you don't want to risk losing that. The Steelers acquired returner Allen Rossum from the Atlanta Falcons a few days ago, but Joshua Cribbs has clearly shown that he is one of the few men in the NFL that can take a kick back the distance on any given play.

FINAL PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 23, Pittsburgh Steelers 20.
Something about a Steelers team that was average last season under Bill Cowher, and is entering this season with their first new head coach in a decade and a half, tells me that the opening of the season will not be too bright for them. The only thing I keep hearing about the Steelers are assumptions: the Steelers will run the defense fine under Tomlin, and Ben Roethlisberger won't make as many mistakes as he did last year. I think the Steelers have the potential to do well, but I need to see them win before I can make that commitment. The Browns will play a mistake-free game, good enough to just barely slip by with a win.

For an extra thing, here's my prediction for the first play of the game: a four-yard carry by Jamal Lewis.

This is the official gameday topic for the first game of the regular season, featuring the Cleveland Browns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!