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January 1, 2012Cleveland Browns Play Hard to the End, Drop Season-Ender to Steelers
January 1, 2012
It’s the final game of the year, and who else would you want to come calling other than the Pittsburgh Steelers? The Steelers sit at 11-4 with a lot to play for still. If the Cincinnati Bengals make it into the playoffs by virtue of beating the Baltimore Ravens at home, a Steelers win makes them the #2 seed (and depending on New England’s result, possibly the top seed) with a first-round bye and home playoff game instead of taking it on the road opening weekend of the playoffs.
For the Browns, Colt McCoy, Jordan Norwood, and Tony Pashos (fist pump!) will be inactive for the Browns this afternoon as Seneca Wallace and Artis Hicks will start at quarterback and right tackle. For the Steelers, linebacker Lamarr Woodley, running back Mewelde Moore, and offensive lineman Dan Legursky are out, but Ben Roethlisberger will at least start the game as will Troy Polamalu. The hope, I’m sure, is that a 17-0 or 21-0 start for Pittsburgh may allow them to sit these guys by halftime.
I’d be lying if I told you I was pulling real hard for the Browns to win this one. I hate the Steelers as much as the next guy, but I also hate missing the chance to draft a guy with the 5th pick (or 3rd or 4th) just because I wanted to feel good for a few hours following this one. This draft class may not be the best, but I’d much rather be in the position the Browns are set up to have now than finishing 5-11 and dropping to 8th potentially.
If the Browns do want to win, though, it will involve stopping Rashard Mendenhall first and foremost. The Browns forced three turnovers in the last game, and they’ll need something dramatic like that to stun Pittsburgh with something on the line. The wind and Big Ben’s limited mobility may limit the Steeler passing game slightly, but I see the Browns struggling to cover Antonio Brown, Ward, and Heath Miller with Sheldon Brown, Patterson, Adams, and Young.
On offense, Peyton Hillis has one last chance to make a big impression and not make this his last game in a Browns’ uniform. Do the Browns need to get creative and dial up some Josh Cribbs/Seneca Wallace trickeraton? I say yes.
Game, draft, Steeler hatred, it’s all fair game in the comments section. Have at it!
57 Comments
Browns v. Steelers. Go Browns. Forget the records and draft positioning.
The Snow is comin…
Peyton Hillis runs it big
Browns win but lose draft
Browns 17 Steelers 10
I hope all the Pittspuke fans that come today catch pneumonia and die. Or at least have to burn a few valuable sick days early in their workyear.
Do we own draft tiebreakers over jax, minn and tampa?
Jags won. Vikes still in it now.
Interesting comment…
Carson Palmer goes to Oakland and is a “Godsend” for the Raiders’ receivers…
Same team, same coaches, all that changed was a QB, and team becomes better.
Hmm….
Why the hell must the 2 yard passes continue on 3rd and long?? I know it’s the WCO but it’s just unacceptable and so frustrating.
saw the Jets’ godsend play today. Talk that they are considering all options at that position going forward, and with good reason from what I saw. Annointing him godsend doesn’t make him so, even with height, srong arm and a charming smile.
BTW, Seneca thinks he’s starter material at age 32? Yikes. Wonder what his decision-making was like as a young player.
this sucks. we actually have a chance to win now.
@ Harv
I’d take Sanchez… Way better than what we have
@Tim: you’d want him for what? If he ain’t The Godsend on a talented team what will he do for us? 6-10? 7-9?
Harv,
I am not a Sanchez lover… But he has skills and gets a bad deal in NY and their offense really isn’t that talented. He actually has very good skills. I am not saying I want him necessarily, just he is better than you think.
Peyton smellin his payday.
@Tim – Sanchez is a bottom 5-7 QB in football. Did you see today’s game?
Sanchez sucks he has run game and 4-5 talented receivers. Santonio Holmes, Plaxico, Dustin keller, and LT (still has great hands). With all those weapons he strugles. His critcism in NY is legit.
@Tim: did you see him today? Much worse than I thought. Three late interceptions, 2 to linemen and a horrible throw, missed a RB by 5 yards with crucial game on the line under no pass rush. Folded like a cheap umbrella.
pittsburgh isn’t even trying to win this game
Sanchez is better than McCoy, Cassel, Palmer, Fitzpatrick, Jackson, Kolb, Freeman, Grossman, Tebow (maybe), Moore/Henne – all starters.
He is not elite. I really don’t want him. He just is actually good. Don’t think he sucks because he has a few high profile mistakes cause he is in NY. People do the same thing with Romo it’s a lazy way to evaluate a player. Sanchez makes the tough throws, but is not elite like some thought. That does not mean he sucks. Too many people rely on highlights to see how good someone is.
@Tim – I would take Fitz, Jackson, Freeman, Grossman, Moore over Sanchez without hesitating.
no no no, don’t think he sucks. Think he’s big and serviceable, maybe a younger version of Delhomme or somebody like that. He sucked today, but he’s more a game manager who can make throws as needed than The Guy. I was just thinking when you said “i’ll take him” that you want him. We’re on the same page. Yes, he’s better than we have right now.
@ Jack
Grossman over Sanchez, really????
@Harv
Yea I wasn’t clear, just meant he would be an upgrade if available and upgrading is always good but I want someone elite.
Nothing for Pittsburgh to play for if the ravens win … so why not make it that much harder for the browns to get a franchise qb. I know you’re never supposed to want to lose, but the Steelers aren’t even trying and what good will the win do anyway?
Sanchez is not better than Matt Moore. Look at the numbers.
You know who else isn’t good? Sheldon Brown.
watching the game its so hard for me to decide if it was colt or just the offense in general
@ SDA
The answer is both
So how quick can we start demanding Matt Flynn in a Browns jersey ? 2 weeks ago ? oh…
yeah but is he so bad we need a new quarterback next year or can it wait a year. Wallace has a nice deep ball but no touch, Colt all the touch but not no deep ball. Lol maybe its time for the 2 quarterback system (jk)
Ok, how about this for the off season?
1. Get Flynn from GB in Free Agency.
2. Trade our pick down for multiple picks which are used on O line, and WR’s. (Take 3 of each in the draft. 50% fail rate still gives 3 great players).
3. Get a former head coach as an offensive coordinator.
Wouldn’t this make the Offense instantly better? You can even keep Colt since I think it’s unfair to kill another QB for not having a O-line, and receivers.
I have always said former head coaches make the best coordinators. I still say Mangini shoulda hired a former HC for an OC. He might still be here
@ historycat. #3 makes me laugh so much. Just because of Shurmermermer.
how does Skrite not catch that
holy … how many stiller fans are in the crowd?
at this point is there any reason to not send Carlton Mitchell and Evan Moore on some go-routes? Understand they’re about to start really coming at Seneca but if he can avoid a rush we might get a quick 6 instead of a beautiful leaping 4 yard catch with Troy P on your back. Just for entertainment purposes, is all i’m sayin.
@ Harv
I say go deep every play!!!
Another pass to a guy behind the line of scrimmage on 3rd down. Brilliant.
Keisel’s ‘stache: no wonder our guys fold against Pittsburgh. That thing scares me and I’m sitting on the safety of my couch.
MoMass has to catch that but on the previous reception McFadden took an intentional shot at his head and whiffed when MoMass ducked. Clear as day on the replay. McFadden tried to do it again on the drop. They know he’s been concussed and they’re headhunting because he’s gun shy.
Wow, another fumble recovery. Heads up defense, I like it.
And clearly they’re going to be too far away to do anything but punt on fourth down. Maynard proved with his 19 yard punt (given the scenario, it wasn’t bad), that if they can get to the PIT 20, they’ve still at least got that in their back pocket.
Needless to say, I stopped watching.
felt all game like Seneca was closer to a pick-6 than a TD.
Not that it matters, but that was one stupid replay challenge that wasted a timeout in the third quarter. If their booth guy gets our same tv feed, shame on them.
WOW! Way to burn your last time out with 44 secs before 2 min warning. All the Steelers need to do is to run. The play obviously will take more than 4 seconds. So whats the point to take the TO?
And Shurmur will still be here next year. This is going to be a tough offseason to get excited about next year.
Carlton Mitchell makes the best catch all day, WHAT A @#$#@$ SURPRISE !
If Massoquai is on this team next year I’m going to picket.
see MoMass avoid going to the ball to avoid the hit? He is messed up in the head from those concussions.
22 seconds. Mitchell deep, Cameron deep. only chance.
thank god
Seneca Wallace is not very good at all, is he?
Our long national nightmare is over. After last season, we were told that 5-11 wasn’t good enough.
We have now gone 4-12.
Let’s all sit back and see what they say now.
Also, to the Cleveland Press: Please ask this question, “If after last year 5-11 wasn’t good enough, how do you justify this season’s record?”
I wonder if the Chiefs will be smitten enough to give Romeo the job next year.
@ MrCleaveland: That job will be Charlie Weis’ in a year. Where he is coaching now is like an hour away.
@ oribiasi
But is ok now because everyone is on the same page.
And Pat Shurmur demonstrated his intelligence and competence as a head coach and it’s clear we have begun to build a dynamic offense and have a brilliant man on the sidelines.
Ok…here is the report card…
4 games – 0 TD’s
4 games – 1 TD
7 games – 2 TD’s
1 game – 3 TD’s ( against Indy ..worst team in NFL )
21 TD’s all year in 16 games….this from teh offensive focused team of Holmgren and Shurmur…..
At the least an OC is a must next year !!!
Truthfully….we need a new QB and probably a new HC….ughhhh
To paraphrase Brother Bluto, “Seventeen weeks of fandom down the drain.”