If you can figure out the Cleveland Browns this season, please drop me a line. The Browns went to Jacksonville with their season on the line, and emerged with a 23-17 heart stopping victory to raise their record to 3-4 after an 0-3 start. If you don’t think this team doesn’t have a shot at the playoffs, take a look at the standings where outside of the AFC East, the second place team in every division is no better than 4-3. If Cleveland can continue to play like they did yesterday, they definitely have a chance.
Perhaps the most telling comment after the game came from Jamal Lewis, who stressed the victory was a result of playing as a team. You can read anything you want into that comment.
The defensive stars were nose tackle Shaun Rogers, who was immense in body and play, and reserve safety Nick Sorensen, who knocked the ball away from WR Matt Jones, saving a game-winning touchdown on the penultimate play of the game.
Rogers was all over the place, getting nine tackles and one sack on Jaguar QB David Garrard. He spearheaded the much-maligned defense against the run, as the Browns held the Jags to 113 yards on the ground. It was even more telling that Garrard picked up 59 of those yards, as the defense held Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew to just a combined 53 yards on 20 attempts. At least on this day, Cleveland stuffed the run.
Even though Jacksonville held the ball for 35 minutes, the Browns controlled the line of scrimmage and thus won the football game.
Offensively, it was a return to the big play attack of last year. Early on, Jamal Lewis ran through some gaping holes in the Jags’ defensive front, and then it following by big plays. Derek Anderson threw for 246 yards, but more than half came on three plays. The fourth and one call that resulted in a 53-yard pass and run to Steve Heiden, was a huge play. So was the pass over the middle to Syndric Steptoe that set up the go ahead field goal was also big.
However, the attack sputters near the goal line. On first and goal at the one with the score tied at 17, the offense could not punch it into the end zone. The first down pass to Braylon Edwards was almost picked off and returned for a touchdown. I think too much imagination is being used. The Browns have two Pro Bowl offensive linemen on the left side in Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach. Why not run Lewis behind them? Once again, I think it’s a case of trying to outsmart the opponent instead of just showing who’s better.
This week, the Ravens come to Cleveland and the Browns have a chance to tie them at 4-4. The problem this team has had is following up a good game with another solid performance. Hopefully, no one, not even Edwards will take Baltimore lightly.
Also, Anderson’s performance next week shouldn’t buy him a full game of terrible play next week. If he’s not getting the job done, Romeo Crennel needs to make a switch. It’s another huge game. A loss puts them two games behind the Ravens and make a wild card spot all but impossible. That’s the challenge the Browns face this week.
Jamal Lewis is right. When the Browns play as a team, they can win. Understand, Braylon and Kellen?
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 