DA Plays Santa

I guess I spoke too soon when I congratulated the Browns for making the playoffs.

I figured going into Cincinnati, only a meltdown of classic proportions would sink the Browns.

Well, it happened.

This week, you are going to read and hear about how “we” didn’t play well.” You are going to hear and read how “we need to learn how to finish.” You are going to read and hear how “we need to play better on the road if we want to be a quality team.”

Etc…etc…

Here is what you won’t hear – the Browns lost simply because their quarterback had another road meltdown. The only difference between this meltdown and the others he’s had in 2007 is the fact that he did it for 60 minutes instead of his usual 30 (first half) – see Oakland, New England, etc…

We have seen this all-too often. The man has 18 picks playing behind an offensive line that has kept his jersey clean for the better part of the season. He has 18 interceptions while throwing to one of the best receiving groups in the NFL. He’s managed 18 throws to the other team while possessing the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year – if such an award were to exist, Jamaal Lewis, running behind him.

Get him out of his comfort zone, (home) and his numbers are a very mediocre 164-of-296 (.554), with 15 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in 2007. And remember, these numbers were not posted against the Vikings' Purple People Eaters of the 70s, the 49ers of the 80s or the Cowboys of the early 90s, they were produced versus the likes of the Raiders, the Ravens, the Cardinals, the Jets and the woeful Bengals.

Here’s the other factor at work Sunday – the Bengals were horrible. They tried to give it back time and time again. Yes, they had a 100 yard rusher against the Browns' defense – who doesn’t? But overall, Cincinnati was anemic on offense. In the fourth quarter alone, the Browns had several drives that began in Bengal territory following a terrible punt and an ill-advised throw by Carson Palmer when all he had to do was hand it off and run clock. And when you thought the Bengals ran out of Christmas gifts, they coughed it up on their last possession – giving the Browns one last chance at survival.

The Browns didn’t lose Sunday because they could not run the ball. They did not lose because of dropped passes – although by my count they had four drops. By today’s NFL standards, that’s probably only two. They didn’t lose because the defense was shredded by Palmer and company. Cleveland lost because their quarterback had a horrible day against the same team he scorched for 50+ points the last time around.

Yes, the wind was bad. Here’s a bulletin - playing conditions in Ohio tend to be nasty this time of year. What do you expect the conditions on the Lake Erie to be come January if you ever make it to the post season – 60 and sunny?

Don’t worry about that forecast however. Unless Tennessee loses in Indianapolis, it’s wait till next year – again.

There is no reason why this team should not be in the post-season in 2007. They had everything going for them – a weak schedule, few, if any, key injuries and the bounce of the ball (see field goal/crossbar references).

Yet, they will likely have to wait and see what the Titans do Sunday night to determine their fate. You would assume the Browns will beat San Francisco. It’s at home, S.F. is not very good and Anderson will be in his ‘comfort zone” again (home) where he has thrown for 13 touchdowns and just five picks.

But it should not have come to this.

Here’s the semi-good news. The Colts have already announced they will play Peyton Manning one half next Sunday. That may be enough to beat the Titans and their anemic offense. I can’t see the Titans putting many points on the board in Indy.

Perhaps I’m wrong again – like when I said the Browns were in already.

I expect DA and the Browns to play well next Sunday and finish with 10 wins. The organization will spin it as a very successful season – regardless of what happens in Indianapolis later that evening. A 10 win season in the NFL is equivalent of a 50+ win campaign in the NBA. It looks very good on paper and wins you public relations points.

But the astute observer knows better. If you want to win it all – you’d better get it right with the guy taking the snaps. That’s on you Phil (Savage).

Don’t leave it up to Romeo, a career defensive coach who opened the season with Charlie Frye as his quarterback. RC is going to have a hard enough time heading into year #4 trying to figure out how to improve one of the league’s worse defensive units this off-season.