Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#1915423 12/31/21 04:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,979
Likes: 83
T
Legend
OP Offline
Legend
T
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,979
Likes: 83
What happened to the Browns team that took the field at the start of the season, and held a lead against the Chiefs, in Kansas City for most of the Game?
What happened to that team, because that team, had belief, that team was soo much better than the playoff team from a couple of months before.
That team, had an offense that nobody could stop.
If the Browns take the field, in these next two games, with the Power! and Belief that the Browns had going into game one of this year, then the Browns will Win!


Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,780
Likes: 920
Legend
Online
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,780
Likes: 920
Quote
What happened to the Browns team that took the field at the start of the season, and held a lead against the Chiefs, in Kansas City for most of the Game?

They went to Lambeau field in week 16 and played the best team in the NFL down to the wire?


And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir

#GMSTRONG
2 members like this: mgh888, Dave
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,690
Likes: 907
Legend
Offline
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,690
Likes: 907
I get what you're saying, but I also get what THROW is mentioning, as well...

We haven't seen anything near that team which opened the season against KC, and I believe that's what has many Browns fans in a Doom & Gloom state of mind. I think they expected this year to be some combination of '85 Bears dominance on D, coupled with The Greatest Show on Turf on O. Unrealistic expectations often lead to irrational reactions, when those expectations are unmet.

Expected, in a fan base as large as ours.
"Fan" is short for fanatic... and it's our right to have all the feels we want.

Truth: this D has been steadily improving for the past month+. They held Aaron Rogers to pedestrian numbers even after he was spotted 3 turnovers, and only allowed 3 earned points after kick possession.
Truth: even with a banged-up OL, patched with back-ups and starters out-of-position, Browns put up 22 on a respectable D, and were still in it to win it in the last minute of game time.

So both things are true: Browns have shown grit, but not moxie.

Some years, we get something we couldn't have expected or predicted.

***

I just think back on 1-31, say to myself, "Self- Browns are still competing for a playoff spot after Christmas Day", and realize that this kind of Cleveland Browns football is a whole helluvalot more fun than "Quincy Morgan football." Or "Freddie Kitchens football." Or "Soldjah football." Or "Mike Holmgren football." Or... [insert 20 years of shameful examples here]-football. We are becoming that team we always wanted- relevant as a playoff contender at the end of every season. 2 years and counting. This is the base performance that forms a team that contends for 6-10 years... and that is what brings rings to football teams. In a way, I'm not really all that upset at this year, because it showed me a team that didn't fold at Halloween, when luck started to really turn for the worst. We've seen some ugly football, but it was just pretty enough to get us here. The Browns' total turnaround isn't happening 'microwave fast'... but that doesn't mean it's not happening. I'm actually okay with that. Ugly seasons are part of the growth curve, too.

I think this team will play Monday night's game with some of THROW's swagger regardless of Sunday's results. It's #7's last hurrah. At home. If you can't give everything you have to wring necks on his 'swan song,' you don't deserve the fans who root for you. I think Myles understands. I think enough team leaders understand what this means to us. They've been here long enough, and saw what last year looked/felt like at the end of the season. Trust me- none of this is lost on them.


CLE v PIT. At the end of the year. At the end on Ben.
Who can't get up for this?


"too many notes, not enough music-"
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 116
S
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
S
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 116
" I think enough team leaders understand what this means to us. They've been here long enough, and saw what last year looked/felt like at the end of the season. Trust me- none of this is lost on them."

My fear is we get up early on them, and then the coaches go into their "prevent" mode. Then I see Ben just wing it for the hell of it and mounting a comeback that will once again have stiller fans praising him and laughing at us.


"The Elf is killing the Curse"
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 987
Legend
Offline
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 987
This season has been a disappointment because of expectations.

Going into this season after the second half of last season. You had to feel good because of the defensive additions.

Lot's of things went wrong. The team we thought we would field never happened. Odell was a bomb. He was expected to be a big part of the offense.

Then the injuries and covid started. Still the losses to the Chargers, Steelers, Raiders, and Packers really hurt us. They were games we were in and had the opportunity to win. We did not win and it really hit hard.

Still we enter this week with a chance.

If we can be playing the Bengals for the North. Not much more to ask. A 9-8 record and division championship. I will take that and be happy.

The record does not matter.

Once the the playoffs begin. It is a new season.

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,780
Likes: 920
Legend
Online
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,780
Likes: 920
Quote
CLE v PIT. At the end of the year. At the end on Ben.
Who can't get up for this?

Say no more. It's January, we need to beat the steelers for a playoff spot. The kind of excitement we've been hoping for since the return.


And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir

#GMSTRONG
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,084
Likes: 290
Hall of Famer
Offline
Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,084
Likes: 290
Chubb - 21

Hunt - 14

D J - 7


Run game = 42



That's beating the Steelers !

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 140
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 140
Just an FYI, tonight on the NFL channel.....

2021 AFC wild card game.

Browns vs Steelers.....

.....from Jan. 10, 2021.

Also, Happy New Year Everybody!!!!!


Let this sink in..... On 12-31-23 it be will 123123.
On the flip side, you can tune a piano but you can't tune-a-fish.


1 member likes this: DeisleDawg
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,608
Likes: 89
Hall of Famer
Offline
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,608
Likes: 89
Originally Posted by jfanent
Quote
CLE v PIT. At the end of the year. At the end on Ben.
Who can't get up for this?

Say no more. It's January, we need to beat the steelers for a playoff spot. The kind of excitement we've been hoping for since the return.

We had Pitt in our house earlier in the year and held them to 15 points, yet our offense was not up for the game, Gotta hope they are this time.


How does a league celebrating its 100th season only recognize the 53 most recent championships?

#gmstrong
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,205
Likes: 234
D
Legend
Offline
Legend
D
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,205
Likes: 234
Thanks for that info. Its on NFLN at 9PM Eastern.

Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 116
S
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
S
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 116
To beat them, we got to run it down their throat. Control the TOP and make Ben miserable when he is on the field. They have been struggling against the run, time to exploit that. Put a TE on Hance's side and tell him to pound Watt's ribs. With Watt on the sidelines, their defense is putrid.

The offense needs to score a lot, because if it is close, the refs will make sure Ben goes out a winner.


"The Elf is killing the Curse"
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 70,571
Likes: 507
Legend
Offline
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 70,571
Likes: 507
Originally Posted by Dave
Thanks for that info. Its on NFLN at 9PM Eastern.
Ill check it out


"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."
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,601
Likes: 584
M
Legend
Offline
Legend
M
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,601
Likes: 584
Originally Posted by bonefish


Once the the playoffs begin. It is a new season.

Ding ding ding.

Pittsburgh is a playoff game. Bengals will be a playoff game if we beat Pit ... Exciting times.


The more things change the more they stay the same.
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 100
H
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
H
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 100
Spread them out and run the ball. It is how you exploit their D.

1 member likes this: TTTDawg
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,690
Likes: 907
Legend
Offline
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,690
Likes: 907
Quote
Pittsburgh is a playoff game. Bengals will be a playoff game if we beat Pit ... Exciting times.


Meaningful games at the end of the season. Two years in a row.
For twenty years, Browns fans envied fans of other teams who took such a thing for granted, while this team flailed around somewhere between 3-13 and 7-9.
Oh, and lest we forget: 1-31 just before our present team was built.

I'll take this version of the Cleveland Browns over any other since The Return. I'm watching games that I actually care about. In January.


thumbsup


"too many notes, not enough music-"
1 member likes this: Hammer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,538
Likes: 668
O
Legend
Offline
Legend
O
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,538
Likes: 668
And for those that want to hate, Baker was a huge part of turning this team around.


Your feelings and opinions do not add up to facts.
2 members like this: Hammer, WSU Willie
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 66,882
Likes: 1295
P
Legend
Offline
Legend
P
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 66,882
Likes: 1295
As was Stefanski.


Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.

#gmstrong
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 27,942
Likes: 762
Legend
Offline
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 27,942
Likes: 762
Time to sit starters and start evaluating next year's depth. Treat tomorrow and next week like preseason games.


Browns is the Browns

... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.

1 member likes this: RememberMuni
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16,698
Likes: 390
R
Legend
Offline
Legend
R
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16,698
Likes: 390
Originally Posted by PrplPplEater
Time to sit starters and start evaluating next year's depth. Treat tomorrow and next week like preseason games.

This is what they should do. But they'll make some big speech about how it still matters. The players will celebrate TDs like their playoff hopes are still alive. As a fan it will make you question if these guys really give a damn or not. We don't have a single winner on this team.

What a colossal letdown/disaster.

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 100
H
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
H
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 100
you should go root for the raiders

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,084
Likes: 290
Hall of Famer
Offline
Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,084
Likes: 290
Originally Posted by PrplPplEater
Time to sit starters and start evaluating next year's depth. Treat tomorrow and next week like preseason games.


Purp ! I know your pissed and it shows your a great fan ! Because of you we can all come here and put up our feelings ! thank you so much !

I want to see the Browns put Ben in the basement tomorrow ! always a lil sunshine to a dark moment..

Giving up will never get this team a Championship, especially against a rival !

I'm very sorry it didn't work out how we all wanted it to..

GO Browns !!

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,979
Likes: 83
T
Legend
OP Offline
Legend
T
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,979
Likes: 83
Originally Posted by PrplPplEater
Time to sit starters and start evaluating next year's depth. Treat tomorrow and next week like preseason games.
They can treat 365 days a year like pre season games.
That's all we heard all year is how these players needed to get rest, rest days, spelled downs.

-------------

Did the Browns Running game mail it in in the first matchup earlier this year, in Cleveland. Chubb and the OL?

Woot! Cleveland. at least we have April !!! boo


Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16,698
Likes: 390
R
Legend
Offline
Legend
R
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16,698
Likes: 390
Originally Posted by Hammer
you should go root for the raiders

I should probably do a lot of things.

When the Browns left Cleveland in 1995, I was destroyed. I was in my second year in college and although I lived in Georgia, I found a Browns backer bar that played every game. Drove 30 minutes every Sunday to watch the Browns. After they left, I gave up football until 2003. I did not follow the team when they came back. I swore off the NFL after the Browns left. I only came back because I was in Cleveland for the holidays and happened to be watching the 'run William run' game with some family. All those familiar feelings came back and haven't missed a game since.

That 8 year period from 1995 to 2003, I never had this team to bring me down. It was more blissful for sure. My Sundays were spent doing things, not watching things.

That seems appealing right now.

1 member likes this: DeisleDawg
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 116
S
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
S
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 116
Originally Posted by PrplPplEater
Time to sit starters and start evaluating next year's depth. Treat tomorrow and next week like preseason games.

No way. End the Steelers playoff hunt and beat our most hated rival in their house. The icing on the cake would be to send Ben home losing his last game in Heinz field. Why sit starters? They will have a whole offseason to evaluate the team. Plus, we have seen the "depth" play for the last few weeks already.


"The Elf is killing the Curse"
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 56
R
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
R
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 56
The stoolers are going to embarrass us on national tv tomorrow to end this crap weekend. F u browns.

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16,698
Likes: 390
R
Legend
Offline
Legend
R
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16,698
Likes: 390
Originally Posted by redddog
The stoolers are going to embarrass us on national tv tomorrow to end this crap weekend. F u browns.

What are the Browns really good at? Folding.

With nothing to play for.you are going to see a major lay down job.

I don't think the team plays for Stefanski either. I think Stefanski coaches like a robot. I don't see the guys running through walls for him. If they did we'd have seen that this year.

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,084
Likes: 290
Hall of Famer
Offline
Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,084
Likes: 290
Originally Posted by redddog
The stoolers are going to embarrass us on national tv tomorrow to end this crap weekend. F u browns.


I really hope your just pissed and don't really believe that.. Browns have to win this game and I trust they will try and will win !

Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 116
S
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
S
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 116
Originally Posted by redddog
The stoolers are going to embarrass us on national tv tomorrow to end this crap weekend. F u browns.

Seems like many in this thread wouldn't care. I want them to finish above .500. I've seen enough losing seasons. If the players on this team don't care if they win the next two, I don't want them on the team next year. Ending the season by giving up, is what I have endured for decades now, man up and show some pride. Play the next two like they are the most important games of the year, the fans deserve at least that much.


"The Elf is killing the Curse"
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,238
Likes: 57
R
Hall of Famer
Offline
Hall of Famer
R
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,238
Likes: 57
J/C

I agree with PurpleP. There is no moral victory to be had by winning now. Any way we slice it, we’ve regressed and need to reflect on what we can do to improve. - One way is to get as high of a draft pick as possible. It makes zero sense to win these two games and lose draft position/trade value in every round. Additionally, Why risk having one of our key players injured? - It could hurt their off-season conditioning and lessen their impact on meaningful games next year. An injury could also keep them out for all of next year. Last season, the Steelers lost Devin Bush and Bud Dupree on account of torn acl’s. - Due in large part to the overused surface at Heinz field. Zero reason to risk losing Myles or Wyatt Teller for next season for a game that means nothing.

I wonder what the analytics guys would say on this topic though. I’m sure some of you will disagree with my stance but I seriously wonder if there would be anything advantageous about winning at this point according to statistical data.

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 100
H
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
H
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 100
You play to win the game. Anyone suggesting otherwise can F-off.

1 member likes this: PitDAWG
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 56
R
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
R
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 56
I’m not suggesting that they won’t play to win. I’m suggesting that they won’t win, despite trying to win.

These clowns are done.

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 987
Legend
Offline
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 987
Only one team wins it all.

All the rest are disappointed.

It becomes a matter of entertainment. I guess going 1-32 is still to fresh for me.

I had wondered if we would ever be a 500 team or actually have a winning season. So, although I am disappointed I can look at this season and not really come undone by it.

The team I was so sure about never really played a game together. It happens. I am sure the Ravens feel pretty bad as well.

You can never predict the impact of injuries. It the easy route to want to blame. Blame the quarterback, head coach, OC, DC, owner, ref's, weather, curse.

It just didn't happen. I would never have believed last years team would have a better record than this years team.

So, we play two more games. I would like to beat the Steelers. I don't care about the Bengal game.
===============================================================================

The draft and free agency now becomes the focus. And that puts the magnifying glass on Andrew Berry.

Berry has to look at the team without emotion. He has to do his job. That is figure out the best way to improve the team.

We are not in a rebuild mode.

We have a good core of young players and talent.

How can we win the North next year? IMO I would try to build a truly dominant defense. I believe if that can be accomplished you can compete each week. The Browns strength on offense today is the run game. That is what we can do best.

So if I were Berry I would focus on defense because it will give us the best chance to win games.

On offense Baker will be back next year. Good or bad that is most likely. So work with that. Get better receivers and run the ball.

Continue to focus on the pass rush and the back end of the defense. Bring quarterback pressure in waves. Have depth at pass rushers.


Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,322
Likes: 79
T
Hall of Famer
Offline
Hall of Famer
T
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,322
Likes: 79
Originally Posted by Steubenvillian
" I think enough team leaders understand what this means to us. They've been here long enough, and saw what last year looked/felt like at the end of the season. Trust me- none of this is lost on them."

My fear is we get up early on them, and then the coaches go into their "prevent" mode. Then I see Ben just wing it for the hell of it and mounting a comeback that will once again have stiller fans praising him and laughing at us.

If this happens Stefanski should be on the chopping block.


Find what you love and let it kill you.

-Charles Bukowski
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,322
Likes: 79
T
Hall of Famer
Offline
Hall of Famer
T
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,322
Likes: 79
I don't want Mayfield back, he hasn't proved he can play the position.


Find what you love and let it kill you.

-Charles Bukowski
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 56
R
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
R
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 56
Originally Posted by tastybrownies
I don't want Mayfield back, he hasn't proved he can play the position.
I feel like the one thing we needed to accomplish this year was to figure out whether Baker is the guy.

If we’re being honest, he did not prove that to be the case. Now add in all the mitigating circumstances- his injuries, team injuries, covid, a lack of a consistent roster to build chemistry etc. it’s tough.

So we are in the same place we were when we started the season. We still need to figure out if Baker is the guy. Going forward, we could be in a worse position. We have a year to figure out baker. There is literally no other option for this team. No FA QB out there makes sense. They’re either too expensive, too old, not good enough. The draft doesn’t look any better. So we have a guy who COULD be the guy. In years past, we’d have paid a lot for a guy that COULD be the guy. The trick is to not alienate him so much that HE decides to walk.

This sucks and feels very Browns-y. But it could be worse.

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 987
Legend
Offline
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 987
Talk about short sighted.

Yea sure that's the ticket. Get rid of Stefanski and dump Mayfield.

And do what? Get who to replace them?

What nonsense.

You have a magic wand I guess?

You state that at least have a plan. Come up with some far fetched bs at least.

People like you have all the answers. Not.

1 member likes this: jfanent
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 177
H
Hall of Famer
Offline
Hall of Famer
H
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 177
Bone I don't think we should get rid of KS or Baker but I do think some serious adjustments have to be made by KS and his coaches on O as well as some WR additions. If a change at HC for us was to be made I would like to see Eric Bienemy from KC get hired here but I'm certainly not advocating a move. Just speculating on the subject.

Last edited by Homewood Dog; 01/03/22 11:46 AM.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,462
Likes: 12
B
Dawg Talker
Offline
Dawg Talker
B
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,462
Likes: 12
Wait a minute,get better receivers?
You spent the entire summer telling us we had one of the best receiver rooms in the entire NFL.Our TEs were top flight,the o-line was great and the RB tandem was the number one.
What a difference a season can make.


Indecision may,or maynot,be my problem
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,454
Likes: 1269
M
Legend
Offline
Legend
M
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,454
Likes: 1269
j/c...

The line on this game has moved from:

Browns -3 yesterday before being eliminated to Browns +3 as of today.

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 987
Legend
Offline
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 987
Odell was supposed to be our number one receiver.

Jarvis was injured most of the year and did not play great when he did play.

DPJ is a developing receiver.

I didn't say a thing about Schwartz or Higgins.

So this year didn't pan out. You have to adjust and make decisions that are the best ways to improve.

Not all plans work out.

Page 1 of 2 1 2
DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2021 NFL Season Looking Back: Browns 14 Steelers 26 Beating Pittsburgh

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5