Cleveland Browns Week 7 Winners and Losers

There’s a certain level of embarrassment involved when you know exactly how a team plans on attacking you and you simply stand by, arms crossed, and watch it all unfold. On Sunday, The St. Louis Rams opened their doors, invited the Browns in, and effectively gave them their playbook, daring them to stop them. Everyone knew that they were going to run the ball with ferocity and play sound, relentless defense—no different than the style of play Cleveland thought they would be able to have. When the whistle blew and the first kickoff was in the air, play for play, blow for blow, the Rams executed exactly what they had set out to do. Even the stadium as a structure got in on the fun. Things were so bad on Sunday that the Browns tallied more yards and more first downs and dominated the time of possession and still managed to produce a league low when it comes to total points.

If a random stranger walks up to you and says “On Sunday afternoon, I’m going to steal your wallet, go to the Best Buy in Strongsville, use your credit card to buy an embarrassing array of Michael Bolton and Kidz Bop albums, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me” and you just let it happen, well congratulations—you’re the Cleveland Browns.

WINNER: Josh McCown

If there is any game wherein a team can score just six points and the quarterback could be a winner, this was the one. Look, McCown wasn’t great, but he outplayed his opponent, threw just six incomplete passes, and didn’t throw an interception. So many drives were throttled by fumbles, so many pass plays would have been more successful if he had multiple six-foot targets on the outside, and so many more yards would have been added to his total if not for the offensive line bludgeoning him with senseless penalties.

The down side, naturally, is that McCown left the contest midway through the fourth quarter and his status for Week 8 is unknown. I guess, there’s also this:

For the sake of not wanting to kick a guy while he’s down, Josh is a winner for Week 7.

LOSER: The NFL

For making me have to create a GIF of McCown running into the wall. I had the moment captured perfectly on Vine, but the league came in and DMCA’d that bad boy after roughly 28,000 impressions. Sorry, NFL. That moment’s gonna live forever.

WINNER: Gary Barnidge

Another week, another 100-yard game for Barn+Bridge. Six more catches, one of which was of the Barnidge mold.

On the season, Barnidge is just 19 yards and one touchdown behind New England’s Rob Gronkowski. He has one fewer catch on six fewer targets. The Browns could go winless from here out, but Good ‘ol Gary should clear his schedule the week before the Super Bowl because he’s going to Honolulu.

LOSER: Taylor Gabriel

You had one job.

Little did we know, that play was the deciding score for St. Louis.

WINNER: Travis Coons

When you’re the only one to score points on a given Sunday, you’re a winner. Bonus points for being a perfect 14-for-14 on the season.

LOSER: Joe Thomas

Not the best day for big No. 73 with some unfortunate, poorly timed penalties.

LOSER: Anyone who conflates a bad game with a bad season or career

Following one of Thomas’ mid-game missteps, there was a lot of chatter on Twitter regarding Thomas being “overrated” or declarations of similar ilk. I feel like we have this discussion at least once a year, but the dude is perennially one of the best—if not the best—left tackle in all of football. He hasn’t missed a snap, is ranked among the best by any metrics week in and week out, and only speaks when spoken to. Think he’s overrated? Ask Von Miller how that worked out last week. Week 7 against Robert Quinn? Quinn was outright dominated, recording no statistics throughout the entire game—the first such a game this season.

Joe Thomas is having a rough game, but to pretend it's a referendum on his career, let alone this season, is embarrassing.

— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) October 25, 2015

So Thomas had a holding call. Save it.

LOSER: Browns run defense

Your weekly reminder that the Browns run defense is abysmal. Check out this tackling clinic.

WINNER: Duke Johnson Jr.

Slowly joining Gary Barnidge on the weekly winner ranks is the rookie running back who hauled in another seven passes, this time for 73 yards. This was in addition to his seven carries for another 17 yards with a long being for 10. I maintain my feelings on the Browns’ leading receivers being a tight end and a running back, but hey—whatever works.

LOSER: Luck

I mean, come on.

Loser: Ray Farmer

I mean, seriously. Come on.

And finally, the fans:

@WFNYScott Winners: Nobody. Losers: #Browns offense, McCown, and coaching staff

— David Thomas (@dthomas2003) October 25, 2015

@WFNYScott Best-Mr. Perfect remains perfect…Worst-My Liver…it's taking a Josh McCown like beating

— Pat in Shaker (@PatNShaker) October 25, 2015

@WFNYScott Travis Coons won, only #Browns player that scored & media also won being able to talk Johnny all week to speculate him starting

— TMac (@TheTMac3) October 25, 2015

@WFNYScott losers-the entire Browns organization since 1999.

— JM85 (@Mal0307) October 25, 2015

https://twitter.com/shell24_7/status/658373829274783744

@WFNYScott Winner: Gary Barnidge. Another highlight reel catch, great 3rd down target, great hands and no ball security issues.

— Sean Moss (@VigothePainting) October 25, 2015

@WFNYScott winners, stadium wall, credited with 1 qb sack

— Willie Mays Hayes (@BLKHMRWHITLTNG) October 25, 2015

@WFNYScott Winners: People who stopped giving money to the Browns. Losers: People who still give money to the Browns.

— Matt Rhein (@mattrhein86) October 25, 2015

@WFNYScott Winner: me for taking a nap during the 2nd half. Loser: me for being awake for the start of the game.

— Andy Moleski (@andymoleski) October 25, 2015

@andymoleski @WFNYScott Winner: Cavs.
Loser: Browns.

— Ben Cox (@WFNYBen) October 25, 2015

@WFNYScott Winner:Gary Barnidge-clutch all season. Loser: Ray Farmer-refuses to get big WR's that don't fumble.

— george b (@gbdawg55) October 25, 2015