It is said that we cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. In a literal windstorm at Cleveland Browns Stadium, with the figurative winds of change blowing in, the Browns adjusted their sails and won for the first time this season, beating the Bengals 34-24.
Everything seems a little better on Mondays when the Browns win. The Browns control the energy in this city during football season, and they finally put together a game that Clevelanders can feel good about. They are no longer the only winless team in the NFL, no longer owners of an 11 game losing streak, no longer winless in their last 12 games within the division. And tomorrow they will officially have a new owner, one who will be involved and visible. Maybe just maybe this thing will turn around, but regardless Sunday's game was something to feel good about in a season that hasn't had much of that.
11-5 Starts Today was written on a banner in the end zone. It was awesome in a hilarious way, and typifies the mentality of the greatest fans in the world, Clevelanders. It was also noted by multiple players as inspiring following the game, so props to whomever came up with that gem. The team actually came out firing, holding the Bengals to a 3 and out on their first series and moving the ball when they got it, utilizing Trent Richardson early and often (thank goodness) and converting some long third downs (where has Josh Cooper been all year?). Unfortunately, it looked like it might be the same old story after a Weeden pass was deflected by Geno Atkins and intercepted by Michael Johnson with the Browns on the move. The Bengals cashed in on a long touchdown pass to Jermaine Gresham, who was isolated one on one with Craig Robertson. That's not ideal, but only becomes a long touchdown when your strong safety bites down hard into no man's land and your free safety puts his helmet into Robertson's chest instead of the receivers.
The Browns showed some fight though and responded with a tremendous throw and catch from Weeden to Josh Gordon to tie the game. In the extremely windy conditions, this was a really incredible throw and a great catch by Gordon. Weeden had time, stepped up, and delivered. Not sure any quarterback we've had since we've been back can make that throw. Maybe Frisman Jackson. Maybe. And what a catch, one handed by Gordon, who has certainly looked worthy of a second round pick the last two weeks. He looks like the playmaker the offense has been missing and will hopefully only continue to get better.
The offense stalled after that (for a while in fact), and the Bengals turned a nice punt return into an AJ Green touchdown before the half and led 14-7. It could have been worse, but the refs and the timekeeper gave the Browns some home cooking when it looked like Dalton spiked the ball with 1 second left on the clock in field goal range, but they ruled time had run out and that was not reviewable.
The third quarter is an odd time in games for the Browns. According to the NFL the Browns haven't scored a touchdown on their opening second half drive in 30 games. Yikes. The offense sputtered but were bailed out by their defense and special teams. In spite of not gaining a first down, the Browns were able to add 2 Phil Dawson field goals, set up by a Joe Haden interception and a 60 yard Josh Cribbs punt return. They took the lead for good on a beautifully executed 10 play drive, where Weeden went 4-4 for 43 yards and Montarrio Hardesty (!!) ran like a man possessed and capped the drive with a leaping 1 yard touchdown. The offensive line dominated the final quarter and a half of the game, giving Weeden time to throw and opening up holes for Hardesty.
The Bengals answered with a field goal to cut it to 20-17, but the resilient Browns marched down the field again, set up by a great kick return by Cribbs and great running by Hardesty. Weeden found Jordan Cameron on a 3rd and 1 play for 23 yards, and found a wide open Ben Watson for a 2 yard touchdown on a well designed playaction pass in the red zone. On the next Bengals play, Sheldon Brown jumped in front of a Dalton pass and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown, putting the Browns up 17 with 7:50 remaining.
It wouldn't be a Browns game without some dramatics, as the Bengals answered with a Green touchdown that only took about two and a half minutes off the clock. The Browns ran the ball twice and after a Cincinnati timeout decided to throw on third down, the pass was incomplete and the clock stopped. Note to Shurmur - you're riding an 11 game losing streak. That is not the point in the game to get cute. Make them burn their timeouts dummy. Bengals get the ball and the Browns let them move down the field, causing the typical hypertension that the Browns generally do. However this was their day, as Emmanuel Stephens came up with his first career sack, stripping the ball in the process. Billy Winn scooped it and was heading for a fat guy touchdown, but he was run down just short of the endzone at the Cincinnati 42, and that was essentially your ballgame.
There are many reasons why this is a win to feel good about. First and foremost, it's a game that they withstood some adversity. Their starting running back left the game, as did their starting guard. They were down until the first play of the fourth quarter. Their offense went seven possessions in the second and third quarter without gaining a first down. They could have folded, they've done it in the past, but they didn't. They made plays to win the game. Sheldon Brown made the interception that LJ Fort couldn't against the Eagles. Weeden didn't force any bad throws. There were no killer penalties. Cribbs made plays on special teams. It was a team win. It's how you win in the NFL, and the players need to know it. Countless guys contributed, the Skrine's, Hardesty's, Greko's, Stephens's.
And it was a win that everyone needed, from the fans, to the players, to the coaches, to the new owner. The monkey on their backs was becoming an elephant, and it has been removed. At least for today, they gave us something to feel good about. 11-5 started yesterday, a new era starts tomorrow, and hopefully, a winning streak starts next Sunday against the Colts.
Random gifs
Yeah so just your normal pick 6 off a blocked punt here
Things like this never get old
Go Bills
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