Well we all saw that coming, didn't we? Brian Hoyer, Cleveland's own, led a team declared legally dead by most of it's fans to a thrilling victory in the stale dome air in Minneapolis. Hoyer the Destroyer, shaking off 3 picks to lead a thrilling comeback victory, eventually tossing a beautiful touch pass to Jordan Cameron with just 55 seconds to play to take the lead. The Browns defense, looking like the Dawgs of old, clamping down to secure the win. Tank what? Teddy who? Brian freaking Hoyer everybody!
In all seriousness, it was a great football game. I wrote the other day about the fan vs the rational football thinker, and while the rational football thinker knows maybe it's better to lose now, the fan will not stop being happy when the Browns win. Those magical 4 or 5 Mondays that happen every season fill my heart with joy and happiness. The sun shines brighter, the air smells better, unicorns dance on rainbows, you all know the feeling.
The Browns were supposed to be packing it in, waving the white flag, getting ready for the draft. Instead they dug in their heels and fought back. Rob Chudzinski pulled out all the stops to earn his first win as a head coach. A fake punt, a fake field goal, an aggressive gameplan. It was beautiful. The defense somehow gave up 27 points and looked good, sacking Ponder 6 times and forcing 3 turnovers. The Browns are still steadfastly against running the football, but as it turns out it's a hell of a lot easier to throw the ball with Josh Gordon in the lineup. Even the punter Spencer Lanning was in on the fun, becoming the first player since 1968 to kick an extra point, punt, and throw a touchdown in the same game. All around victory by a galvanized team, it was a beautiful thing. Seriously sports weekends for me don't get much better than Browns and Buckeye victories and Steeler losses. The Indians won both their games too. Happy days.
Please Joe Banner, don't trade Josh Gordon. Please. Unless you're getting multiple first round picks for him. With your offensive philosophy of passing nearly every down, you're going to need a guy like that. Gordon is somewhere between Brandon Marshall and Randy Moss from a talent standpoint. There are maybe 5-8 wide receivers in the league that can do the things he can do, as big as he is. There were rumors before the game about him being on the trade block. Richardson may be replaceable, Gordon is not. We saw that the first two weeks of the season. (If you can get a bag of footballs for Greg Little though, by all means). Gordon finished the game with 10 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown and a 22 yard run on a reverse. He was awesome. Jordan Cameron was awesome as well. 3 touchdown receptions, including the game winner. Say what you will about Tom Heckert, those two guys are rare talents at their respective positions.
Defensively it's impossible not to be impressed with the two big free agent acquisitions, Desmond Bryant and Paul Kruger. The entire front seven played a great game, but Bryant and Kruger are standout defenders. Throw in the performances by Phil Taylor, D'Qwell Jackson, Jabaal Sheard, Billy Winn and Craig Robertson and it's impossible not to be impressed by that group. And MINGO had another sack on a phenomenal play. The Browns could have a special defensive unit, and they're a #2 cornerback away from being really really really good. They held Adrian Peterson to 3.5 yards per carry, extremely impressive.
And the Browns had the better quarterback in Hoyer. Ponder does nothing for me, I've thought he was awful since he was at Florida State. Hoyer also possesses the natural football instincts that Brandon Weeden lacks. I don't think Brian Hoyer is the quarterback of the future, but it's more than likely that Hoyer is the quarterback for the rest of the season. According to PFF, Hoyer took an average of 2.4 seconds per play to throw the ball, whereas Weeden was averaging 3.1 seconds over the first two weeks. That's why the offensive line looks better as well. He gets rid of the ball. Also, no delay of game penalties. Anybody complaining about Joe Thomas needs to go take a look at this game again. Jared Allen was an absolute non-factor. He did nothing. I can't even find him in the box score.
So yeah, it was only one game. But it just feels good to see the Browns win. I don't know how many more this team has in them this season, but it was nice to have this one go their way. Hoyer the Destroyer will have more games to prove he should get a shot here, and the defense is going to keep this team in a lot of games. If nothing else, it has put the tanking talk to bed, and has kept the draft talk at least another week away. 31-27 Browns beat the Vikings, Brian Freaking Hoyer everybody.
Also, Brian Hoyer now has more fourth quarter comebacks than Brandon Weeden. (1-0). Spencer Lanning has as many touchdown passes this season than Brandon Weeden. (1-1). Trent Richardson averaged 2.6 yards per carry in his Indianapolis debut. NUMBERS!
Adrian Peterson's daughter can't believe it either
So my daughter is laying here under me and just out the blue she says... I can't believe you lost to the Browns Daddy! Smh
— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) September 23, 2013
Random gifs
CREATIVITY
Decent grab here
Couldn't have happened to a nicer rapist. The Steelers are AWFUL.
So, does this mean addition by subtraction? Hoyer is not a long term answer, but it was nice seeing a local kid do well. Hey, any win is a good win!
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