The result was a dominant 24-10 Browns win for what might be the final win of the season.
Isaiah Crowell rushed for two scores and ran for 145 yards with Johnny Manziel tossed a touchdown along with 270 yards for the day.
Cleveland improves to 3-10 on the season with the victory and falls out of the lead in the race for the first pick in the draft behind Tennessee and San Diego.
Brownie Bits
1) It's interesting to me that the fans that want change in the management team and the reaction to this win.
Browns fans seemed happy with this win over an almost equally crummy team (4-9 to 3-10),even at the cost of losing the top overall draft pick.
Cleveland dropped from first to third with the win,but...
2) I don't see the Browns winning again against their tough competition fighting for playoff berths (at Seattle,at Kansas City and Pittsburgh at home),so I don't see them sliding below third overall.
Tennessee (at New England,home vs Houston and at Indianapolis) and San Diego (Miami,at Oakland and at Denver) would need to win once for the Browns to pass them,although the tiebreakers are strength of schedule,so that could change as the final games play out...
3) The 49ers came in thinking that even with Browns retread Shaun Draughn as the their ball carrier that that they could run the football against the worst run defense in the game.
Turned out they couldn't as they finished with just 71 yards.
Much of that was being behind in the second half,but Cleveland was able to shut down the run effectively to much surprise...
4) Brian Hartline had a nice game with eight catches for 107 yards as the main target for Johnny Manziel,but he broke his collarbone and will miss the remainder of the season.
Hartline's absence will likely mean either more playing time for Terrelle Pryor among others...
5) I thought Johnny Manziel played well,but you have to consider the opposition.
I did like that Manziel was allowed to roam from the pocket and not forced into the mold,so "letting Johnny be Johnny" was the right move for the this day...
6) Isaiah Crowell has been a disappointment this season,but again consider the foes,but he looked to show signs of the hard nosed back that we saw glimmers of last season..
I don't think Crowell is a franchise back by any means,but I've liked his ability and would like to see him stay around-even if not as a number one back...
7) Nine sacks from a team that struggled to rush the passer all season!
The Niners clearly have a bad line and Blaine Gabbert isn't the most adept at avoiding a rush,but still that's pretty impressive.
Armonty Bryant had two sacks and continues to show talent for rushing the passer at times.
Bryant's problem is under Mike Pettine/Jim O'Neill that they are trying to use him as a standup linebacker in the 3-4 when he clearly is better suited as a rush end.
I have hope for a Bryant breakout next year that will use his talents better...
8) I've ripped Ray Farmer for his bad drafting,but his second round pick Nate
The problem with Orchard (as with past number one Barkevious Mingo,who was pre-Farmer) is that the Browns continue to try to make a pass rusher into a pass defender.
Even yesterday,Cleveland isolated Orchard on a receiver and was called for pass interference allowing the 49ers to get a first down deep in their own territory...
9) Serious concern about the special teams and kicker Travis Coons.
Coons had a field goal blocked as the "Ray Farmer special" kicked in as both first rounders Danny Shelton and Cameron Erving got blown up by the rush and rejected the kick.
Coons would kick a field goal later,but even then,the 49ers got a finger on it.
The special teams has had a bad last few weeks...
10) This might have been the last highlight of the year-hope you enjoyed it!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment