"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
I'll argue this MNF Browns Ravens game is bigger than 2 of the last 3 playoff games the Browns played, 2 in 1994 ish and 1 in 2002'ish, w/t/ exception of the div rounder.
and equal in importance to, (or greater than), the 2nd Browns Steelers regular season matchup of 1994, which I kind of care so much about not repeating that it's the basis of my screen name on this site!
Even though last weeks game exists, this is again the Biggest Game for the Browns since 1995,
and in 1995, and in 2001, was it a 3 way race for the div, or a 2 way.
Baltimore, was 14-2 Last Year. With Lamar Jackson! and their final 3 games are jaguars, Giants At Bengals. And it's not even a Joe Burrow Bengals!
3rd place teams in a div have no chance.
If the Browns lose this game, they will be counting on 2 win teams to beat 10 win teams in week 17, like jags over colts, jets over patriots, stuff like that.
Must win this game.
That's a desperate Giants team playing for their divison. That game isn't a cake walk... for the Browns or the Ravens.
Just a thought. If we come out next Monday night and play lousy, lose by 10-14 points how are many on this board going to react? It's great we're winning and I am as excited about it as anyone but I'm trying to keep it in perspective. The Titans game was great but it's ONE game. I hope we play that way from now on but let's be realistic; we've been very disappointed before. Let's take it a game at a time and stay on an even keel. JMO
If that were to happen, the reaction we all know is going to happen is actually the right one. "Can't win against good teams" has been proven, and will continue to be true until it's disproven. Our inability to (more often than not) play well against better teams has been fairly consistent stretching back to Mayfield's rookie year (and prior). We've debated the ins and outs behind this, but at the end of the day, until we start playing well against good teams (and this HAS to include our own division), then we still have the same label as before.
Switching gears... I finally got around to watching Ravens-Cowboys. I gotta say, I was not at all impressed with the state of the Ravens D. I kept reminding myself that we have our own issues playing down to weaker teams (Jax game), but the Ravens D-line was the only unit that bothered to show up. Dalton had tons of EASY throws, and their running game was even showing just enough signs of life... and this is against a team that's already pretty much started packing it in for the season (for several reasons).
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
I'm very nervous for this game and I have a pit in my stomach about it. Baltimore is the more seasoned team when it comes to playing meaningful games in December. They obviously have a lot of talent, and they blitz heavy, which is something Mayfield struggled with. We also have that first game to remember.
I really hope we can pull it off, but I just don't feel great about this one.
If we do beat them, we have to again come out with an early lead. Put that pressure on Jackson to play conventional QB and have to pass the ball a lot to catch up.
Our defense should play a similar game plan to the way we played against the Texans. Keep the offense in front of you. Don't shoot gaps to get to the QB. Stay in your gap and maintain integrity. Try to collapse the pocket around Jackson. Just don't let him get behind you. I can't believe the Cowboys didn't do that.
On offense, if they blitz, get the screens going. Get the misdirection going with Chubb and Hunt. Get the ball out quick. Don't let them gain early confidence or they will pin their ears back and we will get that "insurmountable" feeling that we had when we first played them.
Stay strong and try to not let the weight of the moment overwhelm.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
One thing that Baltimore has that Tennessee didn’t is a strong front who can pressure. That’s my big worry. It seems like teams who can’t pressure Baker (Cincy, Dallas, Tennessee, etc) allows him to feel comfortable
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Browns need to get the ball to their tight ends. Browns need to have a better game from their tight ends, than the other team has from its' tight ends, by the end of the game.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
Browns need to, review pass protection and keeping a tight end in on pass protections while at the same time getting more opportuinties in the passing game from the tight ends,
because, they had a very high rate of catches to targets in the first game.
Last edited by THROW LONG; 12/10/2005:24 PM. Reason: double post
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
They could also put someone on Marquise Brown at some point this time. That guy was running free ALL #$@%'ING GAME in week 1.
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
We need to run hard. We need to work outside more than we have. TEs are a tool we haven't used enough.
Intangible that bugs me is just dumb, blind Ratbird luck. We get stupid and they get lucky. BM should come ready. These games are closer if refs call holding on them a fair amount. Last week MG went through criminal assaults being held. Hope we get after them hard. Hopefully Baker won't break our back in the first two or three possessions the second time around.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
Browns failed on a 4th down try fro their own side of the field in game 1. But!
I think the Browns moved the ball down the field, multiple first downs, from the running game mostly, on the first 3 drives, first 3 drives of the year, if I recall correctly, Problem is they ended in turnovers not points.
And the kicker couldn't kick anything all day. (I really feel they need to get the NFL involved to see if the Ravens Org. is not cheating when opponents try a FG by creating an artificial cross wind.
Because, For God's sakes, there is a (lookback, historical video, of the Browns years in the 1980's, that I saw and heard with my own ears, way back in around 1993
Where the player or coach interviewed on it, expressly mentions there was a huge bay door, or some such, in Cleveland Municipal stadium
that would be opened or closed to create crazy wind conditions, in conjunction with an opposing team getting ready to attempt a field goal on the one particular side of the stadium
So if the same RAvens Organization was doing that, in 1980 something, then Of Course they'd do it in 2020.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
They are running it right down the Cowboys throats tonight.
Left the game once back in 2002 and the Radio announcer kept repeating how the Browns O Line had a good day, kept repeating their names. I think it was Thomas, Steinbeck, Fraley, McKinney, Schaefer.
Who Also said, over the years, "When it comes to the Ravens the best thing to do is run it right at them"
Which I take to mean, don't run it outside because their whole defense is set to "pursue" , but if you run it right at them, then you bust through.
(But in general, I think, over the last 4 ish games, we've seen the Browns run attack get a little slower after getting to the hole and, get a little slower to hit the hole, and it's just not there like it was in week 3 ish. Which is concerning.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
Keep Jackson Contained make him throw (He is a terrible passer), and Run the Ball with play action ...
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Something I noticed last week. The offense used the spread featuring three wides and a flexed out TE a lot. That has not been a formation we have used frequently this year. I wonder what we were able to attack because of it and does it help us this week? One thing it does make clear. We can attack opponents in multiple ways.
Just a thought. If we come out next Monday night and play lousy, lose by 10-14 points how are many on this board going to react? It's great we're winning and I am as excited about it as anyone but I'm trying to keep it in perspective. The Titans game was great but it's ONE game. I hope we play that way from now on but let's be realistic; we've been very disappointed before. Let's take it a game at a time and stay on an even keel. JMO
I expect the worst and I'm pessimistic. So I won't get too worked up if that happens.
But it seems like we have a legit coaching staff who will have our talented team prepared. So I'm cautiously optimistic we can win. Either way I'm not going to get overly worked up.
Best case we're 10-3, worst case we're 9-4. If you would've asked me at the beginning of the season if we had this opporutnity my reply would be...."you gotta be sh""tin me"
I feel confident that we will have the right plan to win this game.
However, this game needs no further hype than the two locker rooms. These guys know what is at stake.
It becomes about which team can execute their plan.
Both teams have the talent to win this game.
Some players will win the individual battles. Some guys will make mental errors.
Some will make great plays.
And the winner is?
Us, if we execute like we have been most of the season.
Baltimore didn't blitz much against Dallas, they are sure to come with blitzes galore to try to bait Bake into bad decisions I think we will run some screens on them early and take the thunder out of their blitzes.
Another key is selling the run, and the thing I like most about play action is we dish out plenty of punishment to the D line in doing so.
This game will look very much like the Tenn game, I truly believe that. Our O line is top's and I said we would be before the season started, and here we are this game will be about their play and will protect Bake just like we did in Tenn is my bet. From there we will build a lead that will have Lamar trying to throw to catch up, and he will make a mistake we just need to remain patient, and let him.
BTTB
AKA Upbeat Dawg
Can't believe I am in a group that is comprised of the best NOT just fans but people on the planet.
I would be much more worried about losing this game if Baltimore had not steam rolled us in the first game this season. These Browns will want payback more in this game than last week. If they bring that same team into MNF, the Ravens catch a beatdown.
The only reason to think the Browns would win against the Ravens is if you believe the Browns are more skilled at, and will show more examples of designed blitz packages, getting to the qb, and disrupting the Ravens offense than vice versa.
So the Browns pass protection will be key.
This is a playoff game!
Win it, you knock them out, if they win it, they knock you out.
Only way to run, against the Ravens D, is to " run right at them".
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
I naturally was rooting for Dallas against Baltimore Tuesday night but it didn't feel right. I never liked Dallas going back to the"60s and am really enjoying their current situation right now. They are now what we used to be; dysfunctional!!!
The Ravens strength is inside the hash marks. They run inside with their backs Ingram and Dobbins. Lamar is most dangerous as a runner inside when he takes off or a designed inside qb draw. They also prefer inside pass patterns.
Lamar does not throw the down and outs well. When he runs and defenses string him outside; you can use the sidelines to tackle him. Sidelines don't miss tackles.
I don't like blitzing Lamar very much. I prefer using zone inside and man outside on coverage. Rush four. Keep two men inside at gap coverage either with nickle, dime, or linebackers playing gap cover.
Our tackles need to hold the line and help close gaps. Our DE can loop at times or rush outside.
But our front seven or eight must protect the inside of the field.
The Ravens will find out that we are not the same team they played in the first game.
The offense has evolved. This is now week 14. The full playbook is now in play.
The bye week allowed the team to really figure out what works best. KS and Baker are more in sync.
Baker has much more control over the big picture. He is confident in the play calling. He is confident with OL protection. He is learning who not to throw to. How to give up on a play. Ball protection has been drummed into his head.
Play action is soooo effective. Chubb and Hunt make you honor play action. We present way more problems offensively than we did early on.
The Ravens will not be able to stop us consistently. We have to much to handle. And it all begins upfront with the play of our offensive line.
Making Lamar throw outside the numbers is important. He’s very good in the middle of the field, whether running or passing. Andrews is a key part of their team, and he’ll be back.
I’d assume getting a lead early is a prime way to beat them, obviously
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Baltimore didn't blitz much against Dallas, they are sure to come with blitzes galore to try to bait Bake into bad decisions
This is it. Baker has shown that recognizing blitzes is not a strength. He struggles when blitzed, especially when a team can disguise it. If he can recognize the blitz, and check into a play that can exploit it, then BAL may calm that down.
Given that, I do not expect we score a lot of points. So I think this a game that the D will need to win for us. The blueprint for beating BAL and Lamar is known (heck, we wrote the first draft). The question is if you have the players to execute the plan.
