Browns Banter: Uninspired Loss to Eagles on Monday Night Football
The Cleveland Browns lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 30-10 Monday night in what had to be the most lackluster, uninspired offensive game plan, perhaps designed to put fans to sleep and make them forget the Browns now 4-10 season – almost the reverse of the 2007 10-6 Browns.
It is not that the players didn’t try. Cornerback Brandon McDonald had two interceptions, one for a touchdown when McDonald intercepted a pass from Eagles backup quarterback Kevin Kolb in the fourth quarter. The other came just before the end of the first half when McDonald jumped in front of Donovan McNabb’s intended receiver in the end zone and ran it back 98 yards to the 7-yard line where he was tackled as time ran out. The effort was all for nothing, a fitting summation of the Browns season.
In fact, McDonald’s touchdown was the first time the Browns scored a touchdown in four games. It wasn’t the same as scoring from the Red Zone. Doing that, would be an offensive touchdown. But the Browns might have a chance on Sunday against division rival, Cincinnati. The two Ohio NFL teams are deep in the basement.
But at least the Bungals managed to tie Philadelphia in a game last month. Afterward, McNabb said he didn’t know there could be a tie. Against the Browns, McNabb showed a lot of clarity – especially in his passing attack. McNabb threw TDs of 14 yards to Kevin Curtis and 10 to Greg Lewis. McNabb was 26-of-35 for 290 yards, averaging 352 yards in his three wins against the Browns.
Beleaguered wide receiver Braylon Edwards played a great game, catching everything Ken Dorsey tossed his way, including five catches for 102 yards, including one catch sandwiched between two Eagles. Unfortunately, Braylon’s prowess Monday proved to be too little, too late.
Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel stood on the sidelines, attempting to look involved. But Crennel knows his time with the Browns is short – and it seems offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is biding his time, too. With all the talk and promises of giving running back/receiver/quarterback/defensive special teams tackle Joshua Cribbs a major role, it just hasn’t happened.
A couple of times Cribbs took the snap from center and gained a few yards, running. But he has only thrown the ball for a pass twice in two games, and is 1-of-2 . That is hardly what the media and fans expected from the former Kent State University quarterback.
What is there to lose?
Here is Chudzinski’s game plan: Running back Jamal Lewis up the middle on first down; Lewis up the middle on second down. Now, it is third down and seven yards to go – and guess what, Dorsey tries to hit Edwards on the sidelines.
Real creative, Rob. That’s the way to fool Philly – and lull Browns fans to sleep.
If Chudzinski is fighting for his job or “interviewing†for a new offensive coordinator position elsewhere in the NFL, he is doing a very poor job of it. The Browns had to pay “Chud†a big chunk of change to stay, rather than try for a head coach position for another team. Is Chudzinski suffering from a sophomore jinx or was last year’s inspired and inspiring play-calling an aberration? That question could be asked of management and players.
But one thing is very clear: The Cleveland Browns were in no way or shape ready to start the 2008 season. And that lies on the coaches.
The Monday Night Football crew tried to make the game interesting. For instance, it was pointed out the Browns won the first two Monday night games with two different quarterbacks – Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. And this was Cleveland’s chance to set a record by winning three Monday night games in one season with three different quarterbacks.
Of course you have to have a legitimate quarterback to make this happen. Browns players say Dorsey has a great football mind, can read defenses, and can call audibles at the line. But he loses his ability to reason when being mauled by defenders – and he doesn’t have the greatest arm.
The game went south in the Eagles opening drive when McNabb & Co. waltzed down the field and scored a touchdown within four minutes. That’s when house porch lights blinked out and many Browns fans went to bed. The rest would be asleep and dreaming of the Super Bowl before the final gun.
The Browns running game was almost as abysmal as the week before against the Titans when running back 
Jamal Lewis had seven yards for seven carries. The Eagles contained Lewis to 32 yards on 14 carries. Josh Cribbs added 25 yards on five carries.
Dorsey was 8-for-21 for 127 yards and picked off twice, with one interception returned 50 yards for a touchdown by Asante Samuel. Another by linebacker Stewart Bradley set up Philadelphia’s last score.
At one point it looked as if Browns new back-up quarterback Bruce “Zeke†Gradkowski would get in, but that might have taken too much effort for Chudzinski and Crennel. Plus, it may have delayed the end of the debacle
Field goal kicker Phil Dawson was called in when a Dorsey third-down pass banged off the hands of tight end Darnell Dinkins inside the 5-yard line. Dinkins put his head in his hands in frustration, knowing the ball had “touchdown†written all over it.
Dawson’s field-goal was the 30ththof the season – good news, if is three-pointers weren’t the consolation prizes for touchdowns.
After the final play, the Eagles swaggered off the field believing they are still in the hunt.
But Philly is going nowhere. After all, they had just beaten the Browns.
What does that prove?
Tags: Cleveland Browns, Monday Night Football, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles
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Paul Brown spins in grave as disappointing, beat-up Browns host the bumbling, bungling Bengals
By MidnightWriter
How ironic is it that Paul Brown, one of the most innovative and toughest coaches in football history, spawned the likes of the Cleveland Browns and in 1963, after being fired by Browns owner Art Modell, created the now struggling Cincinnati Bengals. Both of these once-proud legacies live in the basement of the AFC.
As these two quarterback-challenged, running back-less, Red Zone-aphobic defeated teams face off on Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium in the Browns final 2008 home game, what can fans look forward to?
How about the match between Ken Dorsey and Ryan Fitzpatrick? Fans can always bet on which quarterback gets closest to his intended receivers; who throws the most picks – and who eludes the most sacks? I suppose the last quarterback standing, wins.
To be fair, Cleveland has lost most of its receivers to injuries – both mental and physical.
With wide receiver Braylon Edwards suffering from full-blown paranoia and delusions of grandeur, how can he possibly remember his route when he is concentrating on catching the ball? And if Cleveland fans, start to boo, Edwards may just collapse and leave the game to get his head together.
Note to Braylon: Browns fans do not hate you for playing for the University of Michigan. We hate it when you drop passes in Cleveland – and everywhere else.
But Dorsey also has tight end Kellen Winslow – no wait, he will be out due to a high ankle sprain. How about tight end Steve Heiden? No, he is out until next year with a knee injury. Tight end Joe Jurevicius? No, he is still recuperating from a seventh knee surgery to clean up an 11-month staph infection.
No, this Sunday it will have to be Dorsey to wide receiver Darnell Dinkins who dropped a pass on the five-yard line last week. Or Dorsey to Rucker (no, not Reggie. That would be Martin.).
What a difference a year makes!
In 2007 the Browns needed a win in Cincinnati to control their own destiny and go on to the play-offs. Cleveland lost that game due to the ineffective and frankly, sucky play of Derek Anderson in a game that proved Anderson can’s win the games that count, and caves under pressure.
In fact, Anderson’s mediocre passing game in the Browns last five games of 2007, should have been a red flag. He should have been dealt before the start of this season while he still had trade value, and the Browns could have started this season with Brady Quinn (a man, if you can believe Jrod’s report, can fly.)
Failure to acknowledge Anderson’s shortcomings and use him as trade bait, instead, is just one poor decision in the Browns season of errors.
Head Coach Romeo Crennel proclaimed his loyalty to Anderson, then declared Quinn the starter against the Denver Broncoes late in the season. On Nov. 17 Quinn was injured against the Buffalo Bills and the following Sunday at home was benched after throwing two picks. Quinn had surgery to repair his fractured finger and Crennel named Quinn the starting quarterback of 2009.
But Crennel may be coaching his last game on the Cleveland sidelines. Then again, maybe not. The latest rumor is that Crennel will stay one more year at the helm simply because Browns first choice is still Bill Cowher – and he won’t be available to coach until the 2010 season.
The job of Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis doesn’t seem in jeopardy, but the Browns may want to lure him to Cleveland to take the defensive coordinator position from rookie Browns defensive coordinator Melvin Tucker.
Meanwhile, security guards scheduled to work Sunday’s game have been warned about alcohol-charged fans who may want to tip a beer or two on an opponent or spit an f-word toward the Product on the field or a visiting Bengals fan.
The Browns warn that fans entering the stadium will be checked thoroughly for contraband and unruly drunks will be tossed into a makeshift drunk tank where they will not be able to see or listen to the game. This is punishment?
My guess is, if the Browns don’t pass that Red Zone fast, the fans will misbehave more and become obnoxious.
Mark “Munch†Bishop, sports jock at ESPN WKNR-AM 850, has suggested one way to make the fans feel better:
“Randy Lerner should give each fan a 10-spot as they leave the stadium,†Bishop said.
But an additional ten dollars in their pockets might cause even more Browns loyalists to hit the nearest pub and drown their sorrows after the final home game of the season that wasn’t..
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