Jackets 3, Sharks 2 – Jackets OT Goal Earns Scott Arniel Win #1
October 9, 2010While We’re Waiting… Falcons Visit, Mike Brown’s Gig, WFNY Love
October 10, 2010When and Where: Sunday October 10th, 2010 – 1:00 PM – Cleveland Browns’ Stadium (It is 10-10-10… Keanu says “WHOA!”)
Overview: Matt Ryan and the Falcons were stifled in week one by the Pittsburgh Steelers in an ugly 15-9 loss. Since, they have run off three straight with the highlight coming against the Saints in a thrilling overtime victory 27-24. Most recently, they rattled off 16 unanswered points after going down 14-0 to the 49ers in Atlanta.
It wasn’t pretty, but the bottom line is that Atlanta is coming in with a three game winning streak. They might not have impressed anyone outside of their own locker room defeating Frisco, but you have to give these Falcons credit. They faced adversity going down 14-0 in the first quarter and they responded. Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and the surprisingly good Atlanta defense come into Browns-town with some confidence.
Airing it Out: Obviously the passing game starts and ends with Matt Ryan. The 25 year-old comes into Cleveland with an impressive 62.4% completion rate to go along with 6 TDs, 3 INTs and an 86.5 QB rating. Matt Ryan is good, but he is also lucky to have two pass-catchers like Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, who have caught 32 and 19 passes respectively. They are also responsible for catching three of Ryan’s TD passes. They were also targeted 79 times out of 149 total targets.
Gonzalez worries me the most against the Browns. The Browns have given up a lot of plays to tight ends so far this year including Todd Heap and Tony Moeaki. If the Browns try to go crazy with the blitzes again this week, I have no doubt that Gonzalez will be a frequent target for Matt Ryan on the checkdown. Obviously Roddy White is still scary, but hopefully the Browns have a plan to neutralize him like they did Chad Ochocinco.
Running it Down: Michael Turner is the name to know here. He has been splitting some of the carries with Jason Snelling, but Turner will get the opportunity first. It isn’t the norm for him or anything, but against the Saints, Turner carried the ball 30 times. Even in Peyton Hillis’ dominant performance a week ago, he only carried it 27 times. So make no mistake, Michael Turner is not a young 28, but this season is still young and if things are going well, the Browns could see him frequently. He is a load and can really wear a defense down.
In the Trenches: The key to this game for the Browns, regardless of who plays quarterback will be running the ball first and foremost. Peyton Hillis is a little banged up, but is expected to play. He will be running against a defense that has given up 4.6 yards per carry this season and 96.3 yards per game on the ground.
The Falcons play a 4-3 defense featuring two 300 pounders at defensive tackle in Peria Jerry and Trey Lewis. They are flanked by veteran John Abraham and Kroy Bierman.
Special Teams: Until Josh Cribbs does something this season, I am going to stop talking special teams. (Reverse psychology.)
Prediction: I am now 2-2 picking the Browns games. I was thankfully wrong a week ago as the Browns beat the Bengals 23-20. Again this week the Browns are three point underdogs at home.
This week, I am taking the Browns. I think the Falcons are a solid team, but I don’t think they have been really impressive except for beating the Saints. I think the return of Jake Delhomme will spark the Browns’ passing game, especially because they have now established the running game with Peyton Hillis.
In Delhomme’s first game the Browns didn’t run a lot. Harrison led the way with just over 50 yards rushing. Hillis followed closely with 41 yards, but they only ran it about 20 times that game. I expect Delhomme to upgrade the offensive attack with his passing and also with his reads at the line.
They will catch the Falcons napping and win 31-27 as they hold on to win.
8 Comments
Very optimistic to pick the Browns against clearly one of the better teams in the NFC.. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Browns are much better than last year and played well against the Bengals. But I could very well see the Falcons winning by 10+ here. It’s boom or bust time.
They have a receiver who’s caught 32 passes in 4 games – not sure what that even looks like, we haven’t thrown the ball half that many times in the direction of all our receivers combined.
One of our starting corners is average and pretty old, the other is, um, “struggling.” They have a HOF tight end, we blitz ineffectively. Their QB is good, ours is old, of unknown quality and still probably hurt.
So: Browns by 2, Dawson hits as time expires. Browns finally competent enough to feel the parity. Any given Sunday.
I don’t know Craig. Its hard to see the Browns scoring 31. But I do think we have a real shot tomorrow. It will be a tough physical dog fight. I think most of the Browns games will be like that this year. Looking back at all four games so far that seems to be a common theme. Low scoring but I think we win, 17-13.
The Falcons are a solid team, but hardly a powerhouse. They also play much better at home. They couldnt beat Pittsburgh with Dennis Dixon at QB, only beat the Saints because Garrett Hartley shanked a 29 yard field goal in overtime, and barely beat the Niners.
This is a winnable game for the Browns, and I expect a tight contest.
first things first: i’m rooting for a cameo ‘sad keanu’ or ‘jaunty leo’ photoshop from denny. unless those memes are too played out already.
so craig.. after getting torched for 150/3td and 220/1td by bolden-owens last two weeks, i am concerned about roddy white. ie, will ryan stubbornly leave wright on an island with him? i hope not. i trust our LBs to hand with gonzo more than our CBs 1-on-1 after a blitz is picked up.
michael turner was stuffed last week. but falcons still dialed him up 16 times. hope we can continue this and hope they stick with a losing strategy.
until jake gets pass game going, expect run blitzes. this could open up the center for watson/moore. i’m hoping jake will be on his game reading these things.
it’s do-able. but rosen’s splash of cold water above is sobering. sounds pretty on the mark. i guess we’ll find out tomorrow if we’ve tricked ourselves again.
Please, with a straight face, explain how we put up 31 points.
IF we somehow win, it will be 17-14 or 21-20 or sonething like that.
My 31 points are two passing touchdowns, a running touchdown, a special teams or defensive touchdown and a field goal. What? Is that so difficult? 🙂
I am on record that predictions are kind of silly anyways. I am just having some fun with it.
Again, I am torn — Roddy White is on my team!