Cleveland Browns
Re-Focused: Browns @ Steelers, Week 14
What looked like a routine victory for the Steelers on paper, proved anything but as the Cleveland Browns came into Pittsburgh and threatened the Steelers AFC North chances (as well as the health of several starters).
Indeed, while the result is what was expected and desired, it’s hard to tell how much this could cost the Steelers in the future. Ben Roethlisberger was hobbled and Maurkice Pouncey forced from the game while Ziggy Hood also disappeared in the second quarter never to return. The extra layoff will do them good but it’s hard for any team to contend with three players picking up knocks, especially one trying to chase down the Baltimore Ravens.
Still it’s to their credit they overcame a stubborn Browns team who struggled, outside of an opening drive, to move the ball. A shame for Cleveland though as their defense really stepped it up with big stands and key turnovers to stop Pittsburgh from building up a lead before the big play threat of the Steelers’ receivers knocked them out for the count. Let’s look at some of the key performances.
Three to Focus on: Browns @ Steelers, Week 14
The AFC North has boiled down to a battle of who’ll blink first between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Once again, these two sit atop the division as we head into the final quarter of the season. Baltimore controls their own destiny thanks to a pair of head-to-head victories over their primary AFC North rival. The Steelers need at least one Ravens loss if they are to take the division, while avoiding any slip-ups of their own.
The role of the spoiler is all the Browns have left this season but they are definitely a team on the up, despite their record. As was seen last week, they have enough talent defensively to keep them in games longer than in the past but a limited offense continues to hold them back. Read the rest of this entry »
Re-Focused: Ravens @ Browns, Week 13
There was something very business-like about the way the Baltimore Ravens handled Sunday. After suffering disappointing defeats to lesser opponents earlier in the year, the Ravens calmly focussed on the run in this one and the result was clear. Not quite a blowout, but the Ravens never looked threatened in the second half as they eased to victory.
For the Browns it highlighted how far they still need to come, despite the improvements they look to have made this season. The biggest need for improvement will be at the quarterback position where they need someone to show they can win games like their three AFC North divisional foes if they are to have any chance of competing within the division anytime soon.
That being said, one or two Browns, and more than a few Ravens, really stood out again this week so let’s take a look at the key performances from this one.
Three to Focus on: Ravens @ Browns, Week 13
After watching the Cleveland Browns almost pull the upset in Cincinnati, I get the impression they are going to relish playing the spoiler role in the AFC North title race. Is it a little sad that once again that’s what their season has been reduced to? Perhaps, but the Browns have certainly added some impressive young players in the last two drafts and they’ll get to test them against the division powers with four games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the final five weeks of the season.
This week they host a Ravens team that has struggled in the game following a big emotional win, like the one last Thursday against the San Francisco 49ers. But the three disappointing losses are what people seem to continually focus on recently, and they seem to be overlooking what, for me, is the best Baltimore defense since the Superbowl winning 2000 version. Read the rest of this entry »
Re-Focused: Browns @ Bengals, Week 12
They don’t always play the best football and they don’t always win, but there is something pretty entertaining about the Cleveland Browns’ ability to turn any contest into a close one. Their 23-20 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals was the third time in as many weeks a game was decided by a margin of four points or less. This one being decided as Colt McCoy was unable to drive his team down the field after Mike Nugent’s field goal gave the Bengals the lead with 41 seconds remaining.
It’s another one of those games Cleveland will look back on and think what could have been, with some errant throws and incomprehensible drops hurting an offense that got off to a great start. For Cincinnati, this game wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of their playoff credentials, but they eked out a win without ever really excelling. There’s something to be said for that as they made big plays when they needed to. Read the rest of this entry »
Three to Focus on: Browns @ Bengals, Week 12
Prior to the season, the big debate in the AFC North was who would win – the Baltimore Ravens or the Pittsburgh Steelers? A debate that was less interesting but equally valid was who would end up in third – the Cincinnati Bengals or the Cleveland Browns? Eight games into the season, it looked like the Bengals could make it a three-team race for the division crown, but after back-to-back losses to the division leaders, the Bengals are back to third.
Despite the losing streak, if the playoffs were to start today, Cincinnati would still hold on to a wild card spot. With a difficult schedule ahead, the Bengals don’t want to let this opportunity get away. The Browns would be more than happy to help keep their division rivals out of the playoffs. Even though Cincinnati won this battle in Week 1, there are plenty of reasons to why this game will be different.
Re-Focused: Jaguars @ Browns, Week 11
Whilst this game wouldn’t receive much attention on the weekly highlight packages, a tightly-contested and physical AFC encounter was the reward for anyone who took the time to watch it. At stake: the chance for both teams to improve to 4-6 and keep their faint playoff hopes alive. It came down to the final play, but the Browns completed a goal line stand to win 14-10.
Unfortunately for the Browns, they’ve already been through the easiest part of their schedule, so the chances of them pulling themselves back into the race seem slim. Had Jacksonville won, they might have fancied their chances of catching the Texans with Matt Schaub out but, from now on, their focus should probably be on next season.
In a game as tight as this, every play counts. Having looked at every play, let’s see whose performances had the most impact:
Three to Focus On: Jaguars @ Browns, Week 11
If you like defensive battles, then do we have a game for you! These teams have played 18 games this season with each scoring 20 or more points just once. In the last four weeks, the Jaguars are averaging a blistering 14 points per game. Over the same span, the juggernaut that is the Browns’ offense has averaged 10 points per game and they remain the only team in the NFL to not have an offensive touchdown in the first or third quarters of any game this season.
While neither teams’ offense has been putting up many points, the defenses have done their job in preventing their foes from scoring much either. Our PFF statistics agree, which is not a surprise since most of the plus players on each team are found on the defensive side of the ball. Read the rest of this entry »
Re-Focused – Rams @ Browns, Week 10
I heard some moaning in the CBS studios about how dull this game was, particularly from Shannon Sharpe, as I was watching the Broncos beat the Chiefs. I mention this for two reasons; firstly it allows me to remark (simply in passing) I was the only one on the team to pick the Broncos this week and secondly because I quite enjoyed the game. Rest assured, after watching the Colts last week, this was an epic nail-biter that will take many hours to forget.
A lot of the commentators talk during the game centered on how the poor Cleveland rush defense (on the back of one poor showing against Houston last week) would cope with Steven Jackson. Obviously this neglected the fact that the Rams offensive line is not living in the same time zone as the Texans or that the Browns actually have a fairly stout group of run defenders. Read the rest of this entry »
Three to Focus on – Rams @ Browns
The Cleveland Browns don’t get a lot of mention, being in an AFC North with three teams with six wins each. But while they won’t make the playoffs this year (bar an incredible second half of the season) they look to be right where they need to be in terms of rebuilding with some key players drafted over the past two seasons contributing well.
For the Rams it was a very tough start to the season. Injuries, poor play and a horrific early season schedule doomed them to an 0-6 start before they shocked everyone with a win over the New Orleans Saints. While this matchup may not have the playoff implications of some of the other games this week, it will give us a good look at where both teams are going forward.
So with that in mind let’s take a look at the three matchups to focus on this weekend.
 |
|