sielwolf's Journal: "Gaaaah! *beats fist against chest* I'm dyin' here!"

How damn close can the Browns make every win this year? I mean Jesus! The Football Gods must have it out for CLE but then, being fair and just, let them get up on folks just as often as they fall short. Third straight game against Jacksonville where something wierd happened (first was the legal but hard Sapp-esque hit on Mark Brunell, the second was The Bottle Throwing Game). But the Browns got lucky on the last play as time expired to win by one motherfucking point.

You know, I really don't know what is worse: winning a game this way or losing one. Now you can say losing one but, consider the Browns almost-but-not-quite loss against Baltimore earlier this year: Couch goes out, Kelly Holcomb comes in and, with a broken leg, brings the Browns in close and we lose as the ball is intercepted in the end zone.

Now how is this better than winning close? Well up to that point you're sinking into dread and depression and now this "miracle" comeback is happening (usually because of prevent defense) which is just like them putting the screws to you. And on that last play your heart stops for about fourteen seconds and- and- and-!!!!!

You can see why. I guess close-winning would be easier if the Browns wouldn't close-lose so much.

Of course the standard Cleveland fan chant is "If Rudd hadn't thrown his helmet and if we had gotten that FG in Pittsburgh... we'd be 9-4!" Ok I'm sorry but then you'd have to call into account that we then might not have won this game, or at Tennessee, or against the Jets. Luck is a two-way street, lest we forget.

Again I'm still unconvinced by the Browns D. They did good considering that it was them alone against the Jags for the first half. But then I still don't like the ability of their coverage to break (which it seems to do about twice a game) for big gains from the other team (this week, Taylor's 44 yard run). Of course the highlight says that it is the RB/WR/QB's fantastic athleticism... but why do you never see the Bucs or Eagles getting slayed by the big play? The best defenses can force good players to have quiet Sundays. It is that simple. Problem is that the Browns are still the Salvation Army of Rushing Yardage.

That forces our young secondary to double-think, weakening our D all around. That's why on games like this RB's look like Pro Bowlers, and the Browns end up with no INTs. The hope is that the return of Jamir Miller (note: the only Browns 2.0 player to get to the Pro Bowl) should help shuffle all the talent and leave somebody open (You can't double cover Miller, Brown, and Warren every damn play. Somebody's going to get through). I just hope the Browns realize this (and resign Miller). I also hope that they realize that soft coverage doesn't work that well when you give up more yards on the ground than the French.

And then the offense was again: quiet, quiet, quiet... LOUD. One problem was that Dennis Northcutt (one of our WRs ascending) was out with a knee injury. Of all the Browns this year, he has the best chance of getting to the Pro Bowl (rushing, passing, and punt return TDs... not bad). Couch was again delinquent until the Browns were down about a bajillion points and had to do something...

Of course now there's a little Mr William Green to help him... shit, this kid's second half has been spectacular! This was his fourth week with over 90 yards on the ground (giving the Browns their fourth week of over 100 yards on the ground). So the Browns are getting some ground control. The problem is: the outcome has been the same. It's like Bruce Arians can't/won't believe that the rushing game has turned around. So we end up getting in to the opponent's territory and then "pass,pass,rush,punt". Jesus, c'mon! That is almost as bad as the Bellichick era "rush up the middle, rush up the middle, rush up the middle, punt". I'd say: let Couch call more audibles after getting some breathing room from rushing. Something!

But the Browns are still close. After the "WTF?" loss by the Steelers to the Texans, CLE is still within half a game of taking the Division. The schedules.

Browns:
Dec 15 Indianapolis
Dec 22 at Baltimore
Dec 29 Atlanta

Steelers:
Dec 15 Carolina
Dec 23 at Tampa Bay
Dec 29 Baltimore

Odds? Not fucking likely. I'd rather play Tampa Bay again instead of getting Indy and Atlanta ("Screw Vick. Who knew white guys were so good at D?"). The Browns need to win one more than the Steelers which means at least Two wins to at least Two losses. I think Carolina is up for a letdown after beating the Browns and Bengals. So Tampa would have to slay the Steelers offense for Baltimore to have any chance.

Then I'd give the Browns even odds at Indy and Baltimore. But Atlanta... shit. One thing though: it's December 29th... on the north shore of Cleveland. So Vick might be discombobulated after playing in the south/indoors at Seattle and Detroit. Now let's see if the Browns can figure out you need to run in the snow and not air it out.

Things are pretty swell though. The Browns are above water with just as many wins as last year. A winning record is not out of the question and there is a "fart in the wind" chance at the playoffs. Personally I'd rather end in the positive, not go to the playoffs and get a better draft. Then draft some hogs for the O-line, some quality D (and maybe another QB... I'm not sure if Couch is damaged goods or not. We'll see in 3 years). With Miller back we should have a good bite on the '03 campaign. Hell, we might actually win a game or two by more than a touchdown!

I feel your pain

[redfiche]

Tell me that was the same fscking Chargers team that went up to Oakland and kicked the Raider's asses. Tell me it was the same team that beat Denver last week, the same team that beat the niners. I don't believe it. It was a bunch of weak, slow, whimpering impostors. Oakland is a good team, but gimme a fscking break, 27-7???? Arrrrgh.

Re:I feel your pain

[Blackneto]

It was the same Chargers team.
However it was not the same Raiders team.
During the first matchup we had no run defense.
Faulk beat us in STL, LT beat us when you guys came to Oaktown, Priest Holmes beat us in KC.
That all got turned around and we're on a 5 game streak.
Marty is a genuis, you guys are blessed to have him there. You also have a lot of raw talent that will do well under him if he stays for a few more years.
Next year is a rebuilding year for Oakland so I think it will be the Chargers turn again.