Dawgs By Nature: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Around SBN: Getting Marshawn Lynch touches is key for Bills' success Bar-right-arrows



2008 Game Day Threads

Indianapolis Colts vs. Cleveland Browns - Official Game Thread

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-4) WEEK 13 CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-7)
VS.
Date: November 30, 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Stadium: Cleveland Browns Stadium
TV: CBS
Favorite: Colts by 4½
Radio: WMMS, 100.7 FM Over/Under: 43½
SBN Coverage: Stampede Blue Announcers
Dick Enberg & Randy Cross

The Cleveland Browns' chances for the playoffs are gone, but their opportunity for vengeance remains. Last year, the Indianapolis Colts failed to give an effort in Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans, thereby eliminating the Browns from playoff contention. Whether that means something to you or not, it plays a factor in the emotion of today's game. Maybe not for the players, but for some fans, it does.

Derek Anderson will get the start for the Cleveland Browns after Brady Quinn's season-ending injury last week. The fans at the stadium could boo with every misthrow, but I hope they don't unless it truly is a horrible effort by Anderson. We still need to try to provide a home-field advantage -- it happened against the Giants, so why not against the Colts?

FINAL PREDICTION: Indianapolis Colts 27, Cleveland Browns 20.
Without Bob Sanders, almost anybody can score against the Colts' defense. However, the Colts' offense is back in sync, and with that, Peyton Manning is brilliant at chewing up clock time. By keeping our offense off the field enough, the Colts will come away with the victory.

This is the official gameday topic for the Cleveland Browns in Week 13 as they take on the Indianapolis Colts. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

261 comments | 0 recs

Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns - Official Game Thread

HOUSTON TEXANS (3-7) WEEK 12 CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-6)
VS.
Date: November 23, 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Stadium: Cleveland Browns Stadium
TV: CBS
Favorite: Browns by 3
Radio: WMMS, 100.7 FM Over/Under: 50
SBN Coverage: Battle Red Blog Announcers
Kevin Harlan & Rich Gannon

When a fellow SB Nation writer actually picks the Cleveland Browns to win, you know you're in good shape. Over at Battle Red Blog, our Houston Texans affiliate, Tim has picked the Browns to come away victorious, 30-24. The over/under is high for this game -- at 50 -- because both teams have major issues in the secondary. Besides hoping for a Browns win this week though, there are several other games we'll want to keep our eyes on in terms of playoff potential. Our division hopes are gone, but hope still remains for a wildcard, believe it or not. Without further adieu, here is a "best-case scenario" for Cleveland today:

  1. Philadelphia vs. Baltimore: The Ravens are coming off a big loss against the New York Giants. I projected them to be swept by the NFC East during the second half of the season, and I'll bank on that trend continuing today. The Eagles were embarrassed last week by finishing in a tie against the Bengals, but they still know how to get after the quarterback. Joe Flacco will be rattled at the right time to allow the Eagles' defense to capitalize.
  2. New England vs. Miami: We need...the Patriots to win this game. Why? Chances are, one of these two teams are going to take one of the wildcard spots. If Miami wins, I think the Patriots have enough experience to win the rest of the season, causing both wildcard spots to come out of the AFC East. But, if the Patriots take care of business today, I think Miami will fade off a little -- enough for the Browns to at least have a shot at catching them.
  3. Indianapolis vs. San Diego: This is a real important game. We've already picked up wins against wildcard hopefuls in Jacksonville and Buffalo. The Colts are in a whole different league compared to those teams, but if the Colts lose to San Diego and we defeat Houston, we would control our own destiny in terms of owning a tiebreaker over them. One thing to note is that the Chargers have been a very good home team the past couple of seasons. I'm picking the Colts to win, but it's clear we need to cheer for San Diego.

Now that we know what else we need to pay attention to around the league, let's see what the Browns need to do against the Texans, starting off this week's preview with the overall team statistics thus far...

OFFENSE

Category Texans Browns
Points Scored 23.6 (11th) 20.1 (25th)
Passing 255.8 (5th) 180.0 (27th)
Rushing 114.3 (15th) 107.0 (22nd)
Total Offense (yards) 370.1 (5th) 287.0 (27th)

DEFENSE

Category Texans Browns
Points Scored 28.7 (30th) 22.1 (15th)
Passing 210.8 (17th) 219.0 (19th)
Rushing 132.5 (24th) 149.3 (28th)
Total Defense (yards) 343.3 (22nd) 368.3 (26th)
-

 

Quarterback

Sage Rosenfels can provide that spark when his team is behind, but as a starting quarterback, he is way too mistake prone. Rosenfels last played against the Browns in relief back in 2005 -- a game in which he was 5-of-10 for 14 yards and 2 interceptions. I'll pass on him and take Brady Quinn in a second. Quinn won his first career game last week against the Bills on the road, but he suffered a fracture on the tip of his index finger. The odds are suddenly higher for Derek Anderson to play in this week's game, but that shouldn't be a negative in terms of our chances of winning.

-

 

Running Back

This game will be a great gauge of Lewis' progress since last year (or lack thereof). Last year, Lewis ran all over the Texans at home for 139 yards and a touchdown. With Jerome Harrison and Jason Wright banged up after Monday's game against the Bills, Lewis' workload might reach the 20-carry mark for the first time in several weeks. Houston fans have been very pleased with rookie running back Steve Slaton, who is currently averaging 5.1 yards per carry on the year. Veteran Ahman Green has also returned the past few weeks in limited action and ran the ball successfully. The Browns will need to bring the same type of closing defense they had against the Jaguars earlier this season to have any shot at stopping Houston's ground game.

-

 

Receiver

Technically, both receiving groups should have field days today. On the Texans' side, Andre Johnson's production has dropped tremendously since Rosenfels took over for Matt Schaub. Johnson has only topped 66 yards in his past three games, with only one touchdown during that stretch. Last year, the Browns -- Brandon McDonald in particular -- held Johnson to 3 catches for 37 yards. The Texans aren't all about Johnson though, as receiver Kevin Walter and tight end Owen Daniels present much more of a threat than anybody the Bills had on their roster last week. Braylon Edwards, despite dropping a few passes last week, showed some solid chemistry with Brady Quinn and will be looking for redemption again this week. Kellen Winslow will play with a sprained shoulder.

-

 

Offensive Line

Whether it was Brady Quinn's fault, the running backs' fault, or Hank Fraley's fault, something needs to change this week to ensure that Quinn doesn't see free blitzers right up the middle several times. He cannot risk another "hit" on his finger. What was impressive last week was the offensive line's ability to clear out for Jerome Harrison's touchdown run. The Texans' offensive line has come a long way since the horrific days of David Carr being the most-sacked quarterback in the league. Still, the Browns have the favorable advantage of having Shaun Rogers creating pressure in the face of an erratic quarterback.

-

 

Defensive Line

It'll be another great matchup in Part II of Joe Thomas vs. Mario Williams. Williams is a better player this year than he was last year, but the part that will make him more dangerous is when the Texans line him up at other positions. The Texans will also see the return of second-year defensive lineman Amobi Okoye. Although he hasn't put up productive statistics, he helps the Texans' interior defense up front. The Browns will be without Shaun Smith this week, again limiting our depth. Maybe we'll get a further look at rookie Ahtyba Rubin, who had a decent game last week against Buffalo.

-

 

Linebacker

We'll say hello again to former Browns linebacker Kevin Bentley today. I don't really know if I'd take him over any of the guys we have now, but I don't imagine him having any special impact on the outcome of today's game. That might be a different story of linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who has started playing up to par again after being hampered by an ankle injury earlier this season. Chaun Thompson, mostly a special teams player, also plays for the Texans. The past several weeks, I've been a little more impressed by the effort that veteran Willie McGinest has been giving (though he is still having a difficult time, like the rest of our defense, at "finishing" a play). One interesting thing about today's game: Beau Bell is ACTIVE. Does that mean anything? We shall see...

-

 

Secondary

Texans fans have not been pleased with the performance of their secondary. For the Browns, Eric Wright has done a tremendous job most of the season -- he's not making as many "plays" over the past several weeks, but he has been keeping his man's receptions to a minimum.

-

 

Special Teams

Andre Davis hasn't presented many problems for opposing teams on kick returns this year. With that said, the Browns will need to watch out for Texans punt returner Jacoby Jones. He has two punt returns for touchdowns this season. Texans kicker Kris Brown is also 14-of-14 on field goals this year, including 5-of-5 on kicks between 40-49 yards. Phil Dawson has been as automatic as you can get as of late, especially on deep kicks from beyond 50 yards. Both teams have high explosiveness on special teams -- it'll be an interesting to see how much of an impact that has on today's game

FINAL PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 34, Houston Texans 21.
We had the Ravens in position for this type of win at home. We had the Broncos in position for his type of win at home. This week, we'll have the Texans in position for this type of win, and hold on. Houston has been a horrible road team -- they haven't won on the road in over a year now.

This is the official gameday topic for the Cleveland Browns in Week 12 as they take on the Houston Texans. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

616 comments | 0 recs

Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills - Official Game Thread

CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-6) WEEK11 BUFFALO BILLS (5-4)
VS.
Date: November 17, 2008 Location: Orchard Park, NY
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Stadium: Ralph Wilson Stadium
TV: ESPN (Local FOX)
Favorite: Bills by 5
Radio: WMMS, 100.7 FM Over/Under: 40
SBN Coverage: Buffalo Rumblings
Announcers
Horrible MNF Trio

I had a much nicer introduction and preview written up for this game, but apparently my clicking of the save button didn't work properly, because it was gone when I came back to it.

After losing twice within a span of five days when having multiple-possession leads in the second half of games, the Cleveland Browns have had awhile to regroup. In essence, it ends up being a second bye week for the team. If our record had been better than 3-6, that might have meant something. Instead, we're just hoping that Brady Quinn will play well again and lead the Browns to victory. Let's get right into this week's preview with the overall team statistics thus far...

OFFENSE

Category Browns Bills
Points Scored 19.1 (25th) 29.3 (21st)
Passing 180.4 (27th) 213.8 (13th)
Rushing 101.0 (22nd) 90.0 (28th)
Total Offense (yards) 281.4 (27th) 303.8 (24th)

DEFENSE

Category Browns Bills
Points Scored 21.5 (15th) 21.0 (13th)
Passing 226.9 (22nd) 205.3 (14th)
Rushing 145.2 (27th) 103.9 (13th)
Total Defense (yards) 372.1 (26th) 309.2 (13th)

-

Quarterback

The Bills have not seen an A+ performance out of Trent Edwards this year. The former third-round draft pick started off the season managing games well, but he has not been very effective the past three weeks. During that stretch, Edwards has thrown 2 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Brady Quinn definitely has more upside overall, but this will be his first road start of the season. To be fair, I can't rank him as a superstar just yet.

-

Running Back

One of the bigger disappointments this season at the running back positions has to be Marshawn Lynch. His season has been very similar to that of Jamal Lewis' -- several "ok" games, but he has not reached the 100-yard mark or thrived against division opponents. When the Bills needed him most the past two weeks against the Jets and Patriots, he has combined for 62 yards on 23 carries on the ground. The Browns need to work in Jerome Harrison on a more consistent basis; let's see if Romeo Crennel holds true to his word.

-

Receiver

This was supposed to be a breakout season for WR Lee Evans, and he has quietly posted some fair statistics, still averaging an astounding 18.9 yards per catch this season. Maybe I'm off on this, but while fans around the league know that Braylon Edwards is having a down season, they'd probably project that his stats are still higher than Evans. That is not the case. Beyond Evans though, the Bills have the same problem they've had the past several years: there aren't any go-to-guys beyond him. Quinn established a solid relationship with Kellen Winslow and Donte Stallworth last week, and has an extra week of practice under his belt in working with them.

-

 

Offensive Line

The news has been better for left guard Eric Steinbach, although there isn't a definite word on his status tonight. The Bills improved their offensive line in the offseason and their ranking might have been higher had they not been part of a three game losing streak. Both teams are pretty even at blocking the run, but the Browns excel when it comes to protecting the passer.

-


 

Defensive Line

Corey Williams' shoulder has him listed as questionable again. Sooner or later, I'm definitely due on an article about how Williams has been a complete bust thus far. The Bills will still be without outstanding pass rusher Aaron Schobel on Monday Night, a big break for Brady Quinn. For the second week in a row, Quinn shouldn't feel the pressure too much.

-

 

Linebacker

Big change at the linebacker position this week: Shantee Orr is going to see some playing time. With that said, it only makes sense that rookie fourth-rounder Beau Bell will probably be inactive again. For the Bills, Kawika Mitchell and Paul Posluszny are two players I'd like the Browns to get their hands on, if we had the appropriate defensive system. The Bills aren't particularly lights out at linebacker, but they are a healthier and better-tackling unit that Denver was.

-

 

Secondary

Cleveland's secondary has taken major steps backwards the past two weeks, but they are ones that we can recover from. Really, we've only been burned late in games -- hopefully Mel Tucker, being a defensive backs specialist, will find a better rotation by throwing Travis Daniels and Mike Adams into the mix more often.

-

 

Special Teams

Joshua Cribbs is back to the point where he can return a kick the distance every time he touches the ball. The Bills have a nearly equally dangerous returner in Roscoe Parrish, but like Cribbs earlier this season, Parrish is sort of in a "dry" spell period. Phil Dawson had two tremendous kicks in a snow bowl last season -- I think he'll be ready for some chilly weather in Buffalo.

FINAL PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 20, Buffalo Bills 17.
The kiss of death again, right? Had the Bills not looked so bad the past three weeks, I would've taken the Bills in this matchup. On the season though, Cleveland has never really played horrible football after the first three weeks. We beat a Jacksonville team on the road when they were on the same exact type of slump that Buffalo is on right now.

Quinn played a game last week, looking like he was managing a game plan. This week, he'll mentally be ready to score quicker and execute more often down the field in case he needs to keep up the scoring in a shootout.

This is the official gameday topic for the Cleveland Browns in Week 11 as they battle the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

557 comments | 0 recs

Official Week 11 Sunday Discussion Thread

This is the second Sunday in a row without Cleveland Browns football. I like the prime time games, but I also like the traditional football Sundays.

Nonetheless, if you are living in the Cleveland area, here are the games you can watch today:

  • Baltimore vs. NYG - 1:00 PM on CBS (Gumbel & Dierdorf)
  • Chicago vs. Green Bay - 1:00 PM on FOX (Buck & Aikman)
  • San Diego vs. Pittsburgh - 4:15 on CBS (Nantz & Simms)
  • Dallas vs. Washington - 8:15 on NBC (Michaels & Madden)

That's a pretty good lineup of games to watch. I'm fully aware that the Browns are on their last legs in the playoff race, but if you are interested in potential scenarios, we definitely need the Ravens and the Steelers to lose this week. Here's to hoping the Giants take care of business as usual and the Chargers exploit the Steelers' situation at quarterback.

25 comments | 0 recs | Digg!

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns - Official Game Thread

BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-3) WEEK 9 CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-4)
VS.
Date: November 6, 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Stadium: Cleveland Browns Stadium
TV: CBS
Favorite: Browns by 2
Radio: WMMS, 100.7 FM Over/Under: 36.5
SBN Coverage: Baltimore Beatdown Announcers
Kevin Harlan & Rich Gannon

The rivalry has been intense all week. Whether you hate the team, the city, or the fans, in the end the ultimate goal remains the same for the Browns: we need to win. At 3-4, Romeo Crennel has his team in position to potentially hold a wildcard spot, along with the notion of being one game behind the division leaders, by the end of Week 9. Cleveland suffered a loss to the Ravens back in Week 3, a game that Derek Anderson took all of the blame for. His performance in that game was equivalent to his meltdown late in the season against the Cincinnati Bengals last year. He has a chance for redemption at home today. He was able to evade any Brady Quinn chants the last time he was at home against the New York Giants. Will the same hold true today?

With the Ravens hurting and the Browns getting healthy, can we put this game away like we should? Let's start off this week's preview with the overall team statistics thus far...

OFFENSE

Category Ravens Browns
Points Scored 19.1 (26th) 16.4 (27th)
Passing 164.9 (27th) 167.9 (26th)
Rushing 142.4 (5th) 97.9 (26th)
Total Offense (yards) 307.3 (24th) 265.7 (30th)

DEFENSE

Category Ravens Browns
Points Scored 15.7 (3rd) 17.5 (7th)
Passing 178.1 (3rd) 195.0 (10th)
Rushing 64.3 (1st) 141.6 (24th)
Total Defense (yards) 242.4 (2nd) 336.6 (21st)

 

 

-

 

Quarterback

Derek Anderson has not thrown an interception in his past three games, a career-best for him. The Browns have not turned the ball over at all during that span, and when you win the turnover battle, you're going to win the majority of the football games you play. Anderson's worst game of the season came against the Ravens, as he threw three interceptions (practically two for touchdowns) and completed just 37% of his passes. Flacco played poorly as well, throwing two interceptions in his own stadium. Since that game, the Browns' offense has shown signs of getting back in sync, while the Ravens' offense has looked manageably well, but not to the credit of Flacco.

-

 

Running Back

Jamal Lewis has been good for an average of 80 yards and a touchdown in his past four weeks against some solid run defenses. He was on pace to do that against the Ravens in Week 3 as well before we had to abandoned the ground game due to falling behind. The Ravens don't have one go-to-guy at running back, but they are extremely effective at wearing a defense down in the sense that they have confidence in three different guys. If the Ravens build a lead, they can shove a fresh guy in at running back to help ice the game. In what was the Ravens' final "true" drive against the Browns in Week 3, they ran the ball 12 times and ate 10 minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter to seal a victory.

-

 

Receiver

When you line up the matchups, Cleveland once again has the advantage against the opposition. Now the question will be whether or not the chemistry can show up when Kellen Winslow is in the lineup. The last time we were at home, Anderson made a living on making lightning-quick decisions against the Giants' pass-rushing defense. That requires chemistry, something Anderson has shown with Steve Heiden, not Winslow. If Anderson can make those same decisions at home, the receivers should obliterate the Ravens' secondary. If not, the Ravens will capitalize on every single mistake throw Anderson makes.

-

 

Offensive Line

This has to be a little bit of a redemption game for the Browns' offensive line as well. They had their worst performance of the season against the Ravens, as they saw Anderson get sacked four times and knocked down on practically every single play. Losing Ryan Tucker for the season was bad news, but Kevin Shaffer is still a very serviceable right tackle. Right now, it may be more of a mental thing of the Browns containing the Ravens' defensive pass rush. If Anderson is able to connect on some deep passes early, that will alleviate some of the pressure they are under today.

-

 

Defensive Line

Shaun Rogers proved last week just how much of a monster he is on the defensive line. The Ravens' defensive line doesn't post the stats, but they do the exact job that our defensive line was intended to do: make room for the linebackers to do their work. The Ravens have done that very well for many years, and while the Browns are starting to do it up front, the linebackers haven't been able to take advantage. Getting Shaun Smith back from a hand injury this week should help the rotation tremendously for Cleveland.

-

 

Linebacker

D'Qwell Jackson is Cleveland's best linebacker right now. When it comes to making the impact play though, he isn't even close to being on the same scale as a Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, or Bart Scott. Last week, the Browns' linebackers did an effective job at not allowing Maurice Jones-Drew or Fred Taylor to cut the ball upfield, and they'll be depended on for the same production this week. Flacco can be baited into some throws when he rolls out to his right, so our linebackers need to be ready to force him to that side of the field. Meanwhile, Anderson cannot afford to try to fit tight throws into receivers between three linebackers -- one will deliver the big hit, and one of the other two will go for the interception.

-

 

Secondary

Chris McAlister? Out. Samari Rolle? Out. Fabian Washington and Frank Walker will start at cornerback for the Ravens. They have started the past two weeks and the Ravens have come away with victories, so it won't be as easy as just pitching and catching for the Browns. However, one of those games came against a poor passing Raiders team. In the other game, Chad Pennington was effective throwing the ball, having receivers with 74, 71, 64, and 48 yards receiving. The Browns' secondary, meanwhile, continues to play well together. It'll be a huge boost today if Sean Jones stays in the lineup at safety, which would allow Mike Adams to finally assume the role of nickel back instead of Terry Cousin.

-

 

Special Teams

Unusual statistic: Joshua Cribbs has only signaled fair catch once this season when fielding a punt. Matt Stover is having a little bit of a down year for the Ravens, missing 3-of-4 kicks from beyond 40 yards. He also struggled last year when he was in Cleveland, missing on both of his attempts from beyond 40 yards. Both punters are having solid seasons, and the Ravens' Sam Koch has the power to get the ball down the field even if our defense has the Ravens' offense backed up.


FINAL PREDICTION:
Cleveland Browns 31, Baltimore Ravens 16.
Revenge is sweet, especially when it comes against the Ravens. The Browns looked overwhelmed by the Giants in the preseason on the road, only to come back and dominate the game against them at home during the regular season. Baltimore never really got a spark going against our defense the first time we played -- all of their success came in a brief period of clock time when they picked off Derek Anderson. The gameplan today will focus on countering the Ravens' ability to get to Anderson quickly by utilizing Donte Stallworth deep for the first time this year. The weather couldn't be better for a November football game today either, with temperatures expected to be near 60 degrees.

This is the official gameday topic for the Cleveland Browns in Week 9 as they line up against the Baltimore Ravens. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

NOTE: Any Ravens fans who come over with the sole intention of slamming the Browns, its fans, or the city will be banned from the site. Even if you're a Baltimore fan who "thinks" you need to retaliate to something a Browns' fan says, this is our day to discuss the game. Likewise, any pure bragging topics following the game will result in the same consequences.

542 comments | 0 recs

Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars - Official Game Thread

CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-4) WEEK 8 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-3)
VS.
Date: October 26, 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Stadium: Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
TV: CBS
Favorite: Jaguars by 7
Radio: WMMS, 100.7 FM Over/Under: 41
SBN Coverage: Big Cat Country Announcers
Dick Enberg & Randy Cross
(Oh...My!)

There are games that are tagged as "must wins" early on in a season, when in reality, they are only games you would like to win. Today's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars truly is our first must-win game of the season (although a loss does not put us officially out of the race). Last season, we finished with ten wins but failed to make the playoffs because of our poor record against conference opponents. Besides teams in our own division, the Jaguars are a team that will be hanging around in the wildcard race for the remainder of the season. If we lose today, we might as well say we're three games back of a wildcard spot at the halfway point of the season. Heading into the game, you can't help but think about one player and one player only: Derek Anderson.

With Kellen Winslow sidelined, will Derek Anderson light it up like he did against the New York Giants? Let's kick off this week's preview with the overall team statistics thus far...

OFFENSE

Category Browns Jaguars
Points Scored 15.3 (30th) 20.6 (22nd)
Passing 156.5 (28th) 190.0 (20th)
Rushing 99.0 (25th) 116.5 (14th)
Total Offense (yards) 255.5 (30th) 306.5 (22nd)

DEFENSE

Category Browns Jaguars
Points Scored 17.6 (7th) 21.3 (13th)
Passing 183.0 (7th) 229.7 (23rd)
Rushing 146.3 (26th) 110.8 (17th)
Total Defense (yards) 329.3 (18th) 340.5 (24th)

 

 

-

 

Quarterback

There's no point in trying to defend Derek Anderson anymore. He either needs to go out today and play a manageable football game, or his starting job will be lost to Brady Quinn (perhaps even in this game). David Garrard hasn't had a brilliant season either, but the thing that separates them right now is completion percentage. Garrard is connecting on 66% of his passes, while Anderson has only completed 49% of his. Half of the time Anderson drops back, the ball is hitting the turf. Funny statistic though: Anderson has not thrown a pick in his past two games.

-

 

Running Back

I would've given the Jaguars the edge here heading into the season because of their one-two punch at running back, but that has changed with the declining performance of veteran Fred Taylor. He has 23 carries for just 54 yards over his past three games! Maurice-Jones Drew is fairing better with a 4.6 yards-per-carry average on the season, but he is at his best when he's able to come in and spell Taylor. Jamal Lewis has played exceptionally well the past two weeks against the Giants' and Redskins' tough run defenses, and will look to get over the 100-yard mark for the first time this season.

-

 

Receiver

The Browns lifted Kellen Winslow's suspension, but will still deactivate him for today's game. Honestly, with the current state of the team, I think our offense has a better chance of flowing this week with Steve Heiden starting. Hopefully we'll also get a look at rookie tight end Martin Rucker for the first time this season. The Jaguars top receiver Matt Jones was handed a three-game suspension by the league, but will still play this week as his appeal is heard. The Browns will face former teammate Dennis Northcutt for the first time ever, and although there won't be any "intense" feud or anything, it'll be interesting to watch him play against us nonetheless. The past two weeks, Donte Stallworth has been used in a lot of shifts and motions. This week, it's time to actually get him the football too.

-

 

Offensive Line

The Jaguars look to get a huge lift this week on the offensive line with center Brad Meester and guard Chris Naeole making their first appearances of the season. The Browns would get the advantage here if Ryan Tucker was listed as healthy, but that's not the case. Chances are, Kevin Shaffer will start at right tackle again, which almost guarantees that Anderson will be facing quite a few hurries from his side.

-

 

Defensive Line

Corey Williams has still failed to make a significant impact this season, and Louis Leonard is not a starter. Basically, we're consistently banking on Shaun Rogers alone to stop the run, and that's not going to work with ineffective linebackers behind you. The Jaguars have better depth on their line right now, with DT John Henderson being their best player. Henderson, a tremendous run-stopper, will force the Browns to run up the middle less often than usual. The Jaguars' line isn't really built on getting sacks, but they can still bull rush people in the right matchup.

-

 

Linebacker

The overall combined play of Andra Davis, D'Qwell Jackson, and Leon Williams inside has been so bad this season, you can't help but scratch your head as to why rookie Beau Bell isn't starting, let alone receiving playing time. Kamerion Wimbley showed the slightest signs of improvement last week, so I'll really be focused on him this week to see if he has another decent game. Right now, my expectations aren't very high. The Jaguars' unit relies on speed, but they aren't really a strength or a weakness.

-

 

Secondary

Please have Mike Adams active for this game and playing the nickel back. If our secondary can stop the Giants and the Redskins for the most part, there is no reason we shouldn't be able to stop Matt Jones and Dennis Northcutt. The Jaguars can give up some chunks of yardage, but they are prone to making the game-changing plays. Drayton Florence and Rashean Mathis are top-notch corners, and young safety Reggie Nelson will return after missing the past three games to injury.

-

 

Special Teams

For the first time this season, the special teams edge does not belong solely to the Browns. Joshua Cribbs has yet to break the big one, making our special teams unit closer to average overall. The Jaguars have a reliable kicker in Josh Scobee, who is 11-of-12 on kicks this year, including 2-of-2 on kicks from beyond 50 yards. Dennis Northcutt is also a threat to score on punt returns at any time for the Jaguars.


FINAL PREDICTION:
Jacksonville Jaguars 28, Cleveland Browns 20.
The Jaguars are 3-3, but all three of their losses have come against teams with a combined 16-2 record. Two of those losses came at home, but I can't make the same mistake I did last week by picking an unproven Derek Anderson to exceed expectations on the road. Defensively, the Browns have gotten away with holding teams on third downs despite being gashed on the ground. This week, the defense will need more help than they actually receive from the offense, as the Jaguars will execute efficiently on third downs, and thus come away with a victory.

This is the official gameday topic for the Cleveland Browns in Week 8 as they battle the Jacksonville Jaguars. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

515 comments | 0 recs

Cleveland Browns vs. Washington Redskins - Official Game Thread

CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-3) WEEK 7 WASHINGTON REDSKINS (4-2)
VS.
Date: October 19, 2008 Location: Landover, ML
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Stadium: FedEx Field
TV: CBS
Favorite: Redskins by
Radio: WMMS, 100.7 FM Over/Under: 42
SBN Coverage: Hogs Haven Announcers
Ian Eagle & Solomon Wilcots (YAY!)

Suddenly, things are looking a lot brighter for the Browns. We are coming off a well-played win over the defending Super Bowl Champions last week, as both Ryan Tucker and Donte Stallworth showed how important they were to the team. This week, we're getting Sean Jones and Kellen Winslow back. At the same time we're becoming the football team we were supposed to be, a good team like the Redskins is seeing all of their running backs and members of the secondary getting wounded.

With the injury factor benefiting the Browns for once, will that overcome our road difficulties? Let's kick off this week's preview with the overall team statistics thus far...

OFFENSE

Category Browns Redskins
Points Scored 16.2 (26th) 21.0 (19th)
Passing 161.0 (26th) 201.7 (17th)
Rushing 98.4 (23rd) 152.3 (3rd)
Total Offense (yards) 259.4 (28th) 354.0 (7th)

DEFENSE

Category Browns Redskins
Points Scored 18.4 (8th) 19.5 (10th)
Passing 188.0 (11th) 202.0 (13th)
Rushing 137.0 (25th) 83.8 (6th)
Total Defense (yards) 325.0 (17th) 285.8 (8th)

 

 

-

 

Quarterback

When Derek Anderson is at the top of his game, he can match up with almost any quarterback in the NFL. After last week's performance, I have faith that he can reproduce that effort at home. On the road, I'm still not sold on him. Jason Campbell, on the other hand, has been exactly the type of quarterback the Redskins needed. He's thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions, with plenty of his throws coming in the clutch.

-

 

Running Back

When healthy, the Redskins would get the edge here due to both talent and depth. Clinton Portis, probably the league's most consistent rusher the past several seasons, is having another terrific season. Even in last week's loss to the Rams, he failed to disappoint. His hip injury shouldn't slow him down too much this week, but it adds to the chances that we'll see a "slow" Shaun Alexander in the game. Jamal Lewis will be tested against the league's sixth-best run defense, and much of his success will depend on Anderson getting things going early on. Getting Jerome Harrison involved for the third straight game is key as well, and this time I'd actually like to see Jason Wright get a screen pass sprinkled in to him.

-

 

Receiver

As opposed to the past, the Redskins have gotten better overall production from their receivers this season. Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, and Antwan Randle El have combined for a pretty solid starting unit. Each of them have at least 300 yards receiving and a touchdown, but after that, there are no viable options. If the Browns' starting secondary continues to match up well, we won't have to worry about our lack of depth at nickel back. On the other side, Braylon Edwards appeared to be "back" last week, Donte Stallworth's presence alone appeared to benefit everybody else, and Kellen Winslow should be back. What else could you ask for (technically, you could ask for Jurevicius back).

-

 

Offensive Line

The Giants' defensive line is meant to wreck havoc on everybody -- no exceptions. That changed last week with an offensive line that included Ryan Tucker at right tackle for the first time this season. The only issue that needs to be fixed is the amount of penalties, but if we have trouble at home, chances are we'll have trouble on the road. The Redskins don't have a lot of holes on the offensive line, but they are a little bit on the downside right now. Offensive guard Pete Kendall is nursing a knee injury but is expected to play and left tackle Chris Samuels will play with an ankle injury. The Redskins are asking a lot to hope both of those guys play at the top of their game, which gives Cleveland the edge. Also, starting right tackle Jon Jansen is being benched.

-

 

Defensive Line

With Shaun Smith out again, it's going to be tough for our defensive line to go up against Portis. The Giants ran the draw play very well against us last week, and a major reason for that was because Shaun Rogers cannot play every series (in order to keep him fresh). The Redskins are built on putting together long drives, and that will fatigue our defensive line. None of the Redskins have individually put up flashy stats, but Andre Carter is the man the team has to keep contained. Jason Taylor is expected to play, and while he's not in his prime, he provides extra leadership to get the unit fired up in certain situations.

-

 

Linebacker

It's at the point where the only two linebackers worth watching on the Browns are D'Qwell Jackson and Alex Hall. The other guys could be taken off the field without substitution and still produce the same results. London Fletcher is a heck of a linebacker for the Redskins though, and the type of player I'd love to have on the Browns. Washington's linebackers love to hit hard to try and jar the football loose, so ball security will be extra important for Jamal Lewis and any of our receivers catching quick passes over the middle.

-

 

Secondary

The Browns' secondary has grown from potentially laughable to extremely respectable, as I am giving them the "edge" for the first time this season. Sean Jones will be returning to a unit that has played very well even without him, meaning moving a guy like Mike Adams down on the depth chart can only improve our depth. More than anything, I look for Jones to have a big impact on safety blitzes, taking advantage of the Redskins' shakiness on the offensive line right now. The Redskins see all of their cornerbacks banged up right now, and that cannot be good news against a Browns aerial attack with a lot of potential again.

-

 

Special Teams

It's been so long since Joshua Cribbs has had a game-changing return. The defense has played well this year and the offense "came back" last week, so will this be the week that Cribbs breaks one? The Redskins don't have a prolific kick returner, but the part of special teams that really hurts them is at the punter position. After cutting Derrick Frost in the offseason, Durant Brooks has only averaged a meager 39.6 yards per boot.


FINAL PREDICTION:
Cleveland Browns 24, Washington Redskins 21.
Initially after our win over the Giants, I was still ready to pick the Redskins to beat us due to being on the road. As the week has gone by though, the X-factors have changed. The Browns are getting a full complement of healthy players back again, while the Redskins are hoping all of their injuries in the secondary don't haunt them this week. It won't haunt them at first as Anderson will get off to a slow start on the road again, but halftime adjustments of taking more chances down the field will make the difference in a close game.

This is the official gameday topic for the Cleveland Browns in Week 7 as they battle the Washington Redskins. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

631 comments | 0 recs

New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns - Official Game Thread

NEW YORK GIANTS (4-0) WEEK 6 CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-3)
VS.
Date: October 13, 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Stadium: Cleveland Browns Stadium
TV: FOX
Favorite: Giants by 8
Radio: WMMS, 100.7 FM Over/Under: 43½
SBN Coverage: Big Blue View Announcers
Annoying ESPN Guys

NOTE: I will be attending the game tonight, and therefore will not be able to chime in with commentary as I usually do. If you're viewing the game from home though, please have a blast with keeping the thread active; I hope to come home and see over 500 comments ;)

As more reading digest, you can also check out some questions about today's game that I answered for MSG.com. I have also previewed key position matchups for today's game over at BBV.

We can't head into this game feeling like underdogs. Yesterday, the Dallas Cowboys fell to the Arizona Cardinals. And, the Washington Redskins lost to the St. Louis Rams. The Rams! If that's not a clear reminder that any team can do anything on any day, then I don't know what is. After coming off a bye week, it's a real shame that Kellen Winslow probably won't be able to play, but I think we're getting a more important piece of the puzzle back in Donte Stallworth.

With Ryan Tucker also set to return, will our offensive line be able to hold off the Giants' pass rush and upset the defending Super Bowl Champions? Let's kick off this week's preview with the overall team statistics thus far...

OFFENSE

Category Giants Browns
Points Scored 31.75 (1st) 11.5 (32nd)
Passing 249.8 (6th) 123.8 (32nd)
Rushing 181.3 (1st) 87.0 (25th)
Total Offense (yards) 431.0 (1st) 210.8 (32nd)

DEFENSE

Category Giants Browns
Points Scored 12.25 (2nd) 19.5 (9th)
Passing 154.0 (1st) 187.0 (10th)
Rushing 82.0 (6th) 126.0 (23rd)
Total Defense (yards) 236.0 (3rd) 313.0 (14th)

 

 

-

 

Quarterback

I would have ranked Eli Manning and Derek Anderson close to each other at the start of the season, but each quarterback has headed in a different direction. Where as  Manning has played like the Super Bowl winning quarterback he was last season, Anderson has not even come close to living up to the potential he showed last season. I am encouraged by the positives Anderson showed late in the fourth quarter last week, but nobody can be convinced that that's the Anderson that'll show up today. Anderson did not react too well against the Giants' pressure in the preseason, so we'll see if things are any different this time around.

-

 

Running Back

Brandon Jacobs is averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw are each averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Corey Williams' trash-talking during the week is a little too arrogant for a guy who hasn't shown up much this season, but stopping Jacobs will obviously make or break us. The Browns are still trying to get more production out of Jamal Lewis, and if the team sticks to their word, he will be at the focal point of the gameplan this week. With the Giants being so physical down near the goal line, I hope we don't run Lewis over and over again like we did early on against the Bengals a few weeks ago. It'd be more beneficial to work with the fade route to Braylon Edwards on several tries, or to insert Jerome Harrison and run a middle screen to counter the Giants' pressure.

-

 

Receiver

Welcome back, Donte Stallworth. It'll be Stallworth's first game of the season, though something is still clearly wrong with the Browns' receivers. Take a look at the Giants and the Cardinals. Plaxico Burress missed last week due to suspension, yet Domenik Hixon catches for over 100 yards and 1 touchdown. Anquan Boldin has missed two games, but backup Steve Breaston has looked like a Pro Bowler in his place. If Syndric Steptoe couldn't offer that type of production, how did we not find someone that could? With Kellen Winslow set to be out, it's not a total lost. Anderson has historically had a fair amount of success with Steve Heiden, including in his debut against the Kansas City Chiefs a few years back.

-

 

Offensive Line

The Giants' offensive line has only allowed Manning to be sacked five times this year, and they've paved the way for their running backs to average nearly 6 yards every time they touch the ball. The Browns have been less impressive this year with Rex Hadnot at right guard, but I'm going to give the Browns the "even" ranking this week because it's the only position where they match up well heading into the game. With Ryan Tucker set to return, he will have a huge responsibility trying to contain Justin Tuck. If the Browns' lineman are able to recognize their faults from the preseason and make the appropriate adjustments, we may have a shot at pulling off an upset tonight.

-

 

Defensive Line

Shaun Smith was downgraded to doubtful a few days ago, and it's expected that Louis Leonard will replace him. That makes it even more critical that our offense stays on the field by running the football, because if we allow the Giants to control the clock, Shaun Rogers will be gassed by the time the second half comes around. Smith won't be able to come in to replace him, and Brandon Jacobs will then tear through the defense with more ease than before. Although the Giants don't have Osi Uminyiora or Michael Strahan this year, the production and intensity on the defensive line is just as good, if not better, than it was last season. I envy the Giants for being able to insert their third-string lineman and receive nearly equivalent production to our starters.

-

 

Linebacker

Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce has a quadriceps strain, but he insists that he will play against the Browns. The versatility of the Giants' defensive line allows them to treat some of their lineman as linebackers in pass-rushing or drop back situations. The Browns don't have that advantage -- Kamerion Wimbley is never seen dropping back and coverage. Willie McGinest's return is actually huge for the Browns' defense in this game, because without Shaun Smith available, he may be counted on to line up on the defensive line with Williams shifting to the other side of the field, or vice-versa. Either way, rookie LB Alex Hall will have another chance to shine with an increased role.

-

 

Secondary

As Ed from Big Blue View stated earlier in the week, the Giants' cornerbacks can be taken advantage of if Anderson remains poised when the linebackers blitz. The problem is, the Giants are usually so effective at rushing the quarterback, that there isn't enough time to get a throw down the field without being hit as you release the ball. I've been really impressed by how well the Browns' secondary has handled themselves the past three games, but now it's time for some redemption. Domenik Hixon, known as a fifth-string backup in the preseason, made headlines by torching the Browns for three touchdowns.

-

 

Special Teams

Hixon has done well on punt returns for the Giants, but Joshua Cribbs' potential still supercedes that. Before the bye, Cribbs appeared to be getting a little more of a burst again. Having two weeks off, I expect Cribbs to be back at full strength and prepared to accelerate for all of the scores the Giants throw up on the board.


FINAL PREDICTION:
New York Giants 31, Cleveland Browns 20.
I could take the fun route and predict an upset, but the Giants are a team that hasn't let anyone down for awhile.
The Giants are clearly the team to beat in the NFL at the moment, so it would be a huge lift for the Browns' confidence if they were able to squeak out an upset. Either way, I just hope the game doesn't turn out like the first half encounter between the Giants and the Browns in the preseason.

This is the official gameday topic for the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 as they battle the New York Giants on Monday Night Football! All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

287 comments | 0 recs

Week 5 - Official Browns Bye Week Thread

It's the bye week for the Cleveland Browns, but there are still plenty of games around the AFC North today.

This is the official thread to discuss any of the Week 5 games, but these games in particular:

  1. Tennessee at Baltimore
  2. Cincinnati at Dallas
  3. Pittsburgh at Jacksonville

And, even though we're not playing, as always, GO BROWNS!!!

70 comments | 0 recs

Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals - Official Game Thread

CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-3) WEEK 4 CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-3)
VS.
Date: September 28, 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Stadium: Paul Brown Stadium
TV: CBS
Favorite: Bengals by 3½
Radio: WMMS, 100.7 FM Over/Under: 44½
SBN Coverage: Cincy Jungle Announcers
Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

The Battle of "O-Win-No" seems a little more appropriate, as the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals each enter this game with an 0-3 record. The Browns need to build some momentum heading into the bye week. This game literally means everything in the world to the futures of both Derek Anderson and Romeo Crennel. With a win, and I mean a good win, they will both last beyond the bye week. With a loss, we will be looking ahead to next season. The Bengals' problem is their defense -- if you can't stop anybody and your offense can't compete in a shootout anymore, then what chance do you have?

Can the Browns finally get their first victory of the season? Let's kick off the preview with the overall team statistics thus far...

OFFENSE

Category Browns Bengals
Points Scored 8.6 (32nd) 13.3 (29th)
Passing 122.7 (31st) 152.0 (26th)
Rushing 71.3 (30th) 86.7 (25th)
Total Offense (yards) 194.0 (32nd) 238.7 (30th)

DEFENSE

Category Browns Bengals
Points Scored 22.0 (18th) 22.3 (20th)
Passing 202.0 (18th) 178.7 (12th)
Rushing 145.0 (25th) 174.3 (28th)
Total Defense (yards) 347.0 (23rd) 353.0 (24th)

 

-

 

Quarterback

I was originally going to give the Bengals the edge here, but when I heard that Carson Palmer was ruled out due to injury, the edge goes back to Derek Anderson. Though he has not performed well over the first three weeks of the season, he has a lot more starting experience than Ryan Fitzpatrick does. Anderson's season is on the line here -- if he starts off the game with a hot hand, then he will live to see another day as a starter. If he throws interceptions or leads several three-and-outs in a row, then Brady Quinn will receive serious consideration from Romeo Crennel.

-

 

Running Back

Neither the Browns nor the Bengals have gotten their ground games going -- each team is averaging less than 100 yards per game. In Lewis' case though, it seems to have more to do with the Browns falling behind and abandoning the run than it does Lewis having a sub par season. Reports have indicated that the Browns are committed to focusing their entire gameplan around Lewis this week, especially after his outcry for more touches following last week's game. Crennel also stated for the second consecutive week that they will try to give Jerome Harrison a few more touches. Let's see if he's actually true to his word this week.

-

 

Receiver

Right now, Braylon Edwards is struggling more than any receiver in football besides Chad Johnson. When you cancel both of those players out of the equation, it boils down to T.J. Houshmandzadeh against Syndric Steptoe. I think I'd take Houshmandzadeh any day of the week in that contest. The Browns still have Kellen Winslow at their disposal, but Anderson's chemistry with him hasn't been very high. The Bengals have had more support from Antonio Chatman on their depth chart to give them the slight edge heading into the game. Overall, the Browns still have the better talent.

-

 

Offensive Line

Eric Steinbach, after originally being reported as having an injury that would keep him out 3-5 weeks, is ACTIVE for today's game against the Bengals. That means the Browns' line should be completely healthy, and thank goodness -- Seth McKinney was horrible last week and also affected the play of Joe Thomas. The Bengals haven't had a dominant offensive line the past several years, something that has corresponded to the struggles of Carson Palmer.

-

 

Defensive Line

With the Bengals struggling to get their running game going and an inexperience quarterback under center, this is a perfect opportunity for Shaun Rogers to put the heat on. Remember, we originally thought that the Cincinnati Bengals had acquired Rogers in the offseason, but then the deal was void and we ended up getting him instead. The Bengals only have one sack through three games, so trying to win the battle in the trenches shouldn't be much of a threat.

-

 

Linebacker

The Browns don't have playmakers at linebacker. On the other side of the field though, the Bengals don't even have guys that can tackle. Just take a look at their Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, when they allowed Joe Flacco to run down the field for a 33 yard touchdown. Lewis could be in for a big day -- recall last season that he ran for over 200 yards against them in Week 2.

-

 

Secondary

Though the defensive backs were a big concern heading into the season, Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright have definitely held their own. The Bengals have yet to record a single interception this season and are not known as having a shutdown secondary.

-

 

Special Teams

Could this be the week that Joshua Cribbs makes the impact we've been looking for? If it's a high-scoring affair, then he'll get a lot of looks. Phil Dawson has been perfect this season, but he has not had any meaningful attempts yet. Hopefully he'll be able to make more of an impact on the game this week.

FINAL PREDICTION: Cleveland Browns 24, Cincinnati Bengals 9.
If Carson Palmer was playing, I was thinking of picking the Bengals to defeat the Browns. With Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, things aren't going to be good for the Bengals. They struggled to move the ball the first two weeks due to awful schemes and playcalling -- only Palmer's abilities were able to bail him out of that. Unless Anderson single-handedly loses this game again, we shouldn't have any problems taking care of the Bengals. Tough to say when you're 0-3 though, eh?

This is the official gameday topic for the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 as they face off against the Cincinnati Bengals. All comments regarding the game should be posted in this topic. Enjoy the game, and GO BROWNS!!!

606 comments | 0 recs



Executive Editor

Dbn_small ChrisPokorny

Minions

Dry_iron_small NickFantana