We win!! That's all that matters!!

Yep. Now hope 49ers win vs LA.

Win.

draft pick #2

I follow the Browns on twitter. They always have so much enthusiasm for sucking so bad. So I always feel bad for them.

Today I am happy for them, and the fans.

Congrats team! Holiday win!

Happy to have a win finally.
Todays win will probably cost McCoy his job.

I DON'T CARE WE ALL NEEDED THIS WIN!!!

Those guys played their asses off!

A well deserved win.

We are locked into a top 2 pick no matter what.

Screw Jimmy Haslam! He so deserved an 0-16 team. LOL

Off the schneid!!

Browns win! It's a Christmas Miracle!!

AMEN!!!

Their kicker will be cut Monday.

Thanks!!

Rooting for 49ers!

Yes I am

I did not want to see a parade!

Maybe, BUT DID WE? NOOOOOOOO!

Thank you Browns' for playing hard and not rolling over...you deserved (and played a few games good enough) a few wins this year so at least you got 1!

Seeing Haslam with an 0-16 on his record would have been awesome. He is truly a piece of garbage as an owner who is nothing more than a crook. Screw him.

Great stuff! Defence was gritty today.

Yessss! Draft pick be damned, I'm thrilled!

Now this season can be washed away as just a bad year that will be remembered as nothing but a bad dream.

Who cares who HE is? Whatever record he has, we have and I don't care to have an 0-16 record just to fulfill some passive aggressive 'thing' I have with the owner of a sports franchise.

The stadium was empty, but I noticed the Dawgpound was full. Whoop whoop!

The team played a full 30 mins... then something happened during the 2nd half.

Oline fell apart and it hurt us badddddddd.

Proud of the defense for making plays when it counted the most. Even more impressed on how they shut down the run game today.

End of the day though, it's obvious we need more talent on defense, and a better oline.

x2

Thank you my Brownies for the win and a nice Christmas present. I don't care if now we will pick #2. I wanted to win at least 1 game. Thank's again!!!

Yea even if San Fran loses I don't care.

If we have to "settle" on Allen, I ain't mad at that.

The locker room mood should be off the charts!

Well there's the first part of the prediction, lets see if it damages both picks

Now that we got our first win, I can't wait to see us roll over for the Steelers next week

Hey Benji, nice catch, you lost!

"The pierogi prince of Parma does it again" - Joe Thomas on Jamie Meder's FG block #Browns

We Won!!

Wrong thread.

You're right... I fixed it.

Two things:

1) If a team is gonna win only one game in a season, better the 15th game than the first game.
2) Our last win was now one hour ago. (as opposed to 2015).

We won one. Let the streak begin. This was a typically clean and overpowering Browns victory. Cancel that parade.

A load has been lifted. One win.

I had to leave the bar early; how many Chargers got knocked out of the game? We think it was about eight.

There goes Myles Garrett =(

https://www.facebook.com/clevelandbrowns/videos/10154971132159684/

Almost made me cry. These players absolutely love hue.

I'd rather have the one win. This will mean so much to the team and the staff that it will be worth it in the ling run.

Maybe but even so Jonathan Allen is a pretty good consolation prize

I think on average there's less than one roughing the quarterback penalty in a game.

Did San Diego have three?

It seems teams are trying to hurt RGIII.

Yea they had 2 or 3. RG3 was lighting they asses up on the ground and they got pissed off on the last flag.

Screw em.

pretty emotional in that lockerroom

All Browns fans happy!



Even their owner, for once!

Merry Christmas everybody! That win was a sweet present. WE ALL NEEDED THAT.

^Must^ watch. That was excellent.

Really cool to read the facebook comments from lots of fans of other teams happy that we didnt go winless on the season...

one big reason I wouldn't have cared about 0-16 was Haslam ... but I'm glad for the players/coaches

I don't get all the hate for Haslam. He isn't a cheap owner. He is an absent in owner. He has shown a passion to win...hasnt led to W's yet but will.

Sure, he has made some crappy hiring / firing decisions but I don't think those were bad owner decisions but moreso a young and inexperienced owner.

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus...

A win and a SF win!
A Merry Christmas after all!

Alright guys.

NOW you can celebrate.

As to the game:

finally we sent some blitzes that were effective, also run D was good. I saw Ogbah double-teamed a few times, dunno if they consistently put two on EO or not.
Griffin played better again this week. The second half he was under extreme duress, earlier in the game he made some nice throws, mixed in a few nice runs.
The slant route to TP: we don't do that nearly enough. Jamar made some key pass breakups in the game, he's solid.

I like our new kick returner.

Yes

Even better. Last I checked, niners were down 14 in the fourth. Great news!

Wow can't believe they won. So we get the win and still have the first pick..... what a kick ass day!

yeah, this was the perfect outcome today

Yea I turned it off thinking it was over ...

Wow, I just woke up from a nice nap and had to re-read that. Hey-now!

Joe Thomas in tears: Why anyone's opinion of Jimmy doesn't matter. Joe deserves this as much as we do!

If there ever was a Brown that deserved to be here to see it turn around, it's Joe!

congrats on your first win.

Thanks. And thank you for the kind words throughout the season. You've always been a class act. Now let's hope we have a good football game between us next week.

Draft pick #1.

I have a secret liking for Cleveland, as long as they aren't playing my team. Hopefully the Steelers take care of business tomorrow and clinch the AFC North. I hope for a good injury-free game next week.

We were opening Presents as the clock ticked down.
I got just what I wanted for Christmas!

Dee Haslam's reaction was great. She showed me how much she cares in a 3-second video.

It's nice to get a win, not be 0-16.

this is a game we shoulda lost but won, so this makes up for the Miami game where we shoulda won but lost

My reaction after the game and the 49ers winning.

That Colin Kaepernick isn't so bad.

I take back everything I said about Krapperneck.

That he’s stupid. A real jerk. An arrogant putz. A First Lieutenant in the Schmuck Army. That he’s ugly as sin. If he were my kid, I’d put a diaper on his head and make him walk backwards. That his mama is so stupid, when she hears that it’s chilly outside, she gets a bowl and crackers.

That…

Oh...uh.. I like him now.

Santa does deliver in Cleveland...

Yeah because we draft so well right? Only damage coming will be inflicted by the picks or trades themselves.

Garrett/Allen, Allen/Garrett...Either way we'd do alright. Now at least we have that choice.

Or...They could get stupid. I hate to throw that in there but...

That was an exciting finish. I'm so happy for Hue, his staff, and the players.

Playing on a losing team is so tough. I can't imagine how hard it would be to play on a winless team. The joy they showed when they won the game was as pure as it could be.

Again, I couldn't be happier for the coaches and players. Cheers!!!

To tell the truth, I didn't know if I should smile or cry.

What I mean by that is that yes, WE WON.. and I'm happy. Then I realized we probably lost the first pick. Made me wanna cry.

But in the end, it's OK,, San Fran Won also so, we are still at the bottom. (or top depending on how you wanna look at it)

As for the game itself, I do believe Crow did a pretty good job yesterday. RGIII didn't play poorly really, but it's the injury thing that has me still thinking, he's not the answer.

The D was pretty stout and did it's job.. Got a little lucky at the end but still, they did a much better job. Almost see what could be.

Merry Christmas folks..

If RG played with more "tude, like he seemed to yesterday, we might have something. I thought Crow laid down early, always running into the line and falling down...whats up with that?
Then he got his crap together and had a few nice runs.
Wish he would make up his mind. Either be a RB or sit down.

Really like the Duke, Crow should take lessons. Haden, still aint gaining no love from me, I guess I'm done with him. I know not as bad as I say but...Just something aint right with the Man.

They spelled Cleveland wrong!




D'oh!

I was watching with about 20 other Browns fans....all ex-Clevelanders and hardcore fans. Honestly, the celebrations in the bar were as euphoric as the packed bar I was at when the Cavs won.

I am proud for the Cavs and for the city to finally win a championship but, I would trade the Cavs Championship for a Browns Super Bowl any day. They just mean so much more to me.

I firmly believe Hue is the man to right this ship...we must stay the course. Go Browns!

Very much agree on Crow. I think there needs to a RB drafted and there be an open competition next year. Of course we need offensive line as well.

I don't agree w/the negative takes on Crow. He is a very good back. Not so sure why people don't give him the credit he deserves???????

Are we sure this isn't photoshopped by somebody making fun of us? I saw the tv cameras on this very sign and I don't remember noticing the misspelling.

No, I saw it during the game. It was misspelled.

I guess I had one beer too many yesterday because I didn't notice it.

Some nice-sized pictures of us winning yesterday with this article, too big to post:

'It's a Christmas miracle! Cleveland Browns actually win a game to improve record to 1-14 and avoid going winless on the season'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...NFL-season.html

Very Happy for the team and coaching staff. Merry Christmas boys!

It is easy for us to sit back and be critical. It is another to work hard and get slammed for 15 weeks straight.

The emotion in the locker room is real.

Nothing beats winning. For this week the Browns can feel good. What a load to get off your back.

I guess I'm hard on Crow just like Haden. His 1st two yrs. was run into the line...hop...lay down. Thats it. He kind of got away from that, but noticed the last few games he was running and....hop lay down again. Just run the ball. Look at Duke, he runs 100 mph and makes people miss. Yes I know their different types of backs but ya gotta have the effort. I guess he thinks if he can't see daylight might as well lunge forward for a yd.

I don't know, bleed. There are just times where this isn't a hole. I thought he got a lot of extra yards yesterday.

See, the economy is getting better under Trump already. Now even dumb-arse drop-outs can afford tickets to games!

The very ending of the game was insane, it got fast but quick. Were they even going to have enough time to kick it? If so I pretty much expected the field goal to drive a stake through all Browns fans hearts, but no go! We finally won one. Victory at last.

...And still have the first pick in the draft. (Hey-now!)

Your usually right Vers. But he does seem to have some bad habits and thats running into the line and hop and lay down. Maybe he will be more consistent.

Thank you San Francisco

With an improved offensive line and a legit passing game, Crow can be a plus NFL starter. As can Duke. Neither of these guys is the problem right now.
We need to draft Miles Garrett and a QB, then bulk up OL and secondary. If the rookies make progress, we could take a giant leap next year.
Or we could go 1-15, trade down in the draft, fire the coach and front office and start over again. I'm kinda on the fence. LOL.

Thank God ... thats all i ever wanted ....

And we get to keep the 1st pick for now ...

Merry Christmas!

Crow's a very good RB. People seem to forget that the OL has been in flux for much of the year, and that hurts a RB just as it does a QB, Crow has good power, good quickness, and good vision. He can break a run when the opportunity is there to do so. He's a solid enough blocker, and can catch the ball. He's not Zeke, but he is a very good back.

Who cares. 1-14 this season, one win in the last 17 games, and 4 wins in the last 30 games? I refuse to celebrate anything about this pile of doo calling itself an NFL franchise until they AT LEAST make the playoffs.

That win was a big enough deal to make the UK papers?

So, some actual observations:

i watched the play that RG3 got injured.

it's odd....well not odd because our line is suspect as hell, but i mean, RG3 was running around today, and was fine.

he got hurt trying to escape out of a non existent pocket.

and that pressure came from non other than Pasztor's lacking of blocking. Pasztor had a terrible game. our guard positions need to be addressed as well i feel, but if we do draft a O linemen in the 2nd, it has to be a OT to replace Pasztor.

if i'm not mistaken, the majority of our QB injuries this season has came from the right side.

So our healthy starters would be:

Thomas
Bitonio
Erving
Grecco
2nd round pick.

my other issue is this: is Grecco and Bitonio injury prone? i mean this is the second season he's on IR.

missed the last 6 games last season. only played 5 this season.

I'm not a big believer in Drango, but atleast he can stay on the field.

anyway, make no mistake, we won this game thanks to RG3 and some very good defensive play. we only allowed a TD in the second half, when that's when it normally starts getting out of control.

RG3 made crucial plays with his arm and feet, made way better decisions.

and he slid.

hopefully he can play next week. i know people don't want us screwing up the draft pick, but the browns are gonna try and win against the steelers.

if we are indeed going to play to win, we can't win that game with Kessler. our best chance is with RG3.

Yep, they have a lot of news from the U.S. Plus in their comments section they have worst rated comments as an option, which I find fun as hell to read. (Lots of trolls there.)

General Game Thoughts

Of course the first play was a bomb to Benji, Haden got burnt and was lucky that Travis had to wait for the ball.

We got lucky with SD penalties on our first drive. 36 yards of them.

We actually got a lead, and didn't immediately give it back!

Holy crap did SD get hit by injuries in this game..

However, I had to laugh when they said they were the unluckiest team as it came to injuries.. Excuse me sir, they still have Philip Rivers, we have had 18 QBs this year.

Was not surprised when Haden ended up leaving the game. He's a really good player, but I would totally take a 2ND or 3rd for him and use it to improve the pass rush. Therefore making the DBs look better.

Our offense completely shut down in the second half. Like, there was nothing there.

Surprisingly, with no offense, our defense basically won this game.

Jamie Meder. What a play.

That bad snap on their final drive lost the game.

His biggest problem is that he continues to lean way too far when he's running and trips over himself constantly. I wouldn't be opposed to drafting another back.

Ummmm... I haven't seen a "What I Saw" thread this whole season. How did you not notice that he's been double-teamed?

I didn't get that excited... Felt the Browns won buy SD's poor play..

The way the Browns played in the second half..they were lucky SD played worse..

I would have liked to have seen the team win by more points...then depending on a missed fg.

The Offense was terrible in the second half. A one win team..now people see all this hope in the same players they wanted off the team at 0-14

There was no "excitement" at the end of the game for me..

Just.. relief.

SDs booted that ball, and I saw it go wide at the last second, and I just feel back into the couch..

Relieved.

Didn't care about draft picks, didn't care about player evaluations.

Just wanted a win.

I feel no differently about te team now than I did before..

GREAT Link!
Thanks!

Much-needed win. Hats off to Meder! Just enough is enough.

Not sure we won as much as they lost. Nice to be on the other end of the stick. Still plenty of draft picks to mess up. Plenty of them. I like winning very much, thank you.

We don't need no steenkink parades! A nice, clean Browns win.

We need to send game balls to our refs and to San Fran. Thanks for the help!

Every talking head that lined up to throw the cheap shot rocks at us needs to give us some love Monday, Almost breathless and giddy grinding on us. We got a notch.

I disagree. Here is the play:



Stop the video at the 2 to 3 second mark. You can see that there is a very nice pocket and Pazstor is deeper and has the inside on his man. RGIII then tucks the ball and takes off running, which allowed the effectively blocked defender the chance to run after him. RGIII should have stayed in pocket.

In fact, many of the sacks were more the fault of RGIII than the OL. I do agree that the line did give up some early pressures, but most of the sacks/hits were not their fault.

--I do think that RGIII did play better this week.

--Coleman is not playing very well. His routes are poor. He is not defining himself as well as some other rookie WRs. Did anyone watch Hill for KC last night? That dude makes you go "Wow." And our boy, Michael Thomas from Ohio State, is absolutely standing out as an excellent WR. The Saints drafted him in the second round.

--Erving had a couple of more "dumb" plays. How can he not see those monsters run right by him while he double-teaming another guy?

--Crow and Duke had some nice runs.

--Reynolds blew a couple of coverages.

--Collins was a factor. He is big and fast.

--Pryor pushes off a lot. I wonder if refs are going to call it next year or if they'll let him get away w/it?

--Nassib is going to have to add some upper and lower body strength.

--Ogbah is a decent player who should contribute for some team for quite awhile.

--The other rookie WRs look lame as hell.

--Haden is a hard hitter. He just looks slow. Not sure how much of that is due to his groin injuries and how much is due to the fact he was never all that fast and he is getting older?

--Joe T is still a stud!

--Nice game planning by coaching staff.


Those would be my actual observations.

j/c

That was far from one of our better games this year...yet we still won. I'll take an ugly win there...even if just to SHUT UP the rest of the NFL, its fans and the awful commentators/pundits. Imagine if we DID go winless? That would've been the talk of the entire offseason. I know that win doesn't change who we are by any measure...but at least the players don't have to talk about it anymore.

I thought RG3 was awful...again. The offense has no rhythm when he's in...and he is aiming his short throws poorly. He drops back...waits...looks to run...or just runs off the snap. That second half was painful to watch...the Chargers were teeing off on the Oline on every snap. I was screaming at the TVs for him to ONE TIME drop back in rhythm and throw the ball...throw it away...in the dirt...overthrow someone...throw it to Hue...just THROW IT. The best Browns throw of the second half was Kessler's pass to Coleman for a first down...nice for the rookies to impact the outcome like that...that showed the rhythm I was looking for the entire second half.

I feel dirty because last night I was rooting for the Rats to win. I wanted next week's game to mean something to the Cheaters and give us a chance to hurt their post-season. All my luck must have been used up during our W...I'm ok with that today.

Yeah woo hoo..celebrating our SB. Because trading away all our top picks is so gratifying year in and year out right?

2-14

I think RG3's problems are confidence related. When he hesitates at all, bad things happen. I thought he actually had some pretty nice throws at times. Will he ever be consistently confident/comfortable is the question.

We need a better line to find out.

One thing is for sure, he's clearly the only QB capable of getting wins on this roster as of right now.

This entire season people swore up and down McCown was better.

Where? I don't see it.

Didn't Crow score twice? and Haden is still injured.. Needs off season surgery..

Does anyone else feel like Duke Johnson is our best offensive skill player and that he doesn't get the ball nearly enough?

I feel like he should be touching the ball twenty times a game at least.

No, I think Crow is better than Duke.

Tough getting enough opportunities for BOTH HB's and then trying to include the WR's with limited possessions...

Hopefully with a better oline, we'll get more possessions and can feed any and everyone who's hungry.

I didn't mean getting Johnson 20 carries, but just touches. He is dynamic when he gets the ball in space.

carries/touches, all the same to me.. I do prefer Duke get more catches than carries tho. His agility is amazing, so definitely an asset when one on one with a LB.

I just saw that Demario Davis only played 34% of defensive snaps. Kirksey played 100%. Nassib, Ogbah, Meder, and Shelton were on the field together most of the game.

Anyone worried about us playing a "3-4 defense" should remember this.

Philly's pick dropping out of the top 10 really sucks.

Mostly because that crazy idea of trading up to 2, and getting both Garrett AND Allen was so wonderful..

Ogbah and Garrett at DE.

Shelton and Allen at DT.

Then you still have high motor guys like Nassib and Meder on the bench?

Sigh.

We gotta trade down...

I don't think it's fair to say this yet. For one, some WR'ers take longer to develop. Also, those two guys have significantly better QB's throwing them the ball. Hell, Brees is/should be a MVP candidate. Coleman has had RG3 and Kessler throwing him the ball. And lastly, his injury happened right after his best game of the season and took him out for an important part of the season.

From what I've seen, Coleman has his moments where he shows he can be a stud. He doesn't go down easy, he is a monster with the ball in his hands IMO. His route running is going to need work. And he needs to stay healthy. But I still think Coleman is going to be a hell of a player.

Remember what the Eagles paid us to draft up to #2? Do you want to trade that for a non-QB?

I don't know if this is a joke or not, but we should definitely trade down with the second first round pick. Banking the future first round picks is a great strategy.

That being said, I'd much rather have him than Randy Lerner. I'm under the impression that Haslam actually cares about the result and its important to him, that he takes pride in it. Seems like he wears his emotions on his sleeve sometimes, reminds me of myself or other fans.

We finally won a game. I didn't even feel like a win with the way the team played, but a win is a win I guess. This team needed it in a worse way.

Going win-less this year would have been almost impossible with all the really bad teams, but I thought our team was going to do it. We just got lucky that SD's offense was horrid and Rivers played like crap and that the refs gave us all the extra help we needed.

The win was great, but even with this win you can see multiple glaring holes with this team. The main one is QB and we have nobody to build around. If we got Sunday's win with a guy like Wentz, then I would feel it would be something to build on and a year of experience. Next year, in all likelihood, we'll be starting all over at the position. That is, if we're lucky. Which means, we're just that much farther away from competing for anything.

I believe thats simply not true. You do not have to start a rebuild with a new QB in year one. If anything, im glad our QBOTF isnt playing behind this line, learning bad habits like Wentz is doing now.

That said, they have to hit on a QB next year, no matter who or where it comes from.

Wentz is struggling in Philly. Do you think he'd be better here?

If Went had been winless as the Browns QB until week 16 people on this board would of said he sucks and wanted everyone fired..

Wait..

in all honesty, watching dak and zeke makes me wonder ... if we had drafted both of them, would they be anywhere near as successful? I actually doubt it

We've allowed 62 sacks so far this season. Dallas, 25. Putting anyone behind this line is cruel and unusual punishment.

Read what I wrote again. Where did I say that this was a final evaluation? Please note the word tense. Do you see how they are in present tense?

It's more than fair.

I like you as a poster, but I hate when people keep making this point. What, we should not draft good players because they wouldn't be as good here? What the heck!!!

And I think Wentz is playing pretty damn good. This rhetoric that he is stinking the joint out is being made by people who don't watch the games.

Maybe Zeke would have done great and our offense wouldn't have given up half the rushed throws, sacks, or hits to the QB causing alot of injuries and concussions. And Dak probably wouldn't have started a single game.

We can spin this about a gazillion ways. But why?

You make a very valid point. People keep suggesting that getting great players would be a waste because of our OL.

That has to be one of the stupidest things I read on here! How is this team ever going to get better without better talent? You need good talent to compete. Let's say we do improve the OL. Will it help that much with Kessler in the pocket? Of course not. He is a very limited QB.

When all is said and done, without good talent to build around, you won't go far. Having those strong building blocks is the future of your teams core. Without them, you have nothing to build around.

I would take Zeke and Dak all day over some of the bone headed picks that are on this roster.

Each season you have to solidify needy positions on your roster. At least two positions must have defined answers. We can't seem to accomplish that. When we do have the picks to accomplish that, we either trade down or make terrible decisions.

Nothing will change if that continues.

Sign makers probably not as dumb as one would think, their sign did get alot of air time. Mission accomplished!!!

I don't believe that is what people mean when they say that. My interpretation is that people want to point out that you can not assume that players on other teams would have the same production here. I don't think anyone would say not to draft them. Just that here their numbers are unlikely to be as good.

I take nothing more nor anything less from it

The reason I say this is because of the "yeah but" factor. ie.... "Yeah but if we would have drafted him he wouldn't have been as productive."

The "yeah but" factor makes it seem like some excuse. The fact is, you would still have that talent on your team. You would still have potential game changers at positions where we don't.

I guess we just perceive it a little differently.

WED DEC. 28, 2016

Browns Get One to Grow On





Inside an emotional scene in Cleveland, where Hue Jackson’s team closed the book on a dismal 2016 with a victory for its veteran leaders.




Today, I’ll take the top of my column today to report on the Cleveland Browns getting off the schneid.


When he took the field Sunday for Cleveland, all-pro left tackle Joe Thomas, the best player on the worst team in recent football history, was 3-32 in his previous 35 games. His coach, Hue Jackson, was 0-14 in his rookie year with the Browns.


“I’m sure people would look at you funny if you told them, here we were, 0-14, with nothing to play for that people would see, and everybody thinking we’re going 0-16, and we really wanted to win this game badly,” Thomas said from Cleveland on Tuesday afternoon. “This was something really important to the people on this team, the people on the coaching staff and front office, and the people in this city. In 10 years, when I’m gone from this game, I’ll look back and wonder, Why was I so emotional back on that day in 2016 when we played San Diego? You just had to be in the stadium Sunday to feel it. You had to be in our locker room. The fans just wanted a win so bad. So did we.”


During the week before taking the field against 5-10 San Diego, Jackson acknowledged he thought of the obvious. “This was our shot,” he said. “We couldn’t be going to Pittsburgh with them needing to win to make the playoffs or for seeding and … ” He didn’t have to finish. Jackson’s an NFL veteran. The Browns weren’t going to Pittsburgh and pulling a Buster Douglas on Mike Tyson. They had to beat San Diego.


The night before the game, in a downtown hotel, Jackson told his players this was their last opportunity to play together in Cleveland, as Browns. He told them things would change, big time, in the off-season. He told them that for Joe Thomas and Andrew Hawkins and Gary Barnidge and Joe Haden and for Tramon Williams, veterans who did things the right way, the young guys needed to win this game.


“We owe it to those guys,” Jackson told his team.



Then Jackson sat by himself in his room, for 20, 30, 40 minutes, looking at the game plan. “I looked at it 20 times at least,” Jackson told me after the game. “I sat there knowing we had a good plan to win, and thinking we were 0-14, and going back to all the different games we played, how many ways we’d lost. But this week, I felt really good about our plan. Mostly, I felt good about our players. They just worked. They never mailed it in. My ending scenario had us winning.”


But his ending scenario usually did.



When Jackson walked onto the field for warmups Saturday, Christmas Eve, he saw the signs. We Believe in Hue.And In Hue We Trust.What fans, he thought. He felt a different energy in warmups, from his players and the fans who showed up. The team built a 20-17 lead with six minutes left in the third quarter and hung on desperately. Cleveland had the ball five more times, trying to buttress the lead. And the Browns quarterback—first Robert Griffin III, then Cody Kessler—was sacked once on the first drive, twice on the second, and then once each on the third, fourth and fifth drives. Hanging on. Desperately hanging on. With 3:49 to play, the Chargers lined up for a 32-yard field goal. The Browns’ nose man on the rush team, Jamie Meder, played college football at nearby Ashland College. Meder grew up in the very blue-collar Cleveland suburb of Parma.




Meder pushed past the Charger center, and then the right guard, and stuck his right arm straight up in the air.


THUMP.


“You hear that thump,” Jackson said, “and you think, ‘Something good is happening to this football team.”


As Thomas said after the game: “The ‘Pierogi Prince of Parma’ does it again. That man is awesome. He is one of my favorites. I think he is playing in the polka band here this weekend on Christmas Day so if you guys get a chance, go out and watch him. He is the accordion player.”


“So fitting a guy from here makes the play,” said Jackson. “So fitting that a guy who does nothing but whatever’s best for the team—plays out of position, plays anywhere—makes the play of the game.”


Afterward, Jackson was asked what he said to Meder. “ ‘Great job!’” he said. “So many other things I wanted to say to him, I needed to say to him, I wished I’d said to him. But what do you think of at that moment, after the biggest play?”


It was a blur after the game. Jackson tried to say something to his team, but choked up after, “I told you guys about the veteran players, okay,” … and then couldn’t get anything else out. Thomas, weeping, stood next to Jackson as Barnidge stepped up with a game ball. “For sticking with us for the whole year … hasn’t been the way we wanted … but this one’s for you, Coach,” the vet tight end said.



Somebody yelled “MERRY CHRISTMAS COACH” and then there was a scrum around Jackson. Thomas hugged Jackson.


“I love you, Joe,” Jackson said.


“I love you too, coach,” Thomas said.


Jackson had a 15-second embrace with GM Sashi Brown. Jackson hugged half the locker room, and owner Jimmy Haslam. Jackson said this is what it’s supposed to feel like.


“Hopefully,” Jackson said, “what we did is a glimpse of what the future should be and could be. And will be.”


The most interesting thing about my conversation Tuesday with Thomas: He realized one of the truly important things about this first win. “We didn’t lose the first overall draft pick, because San Francisco won too,” Thomas said.


Now there’s a man who understands the real purpose of the season, after the Browns’ year all went so south. Draft season is pretty important in northeast Ohio. If the standings don’t change between now and Sunday night, the Browns will hold the first and 10th overall picks in the first round when the draft kicks off April 27 in Philadelphia. It’s almost 2017, and hope springs eternal in Cleveland—whether there’s reason for it or not.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/12/28/cleve...flow_twitter_si

oh I forgot...Seth Devalve showed a lot of heart and desire going up for that seam pass

Didn't get a chance to add anything after the game, because I was out of town for Christmas, but wow what a finish. So glad to see these guys get a win.

It means nothing, and in fact, it almost cost us an overall pick (thanks SF), but if you saw the video in the locker room, it meant a lot to those guys to get their coach a win.

It's been a crappy year, we still have our annual last game pounding against the Steelers, and there are a lot of guys on this team who have no business being first on the depth chart, but I really hope the ownership and front office stays firm on their faith in Hue Jackson. I believe he can coach. I know there has been some questionable play calling from him at times this year, but when you just don't have the players, and are constantly playing from behind, you're probably going to call plays that look awful. It's simply how the league works. You tend to look worse when you chase, and the Browns are pretty much always chasing.

I do see a lot of positives with some of the young guys in this group. I love our tandem of running backs. I still see some potential with Corey Coleman. I really like the way Ogbah plays. I think Kirksey is a legitimate starter.

Best thing of all, that stupid parade got canceled. This was dumb stunt put together by people who only wanted twitter followers, and dolled it up by offering to donate proceeds to charity.

The parade organizer ended up donating over $10,000 to the Cleveland Food Bank, and in a pretty classy gesture, the Browns matched that donation to the Food Bank.