It Didn't Look Good in Baltimore

 

After being encouraged after the victory over the Chicago Bears, Browns fans had to be scratching their heads following a dismal showing at Baltimore on Sunday.  The final score was 16-3 in favor of the Ravens, but in reality it was one of those games not as close as the score would indicate. 

 

In fact, the final score shows that the Baltimore Ravens are not that good of a football team.  The Cleveland Browns just were worse yesterday. 

 

The Browns came out throwing yesterday, in fact, they threw on every play early.  As I watched the game, I wondered when they would start running the ball.  Meanwhile, the Ravens were putting enormous pressure on Trent Dilfer, making the Cleveland passing game useless.  Despite recovering a Dilfer fumble inside the Browns 30 yard line, getting a long punt return by P.K. Sam, and a 59 yard run by Chester Taylor, Baltimore only managed 16 points in the first half. 

 

In the second half, Ravens’ Head Coach/self proclaimed genius Brian Billick kept giving life to the Browns by having QB Anthony Wright continue to pass.  In fact, Wright fumbled inside his own 10, and luckily recovered it himself or else Cleveland could have closed to within a touchdown. 

 

Yesterday’s game showed the Cleveland Browns are no where near being a playoff team. Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel already knew that.  The team’s fans may have figured it out during the first half.  This is not to say there is no hope.  In fact, the Browns’ future is probably brighter than it has been since the team returned to the NFL in 1999.  The 2005 Browns are an improved football team, but much more improvement is needed.

 

They need to be able to run the ball and stop the run better.  They need to put more pressure on the passer.  They need to cut down on the numerous penalties in the kicking game.  Dennis Northcutt continues to have good punt returns called back.  But, they have the right people in charge to correct these problems.  And that is something Browns’ fans haven’t been able to say since Ernie Accorsi was running the show in the mid 1980’s. 

 

JD