Thursday thoughts

A few thoughts this Thursday that I wanted to throw out randomly...

• It's chilly in Cleveland today after being almost uncomfortably muggy yesterday. It looks like fall is really here and soon winter will be too. Ugh.
• I still can't believe how the Browns completely dismantled the Giants on Monday night. Reflecting on it after a couple days, I honestly think it was the best Browns game I've ever been to in person (keeping in mind that the only real competition for that crown was the win over Atlanta in the season finale in 2002 and I didn't regularly start attending games until the reincarnation of the franchise in 1999).

This pretty much sums up Eli's night on Monday

• These have been some lean years for us Browns fans, with makes the first Monday night win since 1993(!) against the Super Bowl champs that much sweeter. I rather enjoyed the game replay last night on NFL Network HD and of course DVR'd it for future viewing pleasure.
• I have my doubts whether the Browns can have an encore performance this Sunday on the road after a short week of preparation for the Redskins. But it seems like the Browns are at their best when little is expected of them. So I will keep my expectations low for the foreseeable future in hopes that it will magically propel them to victories.
• I hope the 'Flash Package' and other Chud gadgets are used more on offense in the coming weeks. The Giants looked totally confused every time Cribbs lined up at quarterback, and the double reverse play to Harrison was a thing of beauty. And the NFL Films replays really showed how the Giants over-pursued the play from the start.
• I want Kellen Winslow to completely recover from whatever undisclosed illness is bothering him. First, I don't want him needlessly rushed back if he's not healthy yet (and you know it's just killing him to not be on the field). And second, the offense really clicked with Heiden and Dinkins. No need to mess with that unless K2 is 100% - or as close as he can be after all the leg injuries he has sustained.
• The Browns just might be onto something with their young secondary. Brodney Pool, Brandon McDonald, and Eric Wright all had key interceptions on Monday night (none bigger than Wright's beautiful 94-yard TD return to seal it). All off-season there were calls to shore up the secondary with a veteran cornerback, but Phil Savage resisted the urge to overpay an aging veteran and stick with the youngsters. So far they have played pretty well this season. And that's not even mentioning Sean Jones who is still recovering from a knee scop, but expected to play this Sunday.
• Only 12 days left until the Cavs begin their season. Yes, I'm sick of the countdown too. I just want the season to start now. They have another meaningless preseason game tonight against the Spurs at the Q. I'd like to go, but I know I'd be regretting it by the third quarter when the NBDLers are running around out there.
• Delonte West finally returned to camp yesterday. Maybe it is a good thing that we still have a few more preseason games to play. I want him ready to go to start the year. And it's nice to hear that Ben and Sasha also returned to full practice. Now let's just keep these guys healthy.

“He’s a big part of our team. It’s good to have him back. It’s good to see him high-spirited and concentrating on the game of basketball.” -
LeBron James on Delonte West's return

Did that really happen???

Wow. All I can say is wow. We actually do have an NFL team again. What a great win last night. I don't think I would have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes inside the Stadium. The Browns dismantled the Giants, outplaying them in every way possible en route to a huge 35-14 win that just may have saved their season (very fun highlights here).

Eric Wright seals it with his 96-yard interception return for a TD

Where has this offense been in the first four games? I know Ryan Tucker was finally back from his hip injury - does he really make the line that much better? DA seemed to have all day to throw on his way to 18-of-29 for 310 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs. And I have to say that Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins stepped up in a big way in the absence of Kellen Winslow, combining for 6 catches, 81 yards, and a touchdown. And Braylon Edwards finally had his breakout game with 5 catches for 154 yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion. He beat Aaron Ross like a drum all game long.

The Browns even mixed it up offensively with the run, gaining another 144 yards on the ground. When was the last time you saw this team go an entire game without a punt? Savor last night's rare feat because that may not happen again for a long time. Their signature drive started with 8:11 left in the third quarter and ended 87 yards later (112 if you count a bunch of silly penalties) with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Edwards.

And the Browns came up equally huge on defense forcing 3 Eli Manning interceptions, including the game clinching 96-yard touchdown return by Eric Wright. We can forgive him for dropping an earlier interception after watching that play unfold. And I love Jim Donovan's call of that play starting around the 3:25 mark in the highlights above. Goosebump-inducing, reminiscent of his "Run William, run!" call back in 2002.

So where do the Browns go from here? Your guess is as good as mine. I expected a 34-13 Giants loss last night and got a 35-14 win. What do I expect this Sunday when the Browns travel to Washington to face the Redskins? I'll let you know later in the week. For now, let's bask in the warm glow of a big victory on national TV. It's been a long time coming for this team and it feels good to have a little pride restored in these guys.

Other Browns Notes: Terry Pluto gives his post-game scribbles from the big victory... Braylon Edwards was finally able to quiet some critics after his big game... James Walker talks about how the Browns kept their season alive... And don't forget Tony Grossi's podcast today. I'm sure he'll be just as shocked as the rest of us.

Week 1: Browns vs. Cowboys

So after what was seemingly a neverending wait for the start of the NFL season, Week 1 is finally upon us. As Browns fans we have gone from lofty expectations during training camp to a bit of worry over the 0-4 preseason, and more importantly, all the injuries. Such is the nature of things here in Cleveland... we have come to expect freak knee injuries like the one that happened Wednesday that will keep Antwan Peek out for the entire 2008 season. Not that I think Peek is an essential player to the team's success this year, but it's the type of downer that you don't want to start a season on. But injuries or not, the season kicks off with a tough opponent in the Cowboys on Sunday at 4:15. Here are the things I will be watching:

1. The Cowboys air attack vs. the Browns secondary: Much has been made of the Browns' perceived lack of depth in their secondary after trading Leigh Bodden and losing Daven Holly to injury. Terry Cousin and Travis Daniels were added during camp. But the real pressure will be on Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald at corner and Brodney Pool and Sean Jones at the safety spots. For as much as I dislike Terrell Owens, I won't kid myself and think that we can stop him. We just can't allow him to go off like he did when the Eagles came into town in 2006. And keeping track of Cowboys tight end Jason Witten also scares me a lot. If we start playing back off the line of scrimmage I think they will look to Witten a lot underneath and that could spell trouble.
   
2. The Browns defensive line: The off-season additions of Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams gave a lot of us hope that the Browns would not only be able to better defend the run, but also finally get some pressure on the quarterback. This will be imperative in Week 1 against the Cowboys, because if Tony Romo is given time he will find the open receiver and pick the defense apart. And Marion Barber is more than capable enough to break of some big runs if he isn't contained.
   
3. The Browns offensive line: This unit has been considered one of the best in the NFL after a stellar 2007 season. Left tackle Joe Thomas is a beast and will only get better as he progresses into his second NFL season. But he will have his hands full with DeMarcus Ware and the rest of the Cowboys defensive line. And the Browns didn't do a great job of protecting Derek Anderson in limited action in the preseason. It will be imperative that they give Anderson time on Sunday, as well as opening up some running lanes for Jamal Lewis.
   
4. The Browns receivers vs. the Cowboys secondary: Obviously Braylon Edwards had his breakout season last year. I expect much more of the same this year as he and Anderson really developed good chemistry. And the addition of Donte Stallworth gives the Browns more speed and a reliable second option. And Kellen Winslow is the ultimate pass-catching tight end with the size, speed, and fearlessness that will make and defense afraid. But the Cowboys secondary is very talented (namely Roy Williams) and this may well be the matchup that decides the game. We all know how much better the Browns were last season when Anderson was able to limit his turnovers and didn't force mistakes. It is a must that the Browns don't give the Cowboys extra possessions or a short field to work with.
   
5. Special teams: Mainly I'm referring to the Browns special teams here. A huge key for me will be if Josh Cribbs is healthy enough to play. If his ankle isn't an issue and he is on the field he is a game-changer. Syndric Steptoe did a nice job stepping in during the preseason, but he is nowhere near the caliber of Cribbs. If #16 is back there receiving the opening kickoff, I will be breathing much easier. It will also be important for Dave Zastudil and Phil Dawson to step up when called upon. Field position or an extra 3 points could be the difference in this game.

DeMarcus Ware vs. Joe Thomas will be just one of the big matchups on Sunday

Summing everything up I'm just not sure I love this matchup to start the year for our Browns. But I also know that we have become a dominant team at home (7-1 last year, with the one loss featuring Charlie Frye under center). I definitely think this could become a shootout which could also favor the Browns (5-0 under Romeo Crennel when scoring 30 points or more). Ultimately this game will come down to which team can take care of the ball better on offense and get stops on defense. I'm just not sure the Browns can make all the stops they need to in this one.

It's not that I don't think the Browns can't win this game... I wouldn't put anything past them with their explosive offense. And I know the crowd will be a huge factor (I can't wait to be in the middle of 73,000 screaming fans on Sunday). If the Browns do lose, this would be a game to do it (non-conference so it likely wouldn't play a part in playoff tiebreakers). Weighing everything, I'm going with a prediction of... Cowboys 30 Browns 27. But I reserve the right to change my pick if anything changes my mind before Sunday morning...