The Cleveland Browns are proving to be the best of all of the NFL’s crummy teams as they defeated another squad on their level, beating the Oakland Raiders 23-9 to raise their record to 4-11. Somewhere, the Eric Mangini supporters in town are raising a trophy symbolic of the Browns’ superiority against the mediocre teams in pro football.
The Browns took advantage of a solid running game and three interceptions by former Cleveland quarterback Charlie Frye to register their third straight win. Jerome Harrison followed up his 286 yard performance by gaining 148 more in 39 carries, as the Browns went with what had working in their previous wins, a solid rushing attack.
Derek Anderson, much like Brady Quinn, managed the game, didn’t make any mistakes, and basically threw the ball only when it was needed, completing just 8 of 17 throws for 121 yards and a touchdown to Mohammed Massaquoi. He didn’t make the huge error he has made in the past, so all in all, it was a good job by Anderson.
However, I doubt that Mike Holmgren is making plans to build around him or Quinn next season.
The game really went the Browns way early, when Frye’s first pass was picked off by David Bowens, and two plays later, Harrison ran it in from 17 yards to give Cleveland a 7-0 lead. From then on, the Raiders moved the ball only to make mistakes. They outgained Cleveland for the game 389 to 282, because, much like last year, the Raiders threw for 301 yards against the Browns’ beleagued secondary.
The difference was this week, Rob Ryan’s defense recorded four sacks, one and a half by recent waiver pick up Matt Roth, which stopped the Oakland offense from getting into the end zone.
Really, it was the same Frye we watched with the Browns, throwing the ball recklessly and taking unnecessary sacks. He put up some big numbers, but couldn’t stay away from big negative plays, which was his history in Cleveland.
What this game showed was the discipline Mangini brought to the Browns. The Raiders were penalized 13 times for 126 yards, the Browns just six times. It is the one thing you can say the coach accomplished with the ’09 Browns.
The three straight wins over so-so opponents is nice, but you can’t overlook the 1-11 start. Mangini most definitely made some changes going into the San Diego game after a 1-10 start, but why did it take rumors swirling about his job for him to make the moves?
As for the players not quitting on the coach, it’s their job! They are playing to stay in the NFL. The coach shouldn’t get any extra credit for that.
The decision on Mangini rests with new team president Mike Holmgren. If Holmgren and whomever he picks as general manager want him to stay, that’s fine. However, it’s more likely that The Big Show (Holmgren) will want his own man in place, and he should. He must make sure everyone is on the same page.
Don’t get carried away with the wins, and the Browns could win a fourth straight game against a Jacksonville team that has nothing to play for next week. It would have been better if the Cleveland Browns showed this kind of life in October instead of December.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 