Reviewing the tape-Pounding the Pats!!

The Cleveland Browns clicked up a win that I believe might have been the biggest and most impressive since their return to the NFL in 1999 last Sunday with a steamrolling of the New England Patriots 34-14.

Brownie Bits

1) Impressive?That wasn't the word for it.
The Cleveland Browns bullied and plundered the 6-1 New England Patriots and did what they pleased.
For whatever one thinks of Eric Mangini and Brian Daboll,on this day one cannot complain.
Win against the Jets this Sunday and even more will move into their corner.
That (to my surprise) seems very possible as the Jets aren't exactly an offensive juggernaut.

2) This was total domination in all three facets of the game as the offense used daring and muscle to physically beat up the Pats defense,the defense confused Tom Brady with a dazzling variety of fronts,blitzes and coverages and the special teams were strong as well using a pop up kickoff to gain possession.

3) Peyton Hillis ran for 184 yards and what I love most is the willingness to run between the tackles and run over people.
That usually doesn't make for career longevity,but it does make you a memorable fan favorite...

4) Colt McCoy ran for a touchdown and gave even more hope that he could be the eventual quarterback.
McCoy made plays when needed,yet didn't force things and make the type of error that can change a game.
Against the Saints,the Browns won in spite of McCoy,on this day,the Longhorn was a contributing factor in the win...

5) What a crazy call by Brian Daboll with the Josh Cribbs handoff to Chansi Stuckey for a rushing touchdown that crushed the stunned New England defenders.
That play was the pivotal one of the game to me...

6) McCoy's toss to Evan Moore downfield that Moore hauled in with a great catch was a step forward in setting the tone of the game early as well.
The Moore catch set up Peyton Hillis and his first TD run.
Why Moore isn't a larger part of the offense with receivers this weak still baffles me..

7) Ahtuba Rubin had the only sack of Tom Brady,but the barrage of Browns kept Brady off balance all day and Rob Ryan gets plenty of credit for that.
I think the Browns can do the same to Mark Sanchez,but the wild card is REX Ryan.
Can he anticipate his brothers thinking for this weeks game?

8) I am often critical of Abram Elam,but Elam played well in the game.
Often times Elam is a less than strong tackler,which is the opposite of the reputation that he brought to town,but Elam was very solid in this one.

9) Tons of credit to the beef up front as Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach were knocking Patriots off the ball on every run.
Both had their struggles at times this season,but both were huge last Sunday.

10) How much did Bill Belichick have to hate the post game handshake in this one?
Shaking the hand of the man he despises most in Mangini in the one city in the country that doubts his genius had to be difficult for him....

11) I realize that this is crazy,but keep this in mind-IF (and a huge if it is) the Browns could get by the Jets this week,Cleveland would be 4-5.
The Browns then have the easiest run on their schedule all season- 4-4 Jacksonville,1-7 Carolina,4-4 Miami,0-8 Buffalo and 2-6 Cincinnati,a 4-1 run through that would put the Browns at 8-6 with the Ravens and Steelers coming to Cleveland.
I still think that is optimistic,but conceivable.
Only with a win over the Jets though,3-6 might be too big of a hole to dig out of ....
A guy can dream can't he?

Photo Credits
Handshake_John Kuntz-Cleveland Plain Dealer

Hillis-Joshua Gunter-Cleveland Plain Dealer