Browns vs Ravens, Last Cheap Chance to See the Browns This Season
December 24, 2010Merry Christmas from WFNY
December 24, 2010These last two weeks are the kinds of games that get coaches fired. Simply demoralizing as a fan. These past two games have felt like the entire 2003 season compressed into two weeks. All of the optimism is gone. I don’t think we have to worry about someone poaching Rob Ryan away anymore. The Ravens need this game for their playoff seeding. As they say in the Bud Light commercials, Here We Go.
I’ve been marinating in this notion that the past two games feel like the entire 2003 season: 2002 was a beginning; let’s face it, they backed into the playoffs, and while they should have won that playoff game, things were looking like they were going in the right direction. Feels like the Saints, Pats, and Jets games, right?. Then the past five games have felt like Chinese water torture. They lost the Jags game that (in my opinion) they had no business losing, almost (and really should have) lost to an awful Panthers team, won an ugly game against Miami, and laid two eggs against what should have been inferior opponents. That Jets game feels like it was eons ago. I know part of it is depth and injuries, but even still it feels like all the momentum is gone. Just like the 2003 season, which went from high expectations to “Butch Davis is a dead man walking.” All I need is a metaphor for the Garcia panic signing (coach firing??), and the circle would be complete. Not that I’m advocating anything! Without further ado…
The Browns Will Win If…
Craig: …Baltimore self-destructs. The Browns will try hard, but I just don’t see a path to success this week. The injuries to Cribbs, Fujita, Eric Wright, the right side of the offensive line, etc, should be too much to overcome in a week that the Browns face a Baltimore team with plenty of motivation. That being said, I guess the Browns will win if they find a way to keep the Ravens offense from killing them. The Browns offense is pretty predictable at this point. The Browns defense, on the other hand needs to come out and play over their heads in order to keep it close. They need to figure out how to get some pressure on the quarterback and will need to do better against Ray Rice than they did against Cedric Benson a week ago.
Scott: …they secretly place this week’s game check on BAL (-3.5). Seriously, how is this spread only a hair over a field goal? I get that the Ravens barely beat the Texans two weeks ago. I get that they stumbled in the waining moments against the Steelers. And I get that they’ll be on the road. But when both teams were healthy on Week 3, and the Ravens allowed Peyton Hillis to roll for 144 yards, the Browns still lost by seven. I know Eric Wright will no longer be defending Anquan Boldin, but I also saw what Cedric Benson did to the Browns front seven. Barring a Ray Rice implosion, I just don’t see it going Eric Mangini and the Browns’ way this Sunday.
DP: …Baltimore seriously overlooks the Browns. After what a poor rushing offense did to the Browns’ defense, coupled with how much of a struggle it was for the Browns’ offense to do anything after their first drive against a poor defense, I can’t see any other scenario in which the Browns pull this one off. And, since Baltimore needs every win they can get for playoff positioning, I just can’t see them overlooking this game. But, if you want me to name specifics, oh, how about, Peyton Hillis rushes for 180 yards and three TDs, and none of the Ravens’ receiving threats make the trip for the game.
Rick: …Not to sound like a broken record, but the Browns will have to do a much better job of converting third down opportunities. Not only does this sustain drives and lead to points, but it keeps the defense off the field, which has been a major problem the last few weeks. In order to do that, the Browns have to win first down. They have to get more than 2 or 3 yards, and have to keep the Ravens on their heels not knowing what they are going to do. Defensively, the Browns have to contain Ray Rice. Way too many runs got wide of the coverage last week, and Ray Rice has that same ability. The Browns’ outside backers have got to set the edge and force Rice back inside . Getting off of blocks would help as well. Even though he was torched against Baltimore last time, missing Eric Wright is going to be interesting. The Browns just don’t have depth in the secondary. Here’s hoping.
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What say, there, fuzzy britches?
9 Comments
Ravens are all geared up to take Hillis out of the game so it’s going to have to be some other guys to step up. The Ravens now know who Hillis is and they know we have very little passing threats. McCoy can keep us in the game but if Hillis is shut down we know how those results look.
doom and gloom, good. last time we were demoralized from a losing streak with 2 ‘unbeatable’ teams coming up on our schedule, we destroyed the Saints nad Patriots.
it would obviously be sweeter if we could knock the Ravens out of the playoffs and maybe make the Steelers play the 1st weekend in the playoffs.
My Prediction:
The Browns will once again open the playbook for some of the creative plays we saw against the Pats and Saints, they will win the game and we will once again be drawn into a full “coaching-hot-seat-controversy”
Mangini will keep his job and we’ll be playing scabs next season going 12-5 and losing the pseudo-Superbowl XLVI, and go 7-11 in 2012.
Browns lose but it will be by less then 7. Ray Rice has a huge day while Hillis struggles and takes a beating.
Only possibility I see is the combination of the defense responding to criticism and playing muy harder, Colt taking it to a new level despite few weapons and Ravens ho-humming it.
But doubt it. Don’t see how Colt can play much better his rook year, and Ravens appear locked in playoff prep mode.
Instead, expect many sideline shots of Mangini Exasperated Disbelief Face. Which is, admittedly, more aesthetically pleasing than Romeo Confused Face. Dreaming of Cowher Spittle Face one day.
I have no logical reason to believe that the Browns can win this game.
The good news is that this team doesn’t follow logic, so I would not be the least bit surprised if they do win. The last time I felt this way was before the Saints game. Here’s hoping they can pull another one of those out of the hat…
Strange no one has talked about this but McDaniels came to the Browns practice yesterday. So apparently Mangini and McDaniels are still friends. My only Christmas wish is for him to replace Daboll next season.
@7
He may have completely destroyed the Broncos but I will take him as a humble offensive coordinator any day.
The Browns will if… Santa Claus gives the Ravens starters a case of Swine Flu for Christmas.