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Quote:
Don't get ahead yourselves here the team is 4-5.
Just beat the Bengals after the break. The old "play them one game at a time" even better "one play at a time" "just do your job" "beat the guy you are supposed to beat".
Playoffs? How about a winning season.
I agree with this but you have to admit that the good vibes are there for a playoff run. While the Browns are only 4-5, we're in the thick of things with other playoff contenders on the cusp. If the Browns beat the Bengals, the schedule looks pretty favorable. Putzburgh isn't the team of just a few years ago and we still have two games against them, including one after the Bengals. Wins in both those games gives the Browns a 4-1 divisional record. That would be a reason to cheer. It would ensure a winning division record. Following it up with Jacksonville and you could have a nice winning streak going. The stretch of the Patriots, Bears and Jets would seem to be the toughest part of the remaining schedule. Taking just one of those games before finishing up at Putzburgh, could spell playoffs (and a divisional championship) for the Browns.
Just take it one game at a time and I have no doubt that Chudzinski will have them focusing on the game to be played that week, but as fans there is certainly a good feeling about the Browns upcoming schedule.
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j/c:
I think the Bengals are the best team we will have to face. Kinda stinks we play them next. 4 and 6 is deflating. I really don't see us winning that game. However, if we do........things could get very interesting.
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~ Legend
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http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9946744/the-18-limboMy man, Bill Simmons, wrote a story about the playoff race. Very lengthy so I'm not posting here (Browns and Bengals are at the bottom of the article).
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I don't see why we can't win that game. They're banged up on D as it is, and Geno is a big loss, so is Hall. They're banged up on the O-line and Dalton is prone to mistakes. We're getting good QB play, the O weapons are staring to click and our D is on the rise, including our secondary. Screw the Bengals, I say we kick their collective asses in their house in front of their fans and never look back.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/hfMNC7T.jpg) "I am undeterred and I am undaunted." --Kevin Stefanski "Big hairy American winning machines." --Baker Mayfield #gmstrong
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I think they have Green and Bernard as weapons on us. Collectively our D would be very comparable but them losing Atkins is like us losing Haden. He is just as dominant on D as Green is on O for them. So our D has an edge.
Whitworth has been banged up so our OL has an edge. The have us at the skill positions although not by much. Our QB is producing as well if not better than Dalton right now. I see no reason why, with our momentum, that we shouldn't be favored.
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j/c:
I think the Bengals are the best team we will have to face. Kinda stinks we play them next. 4 and 6 is deflating. I really don't see us winning that game. However, if we do........things could get very interesting.
I think that the Bengals are the third best team that we have remaining behind the Patriots and Chicago.
Please note that other than BallsNoMore, every team that we've lost to has at least a 4-4 record. Miami (4-4), Green Bay (5-3), Detroit (5-3), and KC (9-0).
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~ Legend
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Quote:
Quote:
j/c:
I think the Bengals are the best team we will have to face. Kinda stinks we play them next. 4 and 6 is deflating. I really don't see us winning that game. However, if we do........things could get very interesting.
I think that the Bengals are the third best team that we have remaining behind the Patriots and Chicago.
Please note that other than BallsNoMore, every team that we've lost to has at least a 4-4 record. Miami (4-4), Green Bay (5-3), Detroit (5-3), and KC (9-0).
And we win 2 of those games without Brandon Weeden. We're a much better team than Cinci is.
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This Bengals game is probably the most important game on the schedule. It's the pinnacle moment. The first obstacle...this sets the tone for the rest of the season. If they win that game... then they can start talking about the next most important game.
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"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
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This Bengals game is probably the most important game on the schedule. It's the pinnacle moment. The first obstacle...this sets the tone for the rest of the season. If they win that game... then they can start talking about the next most important game.
Good post, although I think the most important game was last week against Baltimore. It was exactly as you said about this game.
There is a reason the phrase-- you play one game at a time was created and became so popular.
It's just cool that we at least have a chance. And it is a reminder to how bleak things have been in Cleveland since '99. We have a losing record and are getting excited. 
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First off, without Atkins the Bengals are no longer the beast. They are us without Big Phil and an injured Rubin last year and even McGahee should be able to run on them.
3 Reasons the Browns will make the playoffs.
1. A better grasp of what we are asking the players to do.
We have been in basic math with Hortons system and starting to go into advanced algebra. The mistakes on defense havent been because we were physically beat at any time. It was because of a lack of understanding of this defense. It is just now starting to come together and it may not be complete until midseason next year.
We also have players getting what Norv and Chud are teaching on offense. The offensive philosophy has changed just as much as the change on defense and it is going to get better. I think this team will be remarkably better when we come back against the Bengals. limited practice time and new systems.
2. Campbell didnt get the reps with the guys he is working with now. That chemistry and timing should be dramatically improved going forward.
3. Confidence. Its everywhere, it is contagious and it may be coming to even the debbie downers and the negative Nellies in the coming weeks.
We control our destiny. It is that simple. We have some demons to exercise but hey a playoff ticket might get punched. Can you imagine hosting a playoff game in CBS? Hortons defense turned loose when the wind is whipping?
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And we win 2 of those games without Brandon Weeden. We're a much better team than Cinci is.
I do think that we are a better team than the Bengals. And we could very well have won a few of those games without Weeden as the QB. Even if we are 1-3 in those 4 Weeden starts, we'd be at 5-4 at the break in the schedule instead of 4-5. We'd be ecstatic if we had been 2-2 in those games and going into the break at 6-3.
This is how important leadership at the QB really is. That's why NE is so good. Why Peyton Manning led teams are so good offensively. That's why the Saints are perennially good. It's why GB is good year in and year out. The same goes for why Kurt Warner was so good.
You can win with game managers too. That's why Alex Smith wins. That's why Eli Manning wins. It's why Schaub had done so well in Houston (this season excepted).
Having a QB that is a leader picks up the play of those around them. I wouldn't exactly say that Hoyer has the leadership ability (although, being behind Brady for three seasons doesn't hurt) but he can manage the game. Campbell due to his experience as a starter in the NFL has some ability to manage a game.
Some might criticize Campbell (and I'm not sold on him - although any untested UDFA QB would be better than Weeden) but you could say that his success isn't just a lucky streak. A case could be made that Campbell is actually in the best situation of his NFL career, with best players around him and the best coaching staff.
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Quote:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9946744/the-18-limbo
My man, Bill Simmons, wrote a story about the playoff race. Very lengthy so I'm not posting here (Browns and Bengals are at the bottom of the article).
Good article thanks.
He sounds like a Browns optimist to me 
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He's a Pats honk that wants to find a reason that the Jets wont make the playoffs and is scared of the Bengals (whom IIRC has already beaten NE)
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Ah I see that makes some sense. To add an additional layer of Pat loving goodness Lombardi is a big time Pat Honk as well
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The Browns making the playoffs? It cracks me up, but not because I don't believe it, but because I actually DO believe we may be able to so, as long as you-know-who doesn't end up QBing again.
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Man- Simmons spent a LOT of time on Cleveland in that article. "The for most feared words uttered by a play-by-play announcer: 'Here comes Brandon Weeden-' " 
"too many notes, not enough music-"
#GMStong
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Simmons has to buddies that running are the team in Lombardi and Scheiner. He has been rooting for us the whole season.
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Thanks for the backstory. Grantland is just now getting on my radar. I read what Dawgs paste here, but don't know any of that site's players. I like his writing style. Informative, laced with some humor... think I'll start heading over there on my own. 
"too many notes, not enough music-"
#GMStong
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J/C
Year after year its basically been the same story...Can we Win our Division? If so we have become a playoff team...A real playoff team.
Well this is looking like we have a chance to win our Division.
So much will be riding on our NEXT GAME vs. the Bengals! This is it Dawgs! The road to prosperity is winning our division. Its been said over n over especially by some negative dawgs. 
Well this is the best shot I see us have doing that since 1999...I think we went 3-3 in 07 all home wins? Truth is - we got to win on the Road...again why this can be earth moving for us!
This game is so big...I'm already nervous n will be watching it like a kid watching a horror movie 
JMHO
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off!
Go Browns!
CHRIST HAS RISEN!
GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
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Quote:
Thanks for the backstory.
Grantland is just now getting on my radar. I read what Dawgs paste here, but don't know any of that site's players.
I like his writing style. Informative, laced with some humor... think I'll start heading over there on my own.
If you are just getting into their stuff, Chuck Klosterman wrote a nice little piece after being able to sit in with Browns during the draft. As a Browns fan, you would love the article.
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cool article. Even though I could forsee a lack of insight at about the 1/2way point, I still couldn't stop reading. These folks have writing skills. thanks,
"too many notes, not enough music-"
#GMStong
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This game is so big...I'm already nervous n will be watching it like a kid watching a horror movie
That's me too. I haven't been this nervous about a Browns game for a long, long time.
#gmstrong
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This game is so big...I'm already nervous n will be watching it like a kid watching a horror movie
That's me too. I haven't been this nervous about a Browns game for a long, long time.
That's because for the first time in a long time, we are a the middle of the season and games actually mean something. I mean, we get 5 more wins and we could be in the hunt for the playoffs.. When was the last time you could say that in mid November? 2007?
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Sadly, yes. The only time we've won four of our first nine games of the season in the last 10 years (prior to this one) was 2007.
Man, that's depressing.
Last edited by clevesteve; 11/11/13 06:53 PM.
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That's why I'm so excited for next week.
I just hope we are not let down.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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That's why I'm so excited for next week.
I just hope we are not let down.
I wish this was a home game for the city....the town would be going nuts Sunday morning against a division rival. But if we win, it will be even bigger the week after against the hated Steelers, which WILL be at home.
At DT, context and meaning are a scarecrow kicking at moving goalposts.
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Cinci isn't that far away. Besides, who else is going to fill up that stadium? 
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.
-PrplPplEater
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jc I thought we wanted to lose so we could draft a franchise quarterback. Now we're talking playoffs. I'm confused. 
It's supposed to be hard! If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great!
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jc
I thought we wanted to lose so we could draft a franchise quarterback. Now we're talking playoffs. I'm confused.
It's the NFL son....
All bets are off until the post-season results are inked in pen....
"too many notes, not enough music-"
#GMStong
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jc
I thought we wanted to lose so we could draft a franchise quarterback. Now we're talking playoffs. I'm confused.
Thinking is a dangerous game. Only those that are prepared should try it.
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Quote:
Quote:
That's why I'm so excited for next week.
I just hope we are not let down.
I wish this was a home game for the city....the town would be going nuts Sunday morning against a division rival. But if we win, it will be even bigger the week after against the hated Steelers, which WILL be at home.
I may consider driving home for that game if that's the case. I wanna see how many of these steeler "fans" show up to THAT game.
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Quote:
Quote:
jc
I thought we wanted to lose so we could draft a franchise quarterback. Now we're talking playoffs. I'm confused.
Thinking is a dangerous game. Only those that are prepared should try it.
I think you missed his sarcasm. Personally, I thought it was pretty funny.
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Quote:
Quote:
jc
I thought we wanted to lose so we could draft a franchise quarterback. Now we're talking playoffs. I'm confused.
Thinking is a dangerous game. Only those that are prepared should try it.
I think you missed his sarcasm. Personally, I thought it was pretty funny.
I didn't miss his sarcasm and I chuckled at it too, but my quip was meant to imply that this isn't the old regime (which didn't think) and the punditry class (which tries).
Remember, the prevailing 'thought' after the Richardson trade among the punditry was that the Browns had thrown in the towel on the season already. So much for 'thinking'.
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Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Five reasons the Browns will make
the playoffs
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