MNF Preview: Cleveland Browns – New York Giants

Even though the show began in Cleveland 38 years ago, Monday night marks the first time the Cleveland Browns have been featured on Monday Night Football since 2003. Even more depressing is the fact that they have not won a game on Monday night since 1993.

All of that can change however, if the New York Giants come into town as cocky as they ought to be after embarrassing the Browns in the preseason on August 18th. History has shown that any team can upset a sleeping (New York Football) Giant on ANY given day, and MNF seems to have highlighted many more these games than CBS and FOX has in the last ten years.

Lets take a closer look at what Cleveland has to do to make Tom Coughlin look (and say something) stupid after the game…

1) Donte Stallworth has to show up to play (literally and figuratively).

Nobody has seen him play in orange and brown this year, so it is not entirely optimistic of me to think that the Giants might not have him scouted properly. All of this, unfortunately, depends on whether or not his vagina hurts too much for him to actually get in the game.

If D.A. can get him involved early, the defense will be forced to respect him. That just might open a few doors (and holes) for Jamal Lewis and (hopefully) Jerome Harrison. If we can threaten the run, which we haven’t successfully done at all this season, we can take the pressure off Derek Anderson to make big plays out of nothing.

Pass it. Then run it. Then bring in the Play Action. That is what made Derek Anderson look so good in the past, and its why we won ten games last year.

2) Romeo has to want it.

Lately it seems that Romeo Crennel plays “smart football” to the point of distraction. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing Phil Dawson run onto the field on 4th and 2 when we are down by 3 scores with 9 minutes left in the game. Not to say that i think he should call onside kicks, go for two, and use a barrage of trick plays; but he is going to have to grow a pair if he wants to take this team to the postseason. The fact that he will likely lose his job if he can’t turn this season around should motivate him to want this win more than anything. In addition, the Giants made him look foolish and ill-prepared in the preseason, and with an extra week to get ready, Monday night is his prime time chance to make a statement to the world (or his next employer).

3) Special Teams

The Giants are ranked #1 in total offense. Cleveland comes in at 32nd (out of 32). We are going to have to rely on our special teams units to make some big plays if we want to have a snowballs chance in hell of keeping the game close in the fourth quarter.

4) Defense

Cleveland is ranked 14th in total defense, but is tied for 6th in INTs. That’s three times as many as New York. The Giants returned one of those picks for six, though, and the Browns have not capitalized on their turnovers. If our young cornerbacks can shutdown the pass, force a pick or two, and manage to score or go down without fumbling, there is no reason to believe that this game is going to be a blowout.

PREDICTION: Cleveland by 3 in OT

The fact that this game looks so lopsided on paper makes me think it is going to be close. The fact that my degenerate gambler friend told me that New York is a “lock” to win makes me think Cleveland comes out on top. Final Score? Cleveland 23 – New York 20

[tags]monday night football, cleveland browns, new york giants, nfl, football[/tags]

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