The Cleveland Browns defense did all that one could ask for against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts,but they spent almost the entire second half on the field and lost on a Luck to T.Y. Hilton pass with under a minute remaining to give the Colts their only lead of the day and the only one that they would need in a 25-24 heartbreaker.The Browns scored two of their three touchdowns on defense as Craig Robertson recovered a Luck fumble in the end zone and Justin Gilbert grabbed a pass of Luck's and returned it for another.
The now 7-6 Browns will host the Cincinnati Bengals in their final home game next week in what is now a must win....
Brownie Bits
1) Right off,it's clear that Mike Pettine made the wrong decision in sticking with Brian Hoyer over Johnny Manziel,but not for the reasons that you might think.
Hoyer played scared that he was going to be lifted and you could see that with each throw.
Hoyer didn't thrive on the competition,he was afraid he was going to screw up and that became a self-fullfilling prophecy...
2) I loved our defense yesterday.
They hammered and hassled Andrew Luck into mistakes and they simply were worn out by the end of the game.
When you are on the field the entire second half and they were-against a good offensive team,you cannot play at a high level forever.
3) Here are the Browns offensive plays on each drive in the second half-3,3,3,5,4,5,2.
Produced just three points and that was due to field position from a Colts turnover.
Circle that one!
4) Speaking of field goals,Billy Cundiff can go now.
Cundiff has missed field goals in each of the last FIVE games and his first half miss from 40 yards was very makeable.
In a one point loss,that's inexcusable...
5) Craig Robertson continues to play well in the absence of Karlos Dansby.
Robertson had the TD,but just missed an interception and finished with 10 solo tackles.
Well played.
6) Josh Gordon seemed a bit,well less than interested.
Gordon wasn't targeted as much as before and he was wide open for what would have been a long score had Brian Hoyer not overthrown him by five yards (I'm not kidding),but he was never a factor in this game and he should have been considering the Colts were missing their top corner in Vontae Davis....
7) Hoyer also had Taylor Gabriel open for a sure TD and overthrew him by a good five yards.
I really wanted to like Brian Hoyer,but the Browns just cannot live with a guy that completes less than half of his passes,if he can't complete the deep ball either..
8) Jim Leonhard! A sack,a pick in the end zone for a turnover and another pick that will not hit the stat sheet because it came on a two point conversion.
Love having guys like Jim Leonhard on the team...
9) Joe Haden covered T.Y. Hilton great all day until he just wore down in the fourth quarter.
Looking at the Hilton numbers (10 for 150 and 2 scores) and you would think Hilton dominated.
Watch the tape-he didn't-he just wore Haden down...
10) I thought the referees did a good job in letting the players play and only the last drive pass interference call against Buster Skrine tainted that .
The refs let them play and then call a light call like that one...
11) Want a non-Luck MVP?
How about former Buckeye Boom Herron on a 4th and 1 from the Browns 2 on the last drive.
Herron looked to be stopped cold for a game saver for the Browns,but Herron's legs never stopped moving forward and drove/spun his way for a yard that he never should have had...
12) Finally,The Browns need to win out to make the playoffs and that's possible,if unlikely,but what if they lose out?
Could Jimmy Haslem can Mike Pettine for the collapse,the sticking stubbornly to Brian Hoyer etc?
Haslem always has wanted a big name,so something to think about,if the Browns finish 7-9.....
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