Lost in the Sun? Browns capped in Indy 17-13

You usually don't think of the sun being a factor in a football game,especially when said game is inside a domed stadium.
However,on an unusually warm October day in Indianapolis,the Colts decided that they would open the retractable roof and let the sunshine in,that decision would pay huge dividends for them and cost the Cleveland Browns a victory.
Late in the fourth quarter,Josh Gordon streaked past the Colts secondary down the middle of the field and was open for what would have been the game winning touchdown,but the sun appeared through the gap in the roof and Gordon looked like he lost the football in the light,not making the catch and forcing (not really,more on that below) the Browns to punt.
The 17-13 defeat sent the Browns spiraling to 1-6 on the season.
Cleveland will play their next two games by Lake Erie,as they will host San Diego and Baltimore before their bye week. 

Brownie Bits

1) At first,I had much more blame for Josh Gordon on the drop than I do currently.
Watching the replays,it is apparent to me that Gordon entered the sunlight and just lost the ball in the change of light.
Should he have still made the grab?
Absolutely,but I do have more understanding of why he did not than I did at that time...

2) Josh Gordon did grab another touchdown and just missed another when he was bumped out of bounds at the two,so Gordon continues to give Cleveland the downfield threat that the Browns have lacked for years.
I would like to see Gordon's pass routes vary a bit to develop him further as a receiver,but considering the late addition of Gordon to the roster in training camp,I think Gordon has done very well...

3) Greg Little made a great leaping grab for a score along with six catches on the day.
Little did not drop any passes either,which is a welcome change...

4) Brandon Weeden threw both TD's and did not get picked off any either,which again is a welcome change.
Weeden looked strong in the pocket and shows more signs of being comfortable against the pass rush.
I am still not certain that Weeden is the long term answer,but he certainly has not ruled himself out of being such yet either....

5) Pat Shurmur benched Trent Richardson for most of the second half after Richardson rushed for eight yards on eight carries.
Richardson says the benching was unrelated to his rib injury,but the ribs are "worse than you know".
If the ribs are that bad,then Richardson needs to heal,if they are not,then Richardson needs to play.
Sitting Richardson for Montario Hardesty, if Richardson is healthy enough to play proves nothing...

6) The Browns rushed only 17 times and just six in the second half against one of the leagues worst run defenses.
Shurmur's answer was that Indianapolis was using eight men in the box and that forced the Browns to pass.
I understand that and agree for the most part,but wouldn't an occasional run mix things up a bit?

7) The decision that represents Pat Shurmur and his play it safe style best came with a bit over six minutes to go in the game.
The Browns have a fourth and one at the Colts 41 with 6:38 to play.
This to me screams go for it-you are 1-5,what do you have to lose?
Didn't Cleveland draft Trent Richardson for these types of situations?
Shurmur punts.
Boo.

8) I hated the Josh Gordon drop,but I loved the reaction of Jimmy Haslam,who was very animated in his owners box.
The excitement and passion that Haslam has will hopefully carry through the organization for the better.
Successful or not,I get the feeling that Jimmy Haslam cares more after one day than Randy Lerner did in years....

9) The offensive line did a good job in protecting Brandon Weeden as they did not allow a sack in the game.
That number is even more impressive as it comes with John Greco starting at left guard in favor of regular starter Jason Pinkston.

10) Best wishes to Jason Pinkston,who is finished for the season as Pinkston was hospitalized with blood clots in his lungs.
Hope that Pinkston gets better soon..

11) Another special teams breakdown as holder Reggie Hodges botched the hold on the second extra point attempt.
That drop caused the game to go differently as the Browns would finish the game having to play for touchdowns rather than a game tying attempt by Phil Dawson...

12) Finally,this might be the game that affects Pat Shurmur's 2013 employment more than any other.
With Jimmy Haslam in attendance against a not very good team and a winnable game,Pat Shurmur did not gamble or try to win,instead,he was dull to the end.
This game shows that the Browns have some players to build on.
The coach is not one to build on..

Photo Credit:Cleveland Plain Dealer....