Week 13 - 2014 - Bills

As the snow melted in Buffalo on an unseasonably warm day, so did the Browns playoff hopes.  They aren't out of it, but the road got tougher following a 26-10 beatdown by the Bills.  Brian Hoyer was awful for the third straight game, and may have seen the his last game as a starter for the Browns.  His fall from grace has been steady, and the Browns offense has fallen with him.  In the past 3 games he has completed 50.1% of his passes, he has thrown 1 touchdown, and 5 interceptions.  He has thrown 9 interceptions and 5 touchdowns in his past 8 games.  He was horrible on Sunday, not even his biggest supporters can defend that performance.  Johnny Manziel came in and led an impressive drive, looked like he gave the team a spark, and looks to be the quarterback that will lead this late season playoff push.  But the Browns laid an egg, and it was ugly.

Hoyer and the Browns' biggest problem in the past few games has been the inability to generate points off of turnovers.  The defense gave him the ball twice in Atlanta, which he and the offense turned into two field goals.  That is unacceptable, and that and the fact that Hoyer threw three picks were the only reasons that the Falcons were in the game.  Against Buffalo, the defense again came up with 2 interceptions, which resulted in zero points.  On the second turnover they got the ball on Buffalo's 30 yard line and proceeded to get stuffed on a run, throw a one yard pass to a fullback, and get sacked to push them out of field goal range.  I'm not sure I've even seen a team spit in the face of momentum like the Browns do.  It was pathetic.

The defense held the Bills to 2-15 on third downs.  The Bills were 0-10 at one point with a 14-3 lead.  What more can a defense do? 

The Browns were not beaten by the Bills offense, they were beaten by the Bills defense and they lost the special teams battle.  And they were called for 10 penalties, almost all of them untimely.  Jerome Boger is an awful referee.

Kyle Shanahan did not call his best game in my opinion.  Too many outside runs against a fast Bills defense and a stacked box.  It's hard to call games when your quarterback can't beat an 8 man box though, and Brian Hoyer was not beating anyone on Sunday.  His chemistry was still clearly off with Josh Gordon, who did not have a great game either.  But forcing passes into triple coverage is inexcusable, and Hoyer did that on multiple occasions.  Thus the switch at quarterback, and the first real live action for Johnny Manziel.  Manziel showed a live arm and excellent mobility on the touchdown drive.  I personally don't think they are going to go back to Brian Hoyer.  I think that Johnny Manziel fits Kyle Shanahan's offense perfectly.  I think that if Manziel is the starter the Browns will be in the shotgun or pistol more, I think Shanahan will scheme to utilize Manziel's quickness and speed, and I think there will be both some excitement and some rookie mistakes.  But I don't think they will go back, and I don't think they should.  We've seen the best of Brian Hoyer, and that was 8 weeks ago.  He has regressed.

So the Browns will be making a playoff push with (possibly) a rookie quarterback, two rookie running backs, a third string center, a rookie guard, and their star receiver still working out the kinks following a 10 game suspension.  It should be quite a ride, but these guys are growing up in a winning culture and gaining experience which should be invaluable to them.

Speaking of rookie running backs, that fumble by Terrance West was the play of the game.  That is inexcusable.  It might be time to see what Glenn Winston has.  Running backs cannot fumble the ball.  Period.  That was a game changing turnover.  It was TERRIBLE.  Joe Thomas also had the worst game I can remember him having.  Ever.  It was just a mess on offense.

Defensively the Browns played well, they harassed Orton, they held the Bills to 3.5 yards per carry, and they forced the two turnovers.  I'm not sure what else a defense can do other than score points themselves.  The offense and special teams let the Browns down on Sunday.

And those special teams, boy they just continue to let the Browns down.  I hope Chris Tabor has his bags packed and is out on the first bus.  His unit continues its pathetic ineptitude, Billy Cundiff has now missed a field goal in four straight games.  4.  Straight.  Games.  The media likes to make fun of the fans adulation towards Phil Dawson but geez can't we get ANYONE in here that can make 37 yard field goals?  CUNDIFF IS TERRIBLE.  TABOR YOU ARE THE WORST.  Benjamin was running backwards on punt returns, then tripping over his own feet.  They embarrass themselves on a new level weekly.  Pure hot garbage.

It was a tough loss for the Browns, but it may mark the beginning of a new era.  I know there are some fans who will now root against Johnny Manziel out of pure spite.  Go ahead.  There shouldn't be this divide but there is.  If Manziel wins they'll be the first ones jumping back on the bandwagon.  But one thing is clear, Brian Hoyer wasn't getting it done.  It's Manziel's turn to see if he can right the ship and lead this team into the playoffs.  It may have been a week too late, but it's his turn now.  The Browns future is now, it should be a wild ride for the last 4 games.



Random gifs (and vines if I can get them to work)

Cheerleaders fight on, the stand up sign works here too





Dickie V had some wiggle back in the day

 

 

Mike Evans.  That's all.




Bonus pic of Johnny Football because it was hilarious