Meet Me in St. Louis: Browns – Rams Preview

For the third consecutive week, the Browns came within a field goal of victory on Sunday. For the second time in three weeks, the other team booted the game winner. Despite intercepting Peyton Manning three times, including one in overtime and a pick-six, the Browns managed to end up on the short end of a 26-23 decision in Cleveland. Now 2-4 and with the season hanging on a precipice, the Browns travel to St. Louis, Missouri to tangle with Rams and attempt to stave off irrelevancy.

Familiar Faces

S Christian Bryant – Ohio State. A graduate of Cleveland’s Glenville High School, Bryant matriculated to Ohio State and started as a freshman. Bryant shone in the Buckeye secondary until a broken ankle against Wisconsin in 2013 ended his college career. He concluded his Ohio State years with 171 tackles, 23 pass breakups, and two interceptions. The Rams drafted Bryant in 2014, but relegated him to the practice squad his rookie year. He is currently listed as a third string safety for St. Louis.

LS Jake McQuaide – Ohio State. A Cincinnati native, McQuaide walked on at Ohio State and long snapped for the Buckeyes from 2008-10, eventually earning a scholarship. McQuaide tallied 575 clean snaps through his first four years in St. Louis and has played every game as a Ram since being drafted in 2011.

LB James Laurinaitis – Ohio State. One of the best linebackers in Ohio State history. Period. Laurinaitis earned All-American honors as a senior and won the Butkus Award for best linebacker in the nation. Since the Rams drafted him in the second round of the 2009 Draft, he has consistently led the team in tackles and disrupted opposing offenses. Earlier this season, he set the franchise record for career tackles.

Last Browns Win: Week 8, 2007. Browns 27 @ Rams 20

The last Browns victory over the Rams came eight years ago in Missouri. St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger quickly staked the Rams to a 14-0 lead. Cleveland responded and eventually tied the score at 17. Browns quarterback Derek Anderson threw three touchdown passes, two to Braylon Edwards and one to Kellen Winslow, Jr. With a late lead, the Browns sealed the game when cornerback Leigh Bodden intercepted Bulger. (Haven’t heard that name in a while, have you? Have you forgotten Leigh Bodden? Did you text him on his birthday? For shame.)

Last Browns Loss: Week 10, 2011. Rams 13 – Browns 12

This one still stings. The Browns and Rams clashed in Cleveland, both on their way to forgettable seasons. The clubs traded field goals for most of the afternoon before the visitors grabbed a 13-12 lead via a Josh Brown 34-yard field goal with 7:47 to go. Needing any kind of score to win, Colt McCoy led the Browns on a desperation drive in the waning moments. He flirted with disaster by fumbling at the Rams nine-yard line, which Josh Cribbs narrowly recovered. With 2:13 to go, Phil Dawson lined up for a potentially game-winning 22-yard field goal, roughly an extra point. Ryan Pontbriand bounced in the snap and Dawson shanked the kick wide left. Ugh. St. Louis kneeled out the victory, one of their two wins in 2011.

The 2015 Rams are a fascinating dichotomy. Fresh off their bye week with a 2-3 record, the Rams play outstanding defense and struggle offensively. St. Louis’s offense ranks 31st in points scored and passing yards and 32nd in yards gained and first downs. Newly acquired quarterback Nick Foles has completed 81-of-141 passes for 956 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions. Rookie running back Todd Gurley blasts through defenses like a tank, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt and totaling 314 yards on 55 attempts. Despite his strong yards per touch, Gurley has yet to enter the end zone. Against a soft Browns rushing defense, the rookie could be in for a big day on Sunday.

Defensively, St. Louis dominates opponents. The Rams rank 13th in points allowed and 10th in yards allowed. The club’s plus-one turnover margin places them seventh in the league as well. Linebacker Alec Ogletree leads the team with 27 tackles. Defensive end Robert Quinn has forced three fumbles on the season and figures to cause headaches in the Browns backfield on Sunday. Browns head coach Mike Pettine knows the kind of chaos Quinn can bring. “I think he does a good job anticipating the snap,” Pettine said. “He’s very good with his hands. He’s a blend of size, power and speed…His speed to bull rush is exceptional.”

The Browns’ loss last week met the familiar pattern of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Whether going for two did the team in or the fact that they lost 18 yards in their lone overtime possession is immaterial. What concerns me is how the team responds. After the potentially debilitating San Diego loss, Cleveland recovered enough to best the Ravens in Baltimore. After last week’s loss left the team scratching their heads, the biggest question is how mentally tough the club can be.

Joe Thomas believes quarterback Josh McCown has the ability to recover from a tough loss. “[Josh] is going to be excellent at bouncing back from what he would say is not his best game,” said the Pro Bowler.. “We are excited to see what he can do. You know a guy like that is so detailed as it is – you see the level of focus this week in practice – it will be exciting to see what happens on Sunday.” Hopefully big Joe’s confidence is well placed.

The Rams sit at a crossroads. Like the Chargers and Raiders, St. Louis ownership is currently considering boomerang relocation to Los Angeles to escape their undesirable stadium situation. The team has a history of transience; the Rams have called St. Louis, Los Angeles, and Cleveland home. Many forget that between 1936-42 and 1944-45, the Rams resided in the Forest City. In 1945, their last year in Ohio, the Rams won the NFL Championship defeating the Washington Pro Football Team, 15-14. When the club relocated to LA, and then St. Louis, the championship banner went with the club. My question is: Why? St. Louis fans hold no attachment to the ’45 champs, and while the Rams may not be as beloved in Cleveland as the Browns, there would be more than enough room to fly the flag at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Browns are playing competitive football. Back-to-back overtime games in the NFL says a lot about how well Cleveland has matched up against its opponents. In this league it’s very dangerous to be the “almost” team. When you almost when your games then you either almost make the playoffs or almost earn a top-five pick. The NFL’s middle class is a tough neighborhood and Browns fans would likely rather see their team at the top or bottom. It remains to be seen which way the year will trend. The Browns will need to figure that out soon, though. Sunday is almost here.