Browns-Broncos Thursday Night Football | Preview and Prediction

Let me just say this up front: I am still disgusted about the Baltimore loss. Not only did it send the Browns to a 3-5 record and dangerously close to being eliminated from playoff hope, but it made me look like a fool. I stuck my neck out to predict a Browns victory last week, and wasted precious time researching the game and trying to find statistical reasons to back my point up. Why does this disgust me?

Because there is absolutely no rhyme or reason to the Browns season in 2008.

Out of the gates we drop 3 in a row, and look pathetic in all three losses. I know, I know — we were close in the Pittsburgh game, but did anyone really get the feeling during that game that we were going to win it? That’s what I thought. Then we beat Cincinnati — big deal, who hasn’t. And then came the biggest shocker of the year: a 35-14 win over the Giants, which remains the Giants’ only loss.

Then we dropped a very winnable game against the Redskins, only to come back the next week and play outstanding football on the road against a team pegged by many to be a challenger in the AFC this year, the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Here’s a question for you: Who has had the more disappointing season in 2008, Cleveland or Jacksonville? I guess it goes to the Jags since we beat them and own the tie-breaker.) And what do we do with the momentum of the Jacksonville win? Grab a 27-13 lead over Baltimore and then pissing it all away with a horrible 4th quarter.

So…anyone want to wager a guess at what Browns team will show up Thursday night?

First, let’s get the particulars out of the way:

–The game is on the NFL Network, tonight, at 8:15 ET.

–Bob Papa and Chris Collinsworth will call the game.

–Denver is favored by 3-1/2

–Cleveland Injuries: Eric Steinbach is doubtful, Shaun Rogers didn’t practice Tuesday or yesterday and is questionable, and Donte Stallworth is…well who cares. Probable or out he’ll just end up getting hurt anyway. But I think he’s supposed to at least start the game.

–Denver Injuries: Mike Shanahan’s pride is questionable, Jay Cutler’s humility is out, Tony Scheffler and Selvin Young are questionable; Champ Bailey, Marlon McCree, and DJ Williams are out.

And a quick poll:

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Look, we all know what the most important storyline in tonight’s game is: Brady Quinn. The Golden Boy and former first round draft pick is starting his first NFL game in place of the benched Derek Anderson. If Brady is accurate, makes good decisions, and does not get rattled in his first start, the Denver D will provide plenty of opportunities. If Donte Stallworth is lining up opposite Braylon Edwards, it should open Braylon up for more opportunities to drop wide open passes. If Brady Quinn is smart he will just use the law of averages to his advantage and throw it deep to Braylon over and over. If we do it 20 times, and Braylon catches 20% of them (asking a lot, I know), that’s 4 big plays. (Except of course that Brady Quinn isn’t that great at throwing the deep ball — it’s the biggest difference between he and Derek Anderson; and coincidentally, it’s the biggest difference between our offense this year and last year, the lack of the deep ball.  Not sure how Brady Quinn will improve that, but at least if he can be more accurate on the short throws we should be able to keep drives alive and avoid so many 3 and outs.)

Can you tell that this preview has a little bit of a different tone than the other ones?

The way I look at it, there really is no reason to go through any sort of statistical analysis or in-depth keys to the game. You want a key to the game? Here you go: If the Browns play like they are capable of playing, and their stars make plays, they have a chance. If they don’t, Denver will win. It’s that simple.

If you’d like a little more meat:

–Braylon Edwards needs to catch the ball.

–Kellen Winslow needs to separate himself from Darnell Dinkins as far as big-game production this season.

–Get the ball to Jamal Lewis 20 times, but actually try to get more than 3.0 YPC in those 20 carries.

–Stop the run. Denver ran for 14 yards last week. If they are gashing us over and over again, I’m going to pick up Joe “Turkey” Jones and slam him down like he’s Terry Bradshaw. (FYI…Turkey Jones will be making an appearance at the Dallas-area Browns Backers tonight.)

–Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald need to contain Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal and not let Ego Cutler go wild.

–Romeo Crennel needs to just be adequate managing the game and not screw up the clock.

–And finally, Brady Quinn needs to live up the hype…somewhat. He doesn’t need to part the Red Sea or cure cancer in his first start (although, we do request that he does both of these by the end of the season), but he does need to play solid. Make good reads, protect the ball, and put Braylon, Kellen, and whoever else is playing in a position to make plays.

There, now you have some keys to the game. I’ve been frustrated with the Browns all week in the aftermath of the Baltimore second-half pukefest, and writing this preview has made me even more frustrated. This team should be better than 3-5 and we should be playing for more tonight than just to save our season. We should be playing to stay ahead of Baltimore in the division.

As it is, we’re playing to save our season. Can we?

Barely.

Cleveland Browns 31 | Denver Broncos 30

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[tags]nfl, football, cleveland browns, denver broncos[/tags]

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