WEEK 10
CLEVELAND, O.H. - The Browns are hungry. After winning six consecutive games earlier this season, they have tasted victory, and they want more of it. The fans are hungry too. On Monday night, almost 60,000 packed Cleveland Browns Stadium to watch the second rendition of the Turnpike Rivalry. Though the result was an eighth consecutive loss to their division rivals, the way they played in front of the largest home crowd in over two years has given the team and its fans a glimmer of hope.
The Cleveland faithful showed up to support their team against their arch-rivals
The forecast was bleak going into the game. With D'Qwell Jackson (ILB) and Kamerion Wimbley (OLB) out, the Browns were missing two play makers at the heart of a defense that leads the league in sacks and is tied for second in interceptions. Between the two of them, Jackson and Wimbley have recorded over 100 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 5 interceptions in only half a season. On the other side of the ball, the injury report listed go-to receiver Braylon Edwards (WR) as questionable for Monday. How could the Browns, who have lost to the Steelers by an average of 16 points and have never come within 11 points since the inception of the vNFL, hope to stay in this game? How would the team compete with so many injuries to key players?
Emotions ran high on the field as well in the closest game in the rivalry's history
"You take the hand you've been dealt, and you make the most of it," answered head coach Jesse McGrew. "Only pansies and cowards blame their losses on injuries. What game do they think they're playing? Chess? This is football, and injuries happen. You deal with it."
The Browns found a way to deal with it. The defense held the explosive Pittsburgh offense to their lowest score so far this season and even gave their team a 3-point lead in the 3rd quarter when Andre Goodman (CB) returned a pick 99 yards for a touchdown.
Though the Browns have now lost 21 consecutive division games, next week could be the Browns' best hope for the first division win in franchise history. The Browns host the Bengals on Thursday night and are 8-point favorites.
"Enough is enough," said team captain Kellen "Moses" Winslow (TE). "Twenty-one is as high as that number's gonna go. This ends now. It's time we earned ourselves a little respect in this division, and I promise you, the pain stops at twenty-one."
We can only hope.
Players of the Week
Brady Quinn (QB) - 22 of 33 for 220 yds
LeCharles Bentley (C) - 4 KRB, 0 SkA
Andre Goodman (CB) - 8 Tck, 4 Ast, 1 Int (99 yds for TD)
The Good
- In spite of the injuries, the defense found a way to get it done. Defensive guru Lee Sims moved the unit to a 4-3 front, giving rookie Al Smith (DT) the first start of his vNFL career. Holding the Steelers to 14 points is an accomplishment, and we have to wonder how much better this unit might have been with a healthy linebacker corps.
- Though Brady Quinn (QB) did not have a stellar game, he avoided making any mistakes. That's a good thing in our book. The offensive line kept Blitzburgh relatively quiet; Quinn was sacked only once, which is quite an improvement from the 8 sacks allowed in the last meeting with the Steelers.
The Bad
Kicker Phil Dawson can't believe he missed that field goal
- The Browns had so many opportunities to change the outcome of this game, and they blew it. Eric Parker returned a punt 44 yards to Pittsburgh's 20, but a penalty put Cleveland back on their own 33. Phil Dawson missed a 40-yard field goal thanks to a bad hold. Mistakes like that are simply inexcusable.
- What is it with the fumbles on this team? Do the players rub Vaseline on their hands before they go out on the field? A Devin Fox (RB) fumble in the 4th quarter killed the Browns' momentum and resulted in the go-ahead touchdown for Pittsburgh on the following drive.
The Ugly
Edwards can single-handedly set the Browns offense on fire
- Sometimes, we don't learn to appreciate things until they are taken away from us. One week without Braylon Edwards proved to us how important he is to this team. By drawing double coverages and keeping defenses honest, he makes it easier for other receivers to get open and keeps those running lanes at the line of scrimmage clear. This offense looked anemic without him, and we hope he comes back soon.
