Browns Show Glimpses of Hope But Still Lose in Overtime

It’s amazing how much faith Browns’ fans have.

Terrible performance after terrible performance, the fans are there. They’re hoping and praying, but still have faith that their Brownies can win.

Even after an 0-3 start, this Sunday was no different.

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Cleveland Browns-Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 Second Half Schedule Comparison

After today’s 23-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Cleveland Browns sit at 3-4 after week 8. Coming into the season, a lot was made about how difficult the Browns schedule is for 2008. Certainly, the claims were warranted. Each of the AFC North teams drew a tough slate this season, having to play the AFC South and NFC East, perhaps the toughest divisions in each conference.

At 3-4, the Browns currently sit two full games and a tie-breaker behind the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as a game and a tie-breaker behind the Baltimore Ravens. But is it possible that the Browns are actually in good position to make a run at the AFC North crown? Let’s compare the remaining schedules of the Browns and the Steelers. (Sorry Ravens, I know that you spanked the Browns at home earlier this year, but Joe Flacco is your quarterback and Cam Cameron is your offensive coordinator. I’m an IU fan and have been a Dolphins fan my whole life as well — Cam Cameron ruined both football teams. Screw him. Anyway, I refuse to believe that Baltimore will still be standing once December rolls around.)

The Cleveland Browns remaining schedule for 2008 (with opponents current records as of 10/26):

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Cleveland Browns – Still Alive For AFC North After Bye Week

Whats next? Thats what you are probably thinking if you are a Browns fan. There are a few positives that loom in light of all of the apparent negatives involving what was supposed to be a runaway season for the Brownies.

First, no AFC North team has clearly run away with the division. Yes, the Ravens can play defense, they always could. But how many games can the Ravens win scoring less that 20 points per game? The Steelers appear to be a mess offensively with Big Ben Roethlisberger dealing with injuries, along with Rashard Mendenhall out for the year and Willie Parker no where near 100 percent. Their backfield is now featuring Mewelde Moore and Najeh Davenport, which if they were any good, Pittsburgh would not have drafted a running back in the first round, right? That leads us to the Bungles, or Bengals, which ever you prefer. They again have no defense, and offensively, they have turned to former-Texas-standout-now-running-back-bust Cedric Benson. This compiled with an injured Carson Palmer gives me hope as a Browns fan.

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Cleveland Browns: Terrible Loss to Baltimore

by Jerod Morris

That was terrible. It was pathetic. It was ugly. As I type this I am watching Derek Jeter speak to the crowd after the final game at Yankee Stadium. Jason Giambi is standing one person to Jeter’s left, so he and his sellingly (that’s my word for a mustache if you didn’t know…a combination of Selleck and Mattingly, who sported two of the greatest mustaches ever) are on full display. Why do I mention this? Because it’s the only thing I’ve seen today that’s uglier than the Browns’ performance this afternoon at Baltimore.

I’m still trying to figure out what happened. We led 10-7 at the half, and it felt like we were somewhat in control of the game. We were running relatively well, Derek Anderson seemed to be throwing the ball better, and the offensive coaches remembered that Jerome Harrison is on the team and got him a screen pass that he promptly turned into a touchdown. Plus, the defense had forced two turnovers and seemed primed to make it a difficult day on rookie QB Joe Flacco.

Then the second half started. And…well to be honest I don’t want to talk about. I’d prefer to not have nightmares when I got to bed after writing this.

I’d much prefer to look forward. What can the Browns do to turn this season around and get back to some semblance of respectability?

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Cleveland Browns: Thoughts After Loss to Steelers

by Jerod Morris

Some thoughts after watching the Cleveland Browns lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers tonight 10-6.

1)    Ben Roethlisberger is really tough, and really good.  He played tonight with a separated shoulder and the Browns (especially Shaun Rogers) knocked him pretty good a few times.  Obviously his stats were not overwhelming, as the game was played in pretty strong winds and occasional rain, but he made big plays when he needed to.  Ben Roethlisberger did what it took to win, and that is the first line of the job description of any quarterback.  Obviously, I must eat a little bit of crow for the article I wrote a few weeks back claiming (tongue-in-check…I swear!) that Derek Anderson is the best QB in the AFC, but at least after today we know one thing: Carson Palmer is definitely third!

2)    The Browns offense just is not clicking yet.  Derek Anderson looked very hesitant in the first half, and was guiding the ball more than he was throwing it.  He looked much better in the second half, but we could not finish drives.  We needed to get into the endzone and all of our drives stalled before we could even get into the redzone.  I think Derek Anderson will get better as the offense gets their timing back.  Remember, very few of the starters played together after the preseason debacle against the Giants.  Derek had a concussion, Braylon got hurt, Jurevicius and Stallworth were out, etc.  The Browns had a rhythm, timing, and swagger going on offense last year.  I think they can get it back, and it needs to happen quickly.

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Who is the Best QB in the AFC North?

by Jerod Morris

For those of you who read the Chicago White Sox – Chicago Cubs Tale of the Tape, you know that I am capable of nothing less than absolute objectivity. Well, with football season on the horizon, I have decided to extend my aptitude for objective analysis to a burning and pertinent NFL question: Who is the best quarterback in the AFC North?

To answer this question, let’s begin by first removing all Baltimore quarterbacks from the equation. Whoever starts for Baltimore, be it Troy Smith, or Joe Delaware, or Kyle Boller, or Brian Billick…it doesn’t matter. When one of the backups in your division (Brady Quinn) is clearly better than any of your starters, you do not get to enjoy being part of a debate like this.

So as we set out to decide who the best QB is in the AFC North, we have three candidates: Carson Palmer, Ben Roethlisberger, and Derek Anderson. Who is the best?

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