3-3 heading into the bye week. Remaining opponents have a 22-34 record. If their D can come together like it should, theyll get to 10 wins and get a wild card spot. Offense has really come together and should only get better as the OLine continues to progress and Derek Anderson has seemed to mature over the last few weeks.
I was looking at their schedule last week to see if they can make it...gonna be tough.
Sun 10/28 at St. Louis
Sun 11/4 Seattle
Sun 11/11 at Pittsburgh
Sun 11/18 at Baltimore
Sun 11/25 Houston
Sun 12/2 at Arizona
Sun 12/9 at NY Jets
Sun 12/16 Buffalo
Sun 12/23 at Cincinnati
Sun 12/30 San Francisco
Figure they have a decent shot at beating St. Louis, Houston, Arizona, NYJ, Buffalo, Cincy, and San Fran...but having a decent shot doesn't mean they'll beat 'em. Don't see them beating Seattle, Baltimore, or Pittsburgh.
I think they finish with 7 wins, although I'll be rooting for 'em to make the playoffs.
Sun 10/28 at St. Louis
Sun 11/4 Seattle
Sun 11/11 at Pittsburgh
Sun 11/18 at Baltimore
Sun 11/25 Houston
Sun 12/2 at Arizona
Sun 12/9 at NY Jets
Sun 12/16 Buffalo
Sun 12/23 at Cincinnati
Sun 12/30 San Francisco
Figure they have a decent shot at beating St. Louis, Houston, Arizona, NYJ, Buffalo, Cincy, and San Fran...but having a decent shot doesn't mean they'll beat 'em. Don't see them beating Seattle, Baltimore, or Pittsburgh.
I think they finish with 7 wins, although I'll be rooting for 'em to make the playoffs.
coming into the year, i thought had them pegged for 8-8, with one of the 'swing' games putting them at either 9-7 and 7-9. which, incidentally, is why i think they made a great move by packaging next year's #1 for quinn. everyone jumped the gun and assumed that pick would be top 5. but unless this team totally goes in the tank, dallas will probably get a pick in the mid to late teens.
one thing thats interesting about this years team is that the strength has been reversed. for awhile, it was the defense carrying the load while the offense was basically pedestrian.
but now that edwards has shut his mouth and is working hard to play like the stud he was at michigan, he has emerged as a big time playmaker to go along with winslow (best pass catching tight end in the nfl) and a good 'glue guy' in jurevicius. running back still scares me because if lewis cant make it through the whole season healthy, they have one of the worst backup units in the league. so thats a concern. but by and large, the offense is showing a ton of improvement, especially along the offensive line.
the defense is still getting torched though. thats why im not sure if they can make it through the schedule above .500. but they did a very nice job of getting through the early part of the season at 3-3 heading into the bye. so many people were expecting 2-4 or even 1-5 out of the gate and that would have set the franchise back considerably. the fact that theyre NOT playing brady quinn is a very GOOD thing. it means theyre actually resembling a professional football team and not in a hurry to rush him.
one underrared part of the browns is the play from josh cribbs on special teams. devin hester is hands down the best return guy in the league. but cribbs has been just as valuable to the browns. the type of field position he gives the offense on kickoff returns is remarkable. and now the browns are starting to use him in special packages on offense.
i dont know if 8-8 will be good enough for a wild card in the afc. they might need to get to 9-7 and im not sure i quite see that. but they should be playing meaningful games in december and thats all you can ask. again, it all comes down to defense. their offense can move the ball and the playcalling with chudzinki at OC is better than its been since the clowns returned to the nfl. but they still shouldnt have to rely on shooting it out with teams.
one thing thats interesting about this years team is that the strength has been reversed. for awhile, it was the defense carrying the load while the offense was basically pedestrian.
but now that edwards has shut his mouth and is working hard to play like the stud he was at michigan, he has emerged as a big time playmaker to go along with winslow (best pass catching tight end in the nfl) and a good 'glue guy' in jurevicius. running back still scares me because if lewis cant make it through the whole season healthy, they have one of the worst backup units in the league. so thats a concern. but by and large, the offense is showing a ton of improvement, especially along the offensive line.
the defense is still getting torched though. thats why im not sure if they can make it through the schedule above .500. but they did a very nice job of getting through the early part of the season at 3-3 heading into the bye. so many people were expecting 2-4 or even 1-5 out of the gate and that would have set the franchise back considerably. the fact that theyre NOT playing brady quinn is a very GOOD thing. it means theyre actually resembling a professional football team and not in a hurry to rush him.
one underrared part of the browns is the play from josh cribbs on special teams. devin hester is hands down the best return guy in the league. but cribbs has been just as valuable to the browns. the type of field position he gives the offense on kickoff returns is remarkable. and now the browns are starting to use him in special packages on offense.
i dont know if 8-8 will be good enough for a wild card in the afc. they might need to get to 9-7 and im not sure i quite see that. but they should be playing meaningful games in december and thats all you can ask. again, it all comes down to defense. their offense can move the ball and the playcalling with chudzinki at OC is better than its been since the clowns returned to the nfl. but they still shouldnt have to rely on shooting it out with teams.
Being a Steeler fan, I hate the Browns. But their offense is looking tough. They are letting Anderson drop back and spread the ball around to some pretty good weapons and he is getting it done. Problem is their running game is mediocre at best and their defense is pretty bad. They are going to have to outscore teams. Think they have a decent shot at 2nd in the division and an outside chance at a wildcard
3-3 coming out of the bye.
Sun 10/28 at St. Louis
before the season, this didnt look winnable. but it sure as hell does now. and it would be a disappointment if they didnt get to 4-3 after this one.
Sun 11/4 Seattle
definitely one of the swing games. could go either way. seattle looked limp on sunday night vs. new orleans. but theyre still a good team. and the line will be pick at best for the browns.
Sun 11/11 at Pittsburgh
the harsh reality, and its very harsh considering the rivalry, is that pittsburgh owns cleveland. on paper, these teams arent that far apart. but psychological, pittsburgh just knows they are going to win this game.
Sun 11/18 at Baltimore
swing game #2. winnable divisional game. browns normally play the ravens well. it will be a big time revenger for the birds. going to be an ugly game in the teens that will come down to a FG.
Sun 11/25 Houston
win.
Sun 12/2 at Arizona
if they can get through arizona and the next game at the jets somehow splitting, that would be a success.
Sun 12/9 at NY Jets
see above
Sun 12/16 Buffalo
should be able to win, although home field in december will be offset a bit by the fact that the bills are more than used to inclement weather.
Sun 12/23 at Cincinnati
bengals might have mailed it in by the point. browns might be playing a very meaningful game. hard to call this one 2 months in advance without knowing where the teams will be at.
Sun 12/30 San Francisco
could be reminiscent of the atlanta game a few years ago when the browns had the falcons at home in cleveland on the final week of the regular season with a chance to get the wild card. frisco coming east in late december to play in 10-20 degree weather bodes well for the browns.
ill say 8-8. whether or not thats good enough to make the playoffs remains to be seen. probably not. but still a huge step in the right direction.
Sun 10/28 at St. Louis
before the season, this didnt look winnable. but it sure as hell does now. and it would be a disappointment if they didnt get to 4-3 after this one.
Sun 11/4 Seattle
definitely one of the swing games. could go either way. seattle looked limp on sunday night vs. new orleans. but theyre still a good team. and the line will be pick at best for the browns.
Sun 11/11 at Pittsburgh
the harsh reality, and its very harsh considering the rivalry, is that pittsburgh owns cleveland. on paper, these teams arent that far apart. but psychological, pittsburgh just knows they are going to win this game.
Sun 11/18 at Baltimore
swing game #2. winnable divisional game. browns normally play the ravens well. it will be a big time revenger for the birds. going to be an ugly game in the teens that will come down to a FG.
Sun 11/25 Houston
win.
Sun 12/2 at Arizona
if they can get through arizona and the next game at the jets somehow splitting, that would be a success.
Sun 12/9 at NY Jets
see above
Sun 12/16 Buffalo
should be able to win, although home field in december will be offset a bit by the fact that the bills are more than used to inclement weather.
Sun 12/23 at Cincinnati
bengals might have mailed it in by the point. browns might be playing a very meaningful game. hard to call this one 2 months in advance without knowing where the teams will be at.
Sun 12/30 San Francisco
could be reminiscent of the atlanta game a few years ago when the browns had the falcons at home in cleveland on the final week of the regular season with a chance to get the wild card. frisco coming east in late december to play in 10-20 degree weather bodes well for the browns.
ill say 8-8. whether or not thats good enough to make the playoffs remains to be seen. probably not. but still a huge step in the right direction.
Not as many good teams in the AFC as year's past. After NE, Ind, Pit, and Sd - who else is there? Jacksonville, Baltimore, Denver, Houston, Cincy, Tennesee? All have significant weaknesses IMO. Cleveland is a longshot but their offense is good enough to keep them in games. Remaining schedule isn't that overwhelming
houston is improved. but theyre not winning on the road in a post-thanksgiving matchup up north. just dont see it. teams are similar, but for the same reasons i wouldnt trust cleveland down in texas, i wouldnt trust houston up in ohio. texans still dont know what it takes to win on the road.
Like was said earlier, AFC is top heavy. Patriots and Colts are a lock to get in. Steelers will get in, Chargers probably take the West as well. That leaves 2 wild card spots for Jax, Balt, Tenn, Denver, Cleveland, KC, Houston, Cincy, Oakland. All those teams have their flaws. Dont see any reason why Cleveland can't nab one of those two spots with their remaining schedule.
Current AFC east odds at Ezsportsbook:
Big game monday night Balt and steelers,
<TABLE class=border id=wagerTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=center border=0><TBODY id=betOdds><TR class=odd vAlign=center><TD class=left noWrap>Baltimore Ravens</TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=sortOdds noWrap align=right>4 - 1
</TD><TD class=sortOdds><INPUT onclick=checkFutureLine(this);document.oddsUpdate.checkedEventId.value=this.value; type=checkbox value=F806-BaltimoreRavens-010708|F|1|4|1 name=selection[F806-BaltimoreRavens-010708F]> </TD><TD width="25%"></TD></TR><TR class=trLine><TD colSpan=7></TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD class=left width="25%"></TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=left noWrap>Cincinnati Bengals</TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=sortOdds noWrap align=right>25 - 1
</TD><TD class=sortOdds><INPUT onclick=checkFutureLine(this);document.oddsUpdate.checkedEventId.value=this.value; type=checkbox value=F806-CincinnatiBengals-010708|F|1|25|1 name=selection[F806-CincinnatiBengals-010708F]> </TD><TD width="25%"></TD></TR><TR class=trLine><TD colSpan=7></TD></TR><TR class=odd vAlign=center><TD class=left width="25%"></TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=left noWrap>Cleveland Browns</TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=sortOdds noWrap align=right>6 - 1
</TD><TD class=sortOdds><INPUT onclick=checkFutureLine(this);document.oddsUpdate.checkedEventId.value=this.value; type=checkbox value=F806-ClevelandBrowns-010708|F|1|6|1 name=selection[F806-ClevelandBrowns-010708F]> </TD><TD width="25%"></TD></TR><TR class=trLine><TD colSpan=7></TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD class=left width="25%"></TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=left noWrap>Pittsburgh Steelers</TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=sortOdds noWrap align=right>2 - 9
</TD><TD class=sortOdds><INPUT onclick=checkFutureLine(this);document.oddsUpdate.checkedEventId.value=this.value; type=checkbox value=F806-PittsburghSteelers-010708|F|1|2|9 name=selection[F806-PittsburghSteelers-010708F]> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left width="20%">Pittsburgh</TD><TD align=middle>5</TD><TD align=middle>2</TD><TD align=middle>0</TD><TD align=middle>.714</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left width="20%">Baltimore</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD><TD align=middle>0</TD><TD align=middle>.571</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left width="20%">Cleveland</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD><TD align=middle>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left width="20%">Cincinnati</TD><TD align=middle>2</TD><TD align=middle>5</TD><TD align=middle>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
After INDY and PAts Browns have most points scored, surprise, surprise.
Big game monday night Balt and steelers,
<TABLE class=border id=wagerTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=center border=0><TBODY id=betOdds><TR class=odd vAlign=center><TD class=left noWrap>Baltimore Ravens</TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=sortOdds noWrap align=right>4 - 1
</TD><TD class=sortOdds><INPUT onclick=checkFutureLine(this);document.oddsUpdate.checkedEventId.value=this.value; type=checkbox value=F806-BaltimoreRavens-010708|F|1|4|1 name=selection[F806-BaltimoreRavens-010708F]> </TD><TD width="25%"></TD></TR><TR class=trLine><TD colSpan=7></TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD class=left width="25%"></TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=left noWrap>Cincinnati Bengals</TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=sortOdds noWrap align=right>25 - 1
</TD><TD class=sortOdds><INPUT onclick=checkFutureLine(this);document.oddsUpdate.checkedEventId.value=this.value; type=checkbox value=F806-CincinnatiBengals-010708|F|1|25|1 name=selection[F806-CincinnatiBengals-010708F]> </TD><TD width="25%"></TD></TR><TR class=trLine><TD colSpan=7></TD></TR><TR class=odd vAlign=center><TD class=left width="25%"></TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=left noWrap>Cleveland Browns</TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=sortOdds noWrap align=right>6 - 1
</TD><TD class=sortOdds><INPUT onclick=checkFutureLine(this);document.oddsUpdate.checkedEventId.value=this.value; type=checkbox value=F806-ClevelandBrowns-010708|F|1|6|1 name=selection[F806-ClevelandBrowns-010708F]> </TD><TD width="25%"></TD></TR><TR class=trLine><TD colSpan=7></TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD class=left width="25%"></TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=left noWrap>Pittsburgh Steelers</TD><TD class=left noWrap width=25></TD><TD class=sortOdds noWrap align=right>2 - 9
</TD><TD class=sortOdds><INPUT onclick=checkFutureLine(this);document.oddsUpdate.checkedEventId.value=this.value; type=checkbox value=F806-PittsburghSteelers-010708|F|1|2|9 name=selection[F806-PittsburghSteelers-010708F]> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left width="20%">Pittsburgh</TD><TD align=middle>5</TD><TD align=middle>2</TD><TD align=middle>0</TD><TD align=middle>.714</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left width="20%">Baltimore</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD><TD align=middle>0</TD><TD align=middle>.571</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left width="20%">Cleveland</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD><TD align=middle>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=17><TD align=left width="20%">Cincinnati</TD><TD align=middle>2</TD><TD align=middle>5</TD><TD align=middle>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
After INDY and PAts Browns have most points scored, surprise, surprise.
cleveland is an interesting team in that you have to keep their last two wins in perspective (they were against the two winless teams after all)
.... but its obvious watching them play that their offense is playing on a very high level and they have all kinds of playmakers capable of moving the ball on most any defense. and their offensive coordinator (chudzinkski) is doing an absolutely phenomenal job. he is creative and getting the ball into the hands of playmakers, including josh cribbs once or twice a game.
after week one, i was appalled at how bad they looked.
but since then, they have been very good. they forgot to play the first half against oakland and they were still a missed FG away from winning at the gun.
they were also the only team up to this point to play new england tough and basically lost by 10 to the patriots.
it all comes down to defense. right now their defense is BAD. and it might prove too tough to overcome.
we'll learn a lot more about the browns in the next two weeks.
very good home test against seattle.
.... and then the rematch with pittsburgh. talk about a revenger. browns were fu.cking embarrassed that game. and pittsburgh owns cleveland right now. but this is the best the browns offense has looked in over a decade (and thats not hyperbole, esp considering they were gone for a few years)
lets re-evaluate in 2 weeks after the pittsburgh game. we'll know more then.
.... but its obvious watching them play that their offense is playing on a very high level and they have all kinds of playmakers capable of moving the ball on most any defense. and their offensive coordinator (chudzinkski) is doing an absolutely phenomenal job. he is creative and getting the ball into the hands of playmakers, including josh cribbs once or twice a game.
after week one, i was appalled at how bad they looked.
but since then, they have been very good. they forgot to play the first half against oakland and they were still a missed FG away from winning at the gun.
they were also the only team up to this point to play new england tough and basically lost by 10 to the patriots.
it all comes down to defense. right now their defense is BAD. and it might prove too tough to overcome.
we'll learn a lot more about the browns in the next two weeks.
very good home test against seattle.
.... and then the rematch with pittsburgh. talk about a revenger. browns were fu.cking embarrassed that game. and pittsburgh owns cleveland right now. but this is the best the browns offense has looked in over a decade (and thats not hyperbole, esp considering they were gone for a few years)
lets re-evaluate in 2 weeks after the pittsburgh game. we'll know more then.
absolutely. thats not so much my personal opinion of him but rather the answer to your question. i still dont like the way he prepares his team from week to week. after all, the browns trailed oakland on the road by DD and st.louis on the road by DD before scoring a single point in those games. that reflects poorly on the coach.
but the fact is that everybody pretty much expected the browns to be 1-5 or 2-4 at BEST heading into the bye week. and that was the time in the season where everyone figured brady quinn would make his debut (off the bye week, at st.louis).
the fact that quinn is still on the sidelines is a GOOD thing for the browns as it means they are still playing meaningful games.
to me, though, the pittsburgh game is a HUGE game from crennel. he is going to be in cleveland regardless next season (unless the browns totally go in the tank, and it doesnt look like they will)
but i want to see how they handle the rematch against pittsburgh. crennel has been on the receiving end of some beatdowns by the steelers in his tenure in cleveland. he needs to get this team ready to play against an elite team. another ass kicking would reflect poorly on him, regardless of the progress the team has made up to this point.
