Posted on Thursday 7 December 2006 by John Blake @ 11:36 pm
The Browns scored a late touchdown on a Derek Anderson pass to Braylon Edwards to avoid the shutout, but the damage was already done. For the third time in three weeks, the Cleveland Browns were utterly embarassed by their opponent. The Pittsburgh Steelers issued a 27-7 beatdown of the Browns in a game where Willie Parker rushed for a Pittsburgh single game record 223 yards.
The Browns continue to have no answer for the Steelers, who once again pushed them around like they were a bunch of children. It’s been almost a year since last season’s 41-0 destruction. The score this season wasn’t as bad but the game sure seemed just as pathetic. The Steelers were more physical than us and owned the line of scrimmage. The final net rushing stats were simply deplorable: Pittsburgh - 303, Cleveland - 18. Put me in the backfield, I’ll run for 18 yards, are you kidding me? If a team outsmarts you and out “gameplans” you, that’s one thing. But for Pittsburgh to ram it down our throats was sickening to watch. I mean, the Steelers offense isn’t exactly rocket science. First and foremost, they will run, run and run some more. Everyone knows what they’re going to do offensively but we still couldn’t stop it. Maybe it’s time we think about changing our defensive line personnel.
After such a dramatic and emotional comeback last weekend against the Chiefs, you would think the Browns would come out with some momentum and motivation, especially after they blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead to the Steelers three weeks ago. But of course, these are the Browns, and another inconsistent performance just begs the question whether or not this team really understands the Pittsburgh rivalry. Perhaps I was a little too naive to think the organization had turned a corner after last week’s come from behind victory. No passion, no drive, nothing. Sure it was cold, but that’s no excuse. Looks like we’re headed towards another winless season in the division.
But I guess the real culprit here is us fans for taking time out of our weeknight to watch this sorry excuse for a football team.
I didn’t expect anything different from the Browns. They suck, period. The D-line, the O-line, the coaching, everything. I didn’t see the game because I was at work. I was listening on the radio. I gave up on and turned them off when Phil Dawson missed that field goal before halftime. I’m not even excited about next year, even though they’ll have a high draft pick. Honestly, I don’t want to see any Buckeyes on this team, especially Troy Smith. That team is a waste of time and effort. If the Cavs played tonight, I would’ve listened to them instead. The next football game I’m looking forward to is the National Championship. I probably wont watch another game until the bowl games start.
The Browns make me sick, and I’m tired of watching this heartless, talentless, poor excuse for an NFL franchise. They shouldn’t even be allowed to wear the uniform, because they have no reguard for the history and tradition of this team.
Excuse does not even begin to cover what this “team” is. They can’t run the ball nor stop it (530 to 18 yds. total, 303 to 18 Rushing) The Steelers showed what they were going to do and did it with utter efficency. It was akin to designing a cake and they finished the blueprint with no problems in the least.
Now that I have finished my triade, lets try (oh yeah, trying) to figure out how to fix this team. QB Derek Anderson did well, throwing 21 for 37, 276, TD, INT. His recievers dropped balls consistently (hey it is consistent) and did not block for there running back. The browns need all of Ohio State’s O-linemen in the Draft and Michigan’s D-line.
I still cannot believe what I saw. John what do u think about the “team”?
ditto all that IBSlim -
any of you assholes out there who question my team loyalty, and being a poor fan, etc. can go to hell. and take this entire team and organization with you.
i have lived and died with this team emotionally for more than 30 years now and i am utterly fed up and sick to my stomach. ANYONE WHO THINKS THIS TEAM CAN WIN 8 GAMES NEXT YEAR IS A M - O - R - O - N. i guarantee it will NOT happen. in fact i guarantee they will not win 10 games as long as the current ownership, management and coaches are here… they may have to leave the city again to ever have a winning record. that seems to be the way it goes.
i made bets with many friends, 4 years ago, that this team would not win the division within 5 years. they all said i was crazy and fed me all that ‘were making progess’ bullshit that the team likes to spoon feed you. hell i could have said 10 or 15 or 20 years, doesn’t matter…
any person who pays money to this ownership and management groupo is a MORON.
there is NO EXCUSE for playing like this repeatedly. even if this team is a work in progress and SUPPOSEDLY gettining better they should show some progress and be in games until the end.
last weeks win over KC means nothing when it it surrounded by embaressment.
i can’t even figure out why at this point i should care enough to read this blog.
ps - take the dolans and the tribe with you to hell too. seriously these franchises are an insult to anyone who calls themselves a cleveland fan.
We really need to address o-line & d-line!!! We can’t run the ball & we can’t stop the run, it’s the same shit thats been going on for the past 8 years!! If they don’t do something about it in the offseason, it’s gonna be a long miserable life as a Browns fan!!
Dennis Northcutt is the most worthless piece of s*&t player I have seen don a Browns uniform. I have never forgiven him for dropping a pass in the 2002 Pittsburgh playoff game that would have sealed the game for the Browns. 3 drops last night - is he trying to lead the league in drops? What a complete disgrace. Butch Davis was right about Northcutt - all he is good for is returning punts.
NFL Network said that LeCharles Bentley is contemplating surgery again. This 2nd surgery would wipe out ALL of next season. ONLY IN CLEVELAND!
when i think of this organization i think of one word and one word only INCOMPETENTor how impotent? what a gultess joke they have become
Derek Anderson was the only player that looked good. I saw a lot of blitzes by Pitt where Charlie would have made a mess of things. Derek also knows how to check down his receivers and Charlie never does that. Derek needs more starts.
I agree with Michael re: Frye vs. Anderson. Derek looked through his progressions and stayed in the pocket. Regardless of Frye’s health, I’d rather see what Derek can do in the remaining 4 games of the season and then have an open competition in training camp next year.
Why?
Why is it always Cleveland? Why is it so easy for every other NFL team to have a smooth, flowing, offensive and a hard hitting, smash mouth defense?
I don’t understand it.
Every season, I am emotionaly drained from this team, chearing my heart out and loving them.
I will not lose the faith in our Brownies, we the fans shouldn’t either. Its been a long 7 seasons but that is what is goin to make the winning so much sweeter when we do finally start winning.
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE OUR BROWNS.
I was so upset that I sent this letter to the Browns. If you would like to do so as well, the e-mail address is:
‘fansquad@clevelandbrowns.com’
Dear Cleveland Browns,
I know you probably don’t care or won’t even get around to reading this, but I was so frustrated and disgusted after watching 2 and a half quarters of last night’s game, I had to write and express my anger and frustration towards the team that I love. I have faithfully and continually purchased plane tickets and game tickets to come to a few games each year from DC and have also bought the NFL Direct Ticket package for the sole purpose of watching my beloved Browns. This is in addition to hundreds of dollars spent on merchandise that when worn in this area, brings stares akin to having an arm sticking out of my head. After 6 years of being in isolation as a Browns fan and living among a sea of Steelers’ fans and blindly and unequivocally giving my time and money to a team that is 500 miles away, I am going to stop. Why the hell should I care about a team that doesn’t care enough to put forth an effort against a team that is supposed to be our most hated and bitter rival and, in turn, humiliates the city of Cleveland? You are representing an area that is the birthplace and capital of football and has football programs and fan support on all scholastic levels that is unmatched. This team is all this city really has to embrace, thanks to a terrible city government and resulting economy. When the professional team representing this proud football area presents a product like what we saw on the field last night, it is sickening and unacceptable. Until I see something other than unmatched effort week-in and week-out, I will have to refrain from giving my time and monetary support. I know no one is going to read this, but I needed to get this off of my chest.
Regrets,
Hey Guys here’s a tough twister for you.
How many passes could a Northcutt drop, if a Northcutt is CUT NOW!
Third down and a wide open field, and this idiot can’t think and chew gum at the same time so how can he catch and run. Another pass threw his bricks that he calls hands. CUT HIM LOOSE and let Cribbs take the punts also.
Last night, I turned off the game 2 minutes into the third quarter, and I probably should have after that idiotic call for a run on third and three. Anderson had gotten the offense to close to mid field passing and on third and three you try to run?
What are the coaches smokin?
Edwards drops another pass, and the Steelers score a field goal. Okay we are down 10 and Anderson brings them down for a field goal. Dawson misses from 40 and the half was over. I still had hope until I saw Ben with enough time to spell his name three times slowly to throw, then I turned it off.
Figure skating, Skiing, and Soccer have got to be more entertaining and less frustrating than watching this group of highly paid under acheivers. It has just gotten too painful to watch anymore of this season. I will save the money for tickets and parking for a nice t-bone steak, baked potatoe, and beer, and watch the other football teams play since they know how and the Browns do not.
If Bentley really is out for next season then i’ll truly believe that this city is cursed. Once again it seems like the football gods have shit all over us, the only breaks we catch are the ones that put our players on IR( seriously the Gary Baxter injury is just depressing)!!! I am so sick of losing that I am honestly losing my love for sports!!! The only thing we got is Lebron, hopefully he can do something positive for this city because I don’t see the other 2 teams doing so!!
Northcutt is terrible. I really have to question why the coaches keep playing him.
We have a THIRD ROUND DRAFT PICK - Travis Wilson - I think that’s his name. It’s been so long I can barely remeber it. Why isn’t he playing??? Is he a bust? How will we know if he never gets on the field. Why don’t the reporters cover stuff like this?
The thing that pissed me off most was Braylon Edwards using the excuse that Derek Anderson throws “a harder ball” than Frye. Give me a frickin’ break. You’re the #1 draft pick - play like one. I knew once we drafted a Michigan idiot, let alone a pimp like Edwards, that I would have a hard time liking Edwards. But no matter what Edwards may ever do on the field, I will always despise him. He just wants to make big catches for TDs instead of playing hard every play. He’s a younger T.O. - mark my words.
Rich-
The clock is ticking on the Cavs with LeBron. The team they have no ain’t gonna get it done. It’s time to dump Z and Hughes and get a legit complement to LeBron before he bolts out of here. Then we’ll be left with nothing in this city - again!
My Answer,
I guess I got my answer last night that Anderson is not the answer. As we saw with Fry, this team can’t run, block, or catch the ball and no QB will solve that problem. I wonder about the heart and focus of this team, who can get up for ONE game and then turn right back around and play like crap again. Northcutt dropped a half dozen balls, our kicker missed a makeable FG, and our O-line continued to make half hearted attempts at blitzes. My favorite was the D-back who caught the running back from the other side of the line when all the Browns player had to do was slow him down for half a second. I noticed the one main thing thet stays as the main problem with this team is emotion, focus & heart., not to mention paying for the entire 60 minutes and playing as if each game means your job. I think the problem is the players realize they can’t fire the entire team. Can we possible trade them for a team that at least plays like it cares each and every game and plays to win?
Scott, we do have a team that cares, that plays with heart, that plays to win, that plays like their job is depending on it. The Ohio State Buckeyes! If it were not for them, I probably would’ve killed myself watching the “Browns.” Go Bucks!!!!
AMEN ICEBERG, GO BUCKEYES!!