Reviewing the tape-Browns story-Almost,but not quite

The Cleveland Browns almost shocked about anyone that follows football by taking the heavily favored Cincinnati Bengals into overtime,but an unlikely play and some overly conservative play calling cost the Browns as the Bengals escaped to Southern Ohio with a 23-20 overtime win..

Brownie Bits

1) Player of the game goes to Shaun Rogers,who without his blocking what could have been the game winning extra point late in the game and an earlier blocked field goal,there would not have been an overtime.

2) I hope that Mohammed Massaquoi enjoyed his breakout performance against the Bengals (8 catches for 148 yards) because with the trade of Braylon Edwards,he will be (unless he flames out) the Browns top receiver for a while.
That means lots of seeing the opponents top corner and that will be a handful for any rookie to handle.

3) Glad to see Jerome Harrison finally being given a chance to be the top back and rushed for over 100 yards for the first time as a Brown,but his fumble that was returned for a touchdown was one of many plays that if you take away just one of them could have resulted in a Cleveland win.

4) In the ideal world,Harrison would be your change of pace back along with being a pass catching option out of the backfield,but considering the balding tires on the career of Jamal Lewis and his injury issues,Harrison is the best full time option that the Browns have.
This run of games before Lewis is deemed 100 % may be the only chance Harrison gets to prove that he can be a teams number one back.

5) The talk before the game was about Bengal defensive Antwun Odom,but Joe Thomas dominated their matchup and except for one play where Derek Anderson ran into Odom that was reminiscent of the QB waggle play on Tecmo Bowl kept Odom off the radar all day long.

6) Derek Anderson was good not great in his return to the lineup,but you can see what he brings to the table that Brady Quinn doesn't as soon as you see him throw the ball.
Anderson surely isn't Joe Namath,but at least his bad plays often occur downfield where you could see them as being the same as a punt.
Quinn's often were near the line of scrimmage.
I liked Anderson's TD run though,his path was quicker by running and he didn't try to force a pass into a covered player and that showed the restraint that often he has lacked.

7) Rumor mill-Quinn to the Rams????

8) Josh Cribbs may not be a wide receiver,but he sure is the best special teams player in the league and yes that includes Devon Hester.
Cribbs busts his hump on every play and is the rarest of player in the NFL-a returner that craves contact instead of the speedy but contact fragile type that usually populates the return game.
Lets hope the Browns find a way to get his extension finished and soon.

9) Give Marvin Lewis credit for going for the win on the Carson Palmer scramble on 4th down in overtime and Palmer for getting the job done on the play,but my question is-that was there all day,why did it take them so long to call the play?

10) I don't like Brian Daboll.
His play calling was better in this game than they were in the first three games,but his overtime calls with one exception-a long pass that fell incomplete,were bland and not tough to defend.
Daboll is often out manned ,but sometimes that makes fresh and surprising play calls even more important.

11) Even though it was another loss,the Browns looked inspired for the first time this season and looked like they wanted to play football.
I am aware this may be just another baited hook,but I have hope for this weeks game in Buffalo.
I have to have hope because I don't see another good chance at a win until late November if they don't grab this one with the Steelers,Packers,Bears and Ravens coming up after the Bills.

My apologies for the lateness of this,twice it was ready to go and Blogger snafus kept it from going up.
I will be back later with the Devils first win of the year in a crazy finish at Tampa.

Photo Credits-Tony Dejak-AP Photo