Um, About Kellen…
October 10, 2008GAMBLOG Picks of the Week
October 10, 2008In our weekly installment, we examine what it’s going to take for the Browns to avoid getting embarrassed AGAIN on Monday Night against the World Champion New York Giants.
The Browns finally got into the win column, and have had a bye week in which to get healthy. So, can they hang with the G-Men? Let’s hope so. Without further ado, The Browns Will Win If…
Craig: …the sun, the moon and the stars align properly and they play a cohesive offensive game. They are going to need to score a lot of points to win this game no matter how you slice it. That means that they can’t just show up for one quarter of the game. DA needs to be solid. Jamal Lewis has to be able to get his game going. Kellen Winslow has to be a threat underneath. Specialty plays from Cribbs and Jerome Harrison need to work. Finally, the Browns will need Stallworth to be a viable second receiver. It all needs to happen, and if it doesn’t the Browns could potentially embarass us all on Monday. Tony Kornheiser has been writing jokes all week long and we all need to hope he doesn’t get a chance to use them.
Scott: …some college kids find a way to barricade the Giants players in their hotel rooms so they cannot arrive at the stadium. I honestly do not understand how this game is only an eight-point spread. Super Bowl winning, undefeated Giants taking on a team that hasn’t been able to stop anyone; they just happened to score more than the Bengals. Even with Plaxico Burress out last week, Dominik Hixon went off – the same guy that torched us in the preseason. Brandon Jacobs is a bruiser, and we still struggle to stop the run on the second tier. The only way the Browns win this game is if Chud and Company whipped up some incredible formations/plays that have not been seen to this point. Even then, we’ll need zero mental errors (false starts, personal fouls), zero dropped passes, and zero turnovers.
DP: …they truly have gotten healthy on the bye week and can run the ball enough to keep the Giants O off the field–and also to negate the pass rush. This game won’t be a repeat of the pre-season game, if only because the Browns won’t be dragged down by the horrible mojo of the abominable “brown pants” this time. That said, there isn’t much else to be hopeful about as a Browns fan heading into this game, unless we really believe the additions of Shaun Rogers and Ryan Tucker plus the subtraction of Osi Umenyiora are enough to tip the scales (and I don’t); also, if Winslow does not play, the Browns’ offense gets that much weaker again. If the Browns can run the ball effectively, not turn it over, and use the home crowd to fluster the Giants, then they have a shot at hanging around. If the Giants go up early again, it’s going to get ugly.
RockKing: ……the D-Line can slow down the Giants rushing game and Kellen Winslow plays. The Giants love nothing more than just pounding the ball down opposing defenses using their stable of running backs. Eli Manning is much improved and is definitely a dangerous threat, but for the Browns to have any chance of winning, they have to take away the rush and make Eli be the one to beat them. Also, the Browns cannot beat the Giants without Winslow, in my opinion. I have no idea what illness he has, and I really hope it’s not anything like what Troy Smith had in the preseason. Mysterious illnesses always make me uneasy. Winslow could be the difference maker if he’s healthy enough to play, though. Teams have not been able to get the ball to their Tight Ends against the Giants, and that’s part of the reason why they are still undefeated. If the Browns can get their TE going (whoever that may be….preferably Winslow), it could be the added dimension that can finally take down the Giants. The Browns have had 2 weeks to prepare, and they will have a rowdy crowd to feed off of on the national stage. If the Browns lay an egg in this one, then changes better be coming. If you can’t get up for MNF, then you need to find a new profession.
Mike: …The Browns will win if Derek Anderson finds a time machine and returns to his early 2007 form right now! He is quickly running out of excuses. Donte` Stallworth and Ryan Tucker are both expected back and their is till hope Kellen Winslow will suit up as well. The offense is finally coming back together. Will the production? Hey, at least all isn’t lost on the Browns offense as the team finally has a member of the starting line up with his own fathead sticker! It all starts with the little things people.
Rick: …they get emotional about the thumping they took in the preseason. Last year the team took the Pittsburgh butt-kicking personally. They need to do the same this week, because the Giants pushed them around. I would hope that pride would play a big role in the defensive secondary, especially with Eric Wright who was beaten badly during that game. Donte Stallworth could have an impact in this game if he’s healthy. A big if with our team I know. Without Winslow, it could be a short afternoon for the offense as they bring back the Mo Carthon shuffle… (1-2-3 kick, 1-2-3- kick…)
And now, some special guest replies!
Barry McBride, The Orange and Brown Report: …Randy Lerner can invent a time machine, and bring the 1985 Bears through a gap in the space-time continuum into the present day, dress them in orange and brown and hope no one notices. Wait… what? We have to make this “realistic”? That’s going to be tricky, then… How about this: The Browns will win if… the same conditions prevail which allowed the Cincinnati Bengals to nearly upset the Giants in week three. That means that the Browns front seven plays greater than the sum of their parts to slow New York’s devastating rushing attack and the Browns have unexpected success scoring. Against Cincinnati, that came as the Giants defensive front focused on sacks rather than disciplined play and Palmer was able to move the ball effectively despite the pressure. With the Browns it would likely depend more on special teams – specifically a return-to-form by Josh Cribbs and some turnover luck. Everything will have to break right for the Browns to upset one of the NFL’s best teams, and there will have to be a major breakthrough in the team’s performance.
Vince Grzegorek, Cleveland Scene Magazine: …1) They need to control the ball. Between Brandon Jacobs and the Eli passing attack and the Browns defense, the Giants can score points in a hurry. Three-and-outs need to be avoided at all costs. In their overtime loss to the Giants, Cincinnati basically matched them in time of possession (33:15 to 33:06), converted 10-17 third downs, and ran the ball 27 times for over 100 yards. They were also the team closest to toppling the reigning Super Bowl champs. That sounds like a recipe that could keep the Browns close, keep the Giants defense on the field, and stay within one drive of tying or taking the lead.
2) Big plays on special teams and defense. With Winslow now questionable for the game, Braylon battling both the dropsies and the bright lights of Monday Night Football (it’s amazing to me that he admitted he’ll be nervous), Anderson still regaining his confidence, and both Ryan Tucker and Donte Stallworth seeing their first game action of the year, I don’t think I’m alone in worrying just how many points this offense can put on the board. I think it’s high time for a Josh Cribbs TD return, or, at the very least, consistent run backs putting the offense in great field position to start drives. That depends both upon Cribbs’ health and the ability of the special teams to avoid penalties, something they’ve been pretty darn dreadful at. Not only will this give the offense a reprieve, as starting on or past the 40-yard line often does, but when the inevitable three-and-outs come, it’ll make the Giants go the length of the field. More time off the clock, less scoring. I also think they’ll have the best chance to win if the secondary comes up with a big interception or the line gets a crucial fumble. So far this year, the Giants have only turned the ball over twice (1 interception and 1 fumble). It’s easy to win when you do that. (By contrast, the Browns are middle of the pack with 7 TO).
3) Bend don’t break. It’s an annoying phrase, I know, but it’s crucial when you’re struggling to score points. As the offense has to come up big on third downs, so does the defense. Either get off the field or at least limit NY to field goals.
4) Stop players from appearing with John McCain.
(Vince must have been a little excited about this week’s game huh?)
TD, The World According to TD…Jamal Lewis gets 25 carries or more….If Kellen Winslow’s boys are OK enough to let him play…..If the 2007 Derek Anderson somehow re-appears…..If Josh Cribbs finally breaks a long return…..If Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers shut down the power running game of Brandon Jacobs….If Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald magically turn into Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon and limit Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Dominik Hixon, and company to only one or two big plays……Do you think all of this can happen? I know I don’t. Seriously, if the Browns are to pull the “Giant” upset, they are going to have to outscore Eli Manning’s crew. There is no way they win a grind it out, 17-14 game with the amount of weapons the Super Bowl champs have. Lewis must control the game on the ground and keep the Giants offense off the field and keep the Browns D as fresh as possible. DA is going to have to go back to the guy we saw in that 51-45 shootout against Cincinnati last September. If he even resembles the DA of the first four games of 2008, the Browns have no shot and we will all be able to go home at halftime.
What does everyone else think?
6 Comments
They’ll win if the Giants get caught up in the carnage that’s going on right now on Wall Street. Then again I’m not sure if the Browns can beat a B-team anyways..
they figure out a way to use Winslow’s swollen gonads on offense and defense.
…Winslow is cured of his STD and the offensive players returning from injury make an immediate impact.
I don’t count on them winning. I just hope they keep it close. Every time I feel that Cleveland is broad casted nation wide they make Cleveland look like a pit, and the team look like garbage. Just keep it close, and have some improvement and cohesion within the team. I’ll be happy.
The Browns will win if…
Who am I kidding? The Browns aren’t going to win.
The Browns announce during warm ups that Winslow has a rare and highly contagious disease that is spread by sweat, saliva and skin contact.
Winslow catches a five yard pass on the first play from scrimmage and runs 85 yards untouched into the end zone.
He goes on to set a modern NFL record for tight ends with 23 receptions and 8 touchdowns, all of them in the first half.
The Browns win by forfeit when the Giants refuse to take the field after halftime.