The game was going very well for the Cleveland Browns. They were winning 14-3 in the second quarter and where playing very well until an old problem for QB Jake Delhomme raised its ugly head. The bad interception.
It turned the game completely around.
Tampa Bay scored on the first play after the pick, closing the gap to 14-10. Cleveland would score no more on this day, and the Browns went down to defeat, 17-14 in a contest where they outgained their opponents. The problem was not holding on to the ball, as Cleveland committed a fumble and two interceptions, losing that battle by one.
Coach Eric Mangini has to be furious following this one because holding on to the football was made a priority after the second pre-season game, and on opening day this happens. Not to mention there were two other fumbles by the brown and orange that they recovered themselves.
Worse than that were the timing of the mistakes. Besides the pick at the end of the first half, Peyton Hillis’ fumble came inside the Tampa 20 with a chance to add on to the Browns’ lead. One turnover gave Tampa points and the other cost additional points for Cleveland.
Besides the turnovers, the offensive strategy was strange. During the off-season, it appeared the team was building towards having a strong running attack, but they didn’t use it yesterday. They strengthened the offensive line, brought in Hillis and drafted Montario Hardesty, who of course, is out for the season, to emphasize the running game. However, they passed 38 times and only ran 23 times. They need to get back to their strength.
Also, where was Josh Cribbs yesterday? Understand that the Buccaneers have a good special teams unit which helped contain Cribbs on returns, but where was he on offense? The All-Pro was talking about how special the package Brian Daboll put together with he and Seneca Wallace, but it was rarely used on Sunday.
Defensively, which was thought to be the shaky area going into the game, the Browns were solid. Granted, they were not facing an offensive juggernaut, nor were they playing against a top flite quarterback, but the young secondary played well. Joe Haden gave up the winning touchdown pass, but he was right on the receiver.
LB Marvin Benard continues to show an ability to get to the quarterback with 1-1/2 sacks, and the front seven did a good job against the run as well, holding the Bucs to 119 yards rushing on 30 attempts, 34 of those on a scramble by QB Josh Freeman.
It was a topsy truvy game with the defense playing better than the offense, exactly the opposite of the pre-season.
This was a winnable game on the schedule and the Browns kicked it away by making mistakes. Next week’s contest in another one they can win, against Kansas City at home. However, the team needs to show progress and get back to playing to its strength. This year’s Browns have an improved passing attack, but they aren’t the Saints in terms of being a passing team.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 