Remember last weekend when I said it didn't get much better? IT GOT BETTER. Oh man did it get better. What a sports weekend in Cleveland. What a Sunday. In addition to the Browns systematic shutdown of the Bungles and victory in the battle of Ohio, the Indians completed an incredible September by winning against the Twins and guaranteeing a wild card game back in the 216 on Wednesday. Wild card game Wednesday, nationally televised Browns game on Thursday, it's gonna be an exciting week here in Cleveland.
The Browns are 2-2 after their victory over the Bengals. They are tied for first place in the AFC North. The legend of Brian Hoyer is growing. Hoyer was, for the second time in the past two weeks, the better quarterback on the field. Is he the "championship level quarterback" that Banner and Lombardi seek? I have my doubts, but at this point I could care less. I just want the Browns to win. I don't care who is the quarterback as long as they play well enough to win games. And Hoyer has certainly done that over the past 2 weeks.
There are plenty more games, plenty of time to find out if Brian Hoyer, pride of North Olmsted, is the answer at quarterback. But his play has been awesome. Both of the teams that he defeated qualified for the playoffs last season. He is decisive, his arm strength is above average, and he has the moxie that the position requires. He caught the Bengals without two of their starting defensive backs, but he was impressive regardless. He'll take center stage on Thursday night with a chance to win a third straight game.
He'll have his chance to stake his claim, to prove the doubters wrong, and to really legitimize Michael Lombardi as a general manager. As someone who has been as critical of him as anyone, I can't help but to have a slight taste of crow right about now. Between Hoyer, Mingo, the defensive free agents, and the Richardson trade, the moves he's made are certainly looking like the right ones. We can only hope that continues.
The defense played outstanding. Barkevious Mingo was excellent. He looks like a DeMarcus Ware clone. He has a sack in each of his three games. His run support needs work, but his motor is non stop, and his athleticism is off the charts. He appears to be a special player. Joe Haden is one of the top five cornerbacks in the NFL. This Browns defense is almost championship caliber, and we should enjoy what we get to see while we have Ray Horton. I don't think he's long for Cleveland, because he's going to be a head coach somewhere.
Another week, another run game shut down by the front seven. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Browns are a legitimate number 2 cornerback away from being a top 5 defense. Six points is all the Bengals could muster. And the Bengals are pretty good. The Browns stuffing them on fourth and one in the second quarter set the tone for the rest of the game. It was awesome. There aren't enough good things to say about Desmond Bryant and Phil Taylor. Those guys are playing at a Pro Bowl level.
Andy Dalton looked horrible, that's a fact. He really is exactly who I thought he was. The Bengals are too good to only score 6 points. But the Browns secondary played a part in that. Haden (and/or Dalton) frustrated AJ Green all game. He basically made no impact. Chris Owens had a great strip sack and recovery on a well designed cornerback blitz. Loved the play by Tashaun Gipson in the 4th quarter, where he rearranged Jermaine Gresham's internal organs forcing the dropped pass. The next play was the interception by Buster Skrine, which basically decided the game.
If it weren't for Billy Cundiff and his lousy kicking, the game would have been decided by then.
The most impressive thing that I saw in that game was the 12 play 91 yard drive in the fourth quarter. What a drive. That was grown man football. That was one team imposing its will on another team. That was the Browns letting the Bengals know that they were not losing this game. Hoyer was great, going 5-5, including a great touch throw to Jordan Cameron for 31 yards in between defenders. Willis McGahee got his legs under him on that drive, looking like at least a serviceable solution at running back. It was big boy football and the Browns played it better. 17-6 Browns victory. Two wins in a row with a big Thursday game against the Bills. 3-2 after five games very possible. I think we all would have taken that at the beginning of the season.
Joe Thomas made his 100th straight start. He's actually never missed a snap in his career. It was 6,054 straight before yesterday's game. That's incredible.
The Browns still have 0 rushing touchdowns this season.
Jordan Cameron is on pace for 120 catches 1440 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Oh yeah and Pittsburgh is 0-4, and may be the worst team in football. VICTORY MONDAY!
Random gifs
Troll hard Knowshon
Geno Sanchez
Barry Sanders Jr Everybody
Oh yeah and the Indians locker room celebration was legendary. WINDIANS
