Women rule the AMAs, and the return of Dave Chappelle: While We’re Waiting…
November 24, 2014A Decade Without Dad
November 24, 2014When I look at teams like the Atlanta Falcons or Chicago Bears, I see an NFL case study. You have incredibly talented weapons—Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffrey, Martellus Bennett, Julio Jones, Roddy White, Matt Forte, Steven Jackson—and highly compensated, first-round quarterbacks. You have rosters that are heavily featured on fantasy teams across the league. You have marquee, advertisement-ready faces to gallivant in front of season ticket holders. You have teams that, on paper, should win double-digit games every season they take the field as a unit.
But where teams like New England and Green Bay and Denver are able to morph late-round projects or has-beens into Hawaii-bound number producers large in part to their quarterback play, you don’t have the same excuse with the Atlantas and Chicagos of the world—it’s not like they’re going to battle with Drew Stanton or Josh McCown under center. They’re a conundrum. And I’m not speaking in terms of their win-loss total as the Falcons’ and Bears’ defense has been a relative disaster for years. But even with all of the weapons that would signify a shootout regardless of outcome, you still have teams that look like Pro Bowl contenders on paper, but only go on to leave fans yearning for more every winter as they watch the better teams play beyond Week 17.
The Bears may have won, but anyone who watched that game will tell you that that amount of talent should have led to a complete blowout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And anyone who watched Sunday’s Browns win over the NFC South-leading Falcons will tell you, well, that neither team deserved to win. At least we can gladly say the Good Guys took it home, regardless of what things looked like on paper.
WINNER: Brian Hoyer Talk about onions. The Destroyer was in the midst of what may have been one of his worst performances to date, stringing along two consecutive weeks of zero touchdowns and a handful of interceptions, only to take the ball with less than a minute remaining and deliver pin-point passes—24 yards to Josh Gordon, 15 yards to Gary Barnidge, 11 yards to Miles Austin—only to get his team gathered, spike the ball and set up Bill Cundiff for the game-winning field goal. So many times though the beginning of the season, it was the Browns who were forced to play defense while their opposition took what little time they had, produced a drive, and a game-winning field goal. It feels great to finally be on the other end of that ledger. The Browns are officially 7-4 heading into Thanksgiving. The Cleveland Cavaliers have to win both of their games this week to equal that total. Who saw that one coming?
LOSER: Brian Hoyer Thought you’d get away with one, did ya? The Destroyer is incredibly lucky that the Falcons left him as much time as they did, or this week’s analysis would be substantially different than what exists ahead. The Browns effectively won this game despite Brian Hoyer. He’s officially credited with a 23-for-40 day, but we’ll give him the spike—that one came in handy. What we won’t give him are the three interceptions and another afternoon of missing receivers badly. The Browns’ QB was horrid when blitzed, completing just seven of his 18 attempts, good enough for 39 percent. And if you want to blame Josh Gordon for the second interception, feel free. I’ll gladly provide this:
Credit to Hoyer for immediately taking blame for the game being as close as it was. It’s refreshing to see someone own their mistakes. It’s crazy that this team continues to be in the hunt for the playoffs, but this home stretch will take improved play from No. 6. Let’s hope he can work out the kinks, and fast.
WINNER: Josh Gordon Man, I almost forgot what it was like to have a pass-catching option with such an incredible radius. If there’s any saving grace to Hoyer’s inaccuracies, it’s that Gordon has the ability to win almost every lob. Gordon was targeted 15 times, playing 54 snaps (so much for 25-30, eh?). He hauled in eight balls for 120 yards, half of which came on Desmond Trufant who was supposed to blanket the Pro Bowler all game long. He didn’t get in the end zone, but was vital in nearly every scoring drive, even when passes were being air-mailed over his head. He also had one of the best incomplete passes of the game. This kid can do it all. It should be a fun few weeks.
WINNER: The NFLPA Hey, you guys. Thanks for fighting the good fight and getting those pesky marijuana rules altered just enough so that No. 12 could rejoin his team for a few games. Yeah, I know it creates a bit of an issue with the contract and all, but I want to win now. Thanks.
LOSER: Mike Pettine Right up there with Brian Hoyer is his head coach thanks to incredible mismanagement of the clock before the first half, coupled with the decision to have Billy Cundiff attempt a field goal that would not have been good with a 30 mile-per-hour tailwind. Had that ball been run back, we would be having a drastically different conversation this morning. Bullet dodged, but certainly not ignored.
WINNER: Joe Haden This game had the makings of being a very long day for the Browns defensive backs. Pregame video showed safety Donte Whitner encouraging his fellow DBs to “make them feel like there’s 10 of us out there.” And while Roddy White hauled in a slew of balls and Julio Jones found the end zone, Haden was a stud on Jones, a player who may very well be one of the top five talents at the position. He held Jones to just two receptions on seven targets for 30 yards. And after giving up a quick out route to the Falcons’ stud, Haden quickly recovered and pulled in his second interception in as many weeks.
Wondering how he was able to get up that high despite giving up a few inches of height? You may have missed this during pregame:
He may be Hawaii-bound after all. Tough to say he doesn’t deserve it after how much he’s improved over the course of the year.
LOSER: Tashaun Gipson What a tough, tough loss. A player who was an absolute LOCK for Hawaii is having an MRI on his knee after being carted off late Sunday. It didn’t look good.
WINNER: Paul Kruger Playing in 66 of a possible 71 snaps, Kruger produced what was easily one of his best games of the season, adding two more sacks to his 2014 resume, one of which was strip-sack that led to a Falcons turnover. Factor in his three stops, and you have another complete game from the Browns’ most important pass rusher. After a rough few weeks earlier in the season, let’s hope that this is the player we’ll see through the final few.
WINNER: Joe Thomas I mean, what more can you say about this guy?
WINNER: Isaiah Crowell PIZZA LUNCHABLES ON THE TURF
A career-best tally in terms of yardage and two touchdowns from an undrafted rookie. The kid showed incredible explosiveness (or “pop” as Mike Pettine would say), sticking his cleat in the ground and hitting the hole with tenacity. His first touchdown was huge; his second was even bigger, starting around the left side and cutting it back before finding the right corner of the end zone.
The Crow has some incredible potential and was a huge find for Ray Farmer and his staff. Not a bad homecoming, kid.
WINNER: BIlly Cundiff I wish he would not have had to have been used so frequently, and I wish Boomer Easiason would’ve known his name during the CBS halftime show, but Not Phil Dawson had one heck of an afternoon.
WINNER: Joel Bitonio Perhaps the play of the game. I’m not sure how a guard was able to track one of the game’s quickest players down from behind, but the second-round rookie is in the midst of an absolutely huge season. His ability to snag Devin Hester before the half was one of the plays that should be rolled on loop in Mike Pettine’s office for the coming days. Get this kid to the Pro Bowl, stat.
Honorable mention (winners): Andrew Hawkins, Desmond Bryant, Chris Kirksey, Buster Skrine, Justin Gilbert, and Barkevious Mingo.
74 Comments
Agreed. Having Gordon on the field will make a huge difference. No offense to the other receivers but opposing D-coordinators weren’t gameplanning to take away Miles Austin or Gabriel.
He should go fairly crazy now that he’s being covered by a #2 corner. If Cameron returns next week, you’ll either have Gordon in single coverage or a LB trying to run with Cameron or Taylor Gabriel in 3-receiver sets. Points might suddenly get a whole lot easier to come by if Hoyer doesn’t try to force things.
haha, happy to provide this service – it’s The Ole Barn on 322 near Campbelltown, owned by a former Hershey Bears player. They have the NFL Ticket, but nay a drop of beer at the moment
‘Gallivant’ is an intransitive verb. It is used improperly in this article.
THe last minute of the game had my heart racing. Had to remind myself that’s a good thing, Browns are competitive again.
I flagged your blasphemy as inappropriate. St. Vickers had the hands of a surgeon and the feet of Baryshnikov. You’re on notice Harv.
When I was a kid, I almost never put my dishes in the dishwasher. Used to drive my mom, nuts. Then, one day after dinner, I put my plate in the dishwasher (not my cup or bowl though). My mom was so pleased, she thanked me and called me “helpful.”
It was a small triumph overinflated by the low expectations that I had set for myself.
That was Hoyer in this game.
I’ve heard of it – and love the Bears. Surely you can BYOB?
Winner ^
I think our entire receiving corps deserves a gold star on the season. Much maligned since August.
Yes, it is BYOB at this stage. I wanted to take a run after the game so was content to watch the game without imbibing. Nice place, and cozy atmosphere for a sports bar. Hope they can make it work
Great write up. Agree with everything except Mingo. He is a problem for the Browns instead of opponents offenses. Late in year two and the guy is still not getting it.
Which is more annoying: blindly criticizing Mingo despite his pretty solid play this year, or blindly defending Hoyer, despite his inability to hit the side of a barn half the time?
It’s not so much that Farmer found him as I’m sure he was on most teams’ radar, but rather how he signed him. I was on the Crow’s bandwagon since preseason game 1, but I am surprised how much he has come along in such a short time.
Shanny was not very good yesterday. A bad pass defense usually tightens up in the red zone from dwindling space. I was so pissed that they didn’t run for the TD in the 4th. Shades of Woody, pass pass pass to get to the red zone then run run run FG.
The Crow is my favorite Brown since Greg Pruitt, except for webster, maybe, if he would have made one block vs. Denver.
Didn’t drink a drop as the Browns were finally on in my living room in Vegas!
Pre preseason I took 7-1 on the Browns to win the division. I took the over 6.5 season wins as well. On the eve of the season I was talking to a pro bettor from Cleveland’s west side about whether I should bet back the other way. He said nope, don’t give the books a break on anything so here I am. Burgermeister predicted 11-5 and the AFC championship game.
Crow, Shaw next year?
let it go, man.
What? The redemption touchdown to kick Elway in the balls like he did to those of us in attendance at the AFC championship? Can’t do it. Or Sandy’s non slide in game 7.
Agree that there is little more that can be said about Joe Thomas’s football game. But Joe Thomas the personality is becoming seriously underrated. He can dance. He can predict comeback wins. And he provided the quote of the game: “That was the most amazing play I’ve ever seen on a football field. It was like David vs. Goliath. It was the greatest kick returner of all-time versus slow, fat, left guard, rookie.”
Crow just seems to be one of those guys with a nose for the end zone.
really!