Browns season ends in close shave with Chiefs 22-17

    The Cleveland Browns gave all that they had in a loss to the powerful Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the AFC Divisional Playoffs and in their 22-17 defeat, the Browns may have proven more about the direction of their franchise than in any of their victories (with the arguable exception of their first-round win over the Pittsburgh Steelers) and may have finally established the franchise as more than another mirage.

Baker Mayfield threw for 204 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

Nick Chubb led the ground attack with 69 yards, while Rashard Higgins was the top receiver with five catches for 88 yards to lead the pass catchers.

The season ends for the Browns with eleven regular season and a playoff victory on the road at Pittsburgh.

Brownie Bits

1)  I'm going to lead (Pun Intended) with the hit by Kansas City's Daniel Sorensen on Rashard Higgins that was clearly helmet to helmet and Sorensen's lowering of his helmet to deliver the blow. 

The no-call cost the Browns a likely touchdown and because the contact with the helmet isn't reviewable (as it is in college football), replay could not be brought into play.

2) I know Higgins reaching for the pylon is a risky play and I understand that, but why isn't anyone asking this- Does Higgins fumble if he's not being HIT IN THE HEAD by what is, by the rulebook, an illegal blow?

3) And I don't care about Sorensen's "intent".

How many times in college football do we see targeting called and we all talk about intent?

It doesn't matter (although I think it should matter)- There is nothing in the rules that says about whether a player 'meant' to hit the opponent in the head. 

It says you cannot.

4) If that penalty is called, the Browns have a first and goal from the half-yard line.

Four cracks at a touchdown and six/seven points in a game they lost by five to a team led by Chad Henne.

Think about that one...

5) I spent five points on one play for a few reasons.

It was pivotal and cost the Browns a likely touchdown, the officials missed the call, the NFL needs to make helmet contact reviewable for next season, and if player safety is as important to them as their lip service says (it's not) start having their officials do a better job looking for it.

6) Why didn't I mention the touchback?

Well, that is the rule and while I don't mind it as much as some do, that part of the play was called properly.

Evem if it is B.S. that the touchback could be reviewed while the guy nicknamed "Dirty Dan' by his own team didn't extend his arms to try to tackle could not be reviewed.

7) Kevin Stefanski might be the coach of the year, but he wouldn't win coach of this day.

Stefanski's constantly touted as an "analytics" believer, yet he punted on fourth and nine on the Browns final possession, gambling that he would get the ball back-they wouldn't.

8) Stefanski also botched a challenge that had zero chance of succeeded.

Still, remember just as players need experience in the postseason- Same goes for coaches.

9) Now for some good things.

Other than one bad throw, Baker Mayfield played pretty well in the loss.

Mayfield's receivers dropped some passes or his day could have been much better.

I wouldn't dog him for the loss.

10) The running game averaged five yards, but Kareem Hunt didn't touch the ball in the first half and while some of this is due to trailing for most of the game, Kevin Stefanski in the latter part of the season seemed forget this team was built on the run.

That will be interesting to follow next season.

11) The Chiefs decided to take away Jarvis Landry and they succeded even though Landry caught the Browns only passing touchdown.

Landry caught seven passes and only twenty yards.

Kansas City was able to keep Landry closer to the line of scrimmage by shadowing him and wrapped him up as soon as he caught the ball.

12) Another good game from the offensive line, who allowed only one sack of Baker Mayfield.

And that came without left tackle Jedrick Wills, who injured his ankle on the first offensive snap.

Give the Browns and offensive line coach Bill Callahan credit, they built an excellent offensive line that should be even better next season with a true training camp.

13) All of that said and it came down to a fourth and long scramble by Chad Henne.

The defense has to stop that with the season on the line and it shows just how close this team has come and how far there is to go.

For the Browns to be a true contender the defense needs to be addresses this offseason in the same manner that Andrew Berry and company worked on the offense during the last one.

The Browns have holes, they will need to fill them to take the next step-Lets see if it can be done.

14) The Browns will pick 26th in the first round.

It's been a long time since the Browns picked that low with their own draft pick.

15) Sorry that this took so long, 

It's been a long day.

I plan on a Browns season in review with the offense and defense over the next few weeks.

16) One more time-for the record.

Browns Stop Steelers in 48-37 Playoff Victory!

  The Pittsburgh Steelers were favored by almost everyone that didn't have a sentimental interest ( I know of one person only that fits into that position) in their playoff game against the Cleveland Browns.

After all, the Steelers had sat quarterback Ben Rothlisberger, the possible defensive player of the year in T.J. Watt, and several other starters in their season finale against the Browns on the bench. The game was in Cleveland, the Browns had lost head coach Kevin Stefanski and Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio for the playoff game and Pittsburgh had still lost by only two points!

Any thinking person would have picked Pittsburgh and all of that vanished on the first snap of the game as Pittsburgh center Markice Pouncey sent the football flying over Ben Rothlisberger's head like the pterodactyl in the Flintstones delivering an "Air Mail" with Karl Joseph falling on the ball for a stunning touchdown.

As I sat in my quarantine bunker watching this, I saw Ben Rothlisberger's body language and had a V-8 moment- Pittsburgh's not ready to play. 

No matter the reason- overconfidence, Pittsburgh's dominance for almost all the last fifty years dating back to the Nixon administration, Covid, Mike Tomlin's sudden understanding of his coaching being mediocre, JuJu Smith-Schuster's dance steps- Whatever. Pittsburgh didn't seem ready to play.

A short punt and two Ben Rothlisberger interceptions set up three more Cleveland touchdowns later, the first quarter ended with a 28-0 Cleveland lead with the game essentially over.

Pittsburgh didn't give up and made a gallant run, but even for Browns fans and all the well-earned angst from past Steeler encounters, you never felt like Pittsburgh was close enough to make the Browns feel the concern and get tight enough to blow this game.

The Cleveland 48-37 victory may not have eliminated every piece of baggage that the team has carried, but it took a step forward in exorcising a few demons in one swing of the blade.

Baker Mayfield threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns, Kareem Hunt ran for two touchdowns, and Jarvis Landry caught seven passes for ninety yards and a touchdown.

The Browns will face an even tougher test next Sunday in Kansas City against the defending Super Bowl Champions and Patrick Mahomes, but at this stage, the Browns are playing with house money.

Brownie Bits

1) Not only were Baker Mayfield's statistics solid, but what I liked was that every time in the second half that Pittsburgh appeared to be on the verge of closing the gap and making the game really interesting, Mayfield kept a level head, didn't get too emotional, and then led the Browns to an answering score.

2) Should you still think there is a question about the Browns picking up Baker Mayfield's fifth year, they moved out the door after this performance. I didn't think there was a question anyway, but any small questions should be answered.

3) Give a patchwork offensive line full credit- with Joel Bitonio out and Jack Conklin injured in the first half, the Browns were playing names such as Kendall Lamm, Michael Dunn, and Blake Lance, who was literally introduced to Baker Mayfield in the locker room! 

Yet, the Browns still managed to rush for 127 yards and didn't allow a sack to the Steelers normally stern pass rush.

I'm not sure they can do this again, especially without Bitonio and Conklin (no word on either player's status for Kansas City), but they kept it together for one game.

4) Nick Chubb is the Browns back that is known as the power runner, but Kareem Hunt is more than capable of putting his shoulder down as well.

On Hunt's first touchdown run, Pittsburgh linebacker Robert Spillane moved up to hit Hunt around the three to four-yard line.

Hunt drove Spillane well inside the end zone and had Spillane's head looking at the sky.

5) Jarvis Landry seemed to be the Browns answer every time a key play was needed and Baker Mayfield put the ball on the money as well.

Landry is the Browns most dependable pass catcher, but the Steelers seemed to be a step behind Landry all evening.

Of course that can happen when you commit to covering Landry most of the evening with linebackers...

6) Mike Tomlin has been a coach that I've always thought was overrated and if Pittsburgh had one chance to get back into this game, Tomlin threw that chance away.

In the third quarter, the Steelers had scored 16 points in a row, and on the final play of the third quarter, the Steelers had a fourth and one around midfield.

The Browns defense looked like the dam may be about to burst with the fourth quarter ready to begin.

Tomlin decided not to go for it, tried to pull the Browns offsides, took a five-yard penalty, and punted.

The Browns would take the punt and six plays later, Nick Chubb scored and Pittsburgh didn't seem to get close enough to sweat again.

7) Is Ben Rothlisberger finished? Well, he did finish with over 500 yards passing, but the Browns were playing very soft, giving the Steelers almost everything underneath, and under those conditions, passing yards can be rolled up when you have to throw every play.

I'd wonder about picking up a forty million (yes FORTY) option for a guy that's 39 next year and doesn't do either of the two elite skills that he once had (the medium to deep pass and avoiding pass rushers) nearly as well anymore.

BUT- could it be worse than starting Mason Rudolph or signing Cam Newton as a stopgap?

8) M.J. Stewart was beaten in this game. but Stewart also made a huge play with his first-quarter interception and he finished with ten tackles.

I thought Stewart might be best suited after the Browns claimed him from Tampa Bay as a safety/slot corner, but the Browns also used him in this game as a hybrid safety/slot corner and at times had him roaming the middle of the field in a freelance position.

It'll be interesting to see in the 2021 camp if Stewart is given more opportunities in that type of position.

9) The Browns didn't sack Ben Rothlisberger, but they did their share of harassing him.

Rothlisberger cannot make plays with his feet as he once did, so he counters with a quicker delivery of the football.

While this does avoid sacks, it stops the downfield passing games and that's just the ticket for the Browns with a battered secondary.

10) Can the Browns do it again in Kansas City?

I doubt it, but offensively they seem to fit what you need to do against the Chiefs- run the ball, use the clock, and try to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field.

But I fear Mahomes will pick the Browns defensive backs apart and this one could get ugly.

The Browns will score their share, but they are going to need help from the Chiefs to score another upset.

Browns fend off Steelers 24-22- Playoff Bound

     If it was easy, it wouldn't be Cleveland sports and it damn sure wouldn't be the Cleveland Browns, but the Browns managed to deflect a Mason Rudolph pass on a two-point conversion, recover an onside kick, and convert a third down to run out the clock to defeat the Pittsburgh J.V. Steelers 24-22 by Lake Erie and punch their ticket to the postseason for the first time since 2002.

Nick Chubb rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown while Baker Mayfield threw for 193 yards and one touchdown to Austin Hooper to lead the Cleveland offense.

The Browns finish the season at 11-5 and will be the 6th seed in the playoffs, which earns them a trip back to Pittsburgh, where they lost earlier this season 38-7, and a Sunday night rematch with these very same Steelers- this time they'll be playing the varsity squad.

Brownie Bits

1) Keep this in mind- almost all of the Steelers key players on defense didn't play in this game, Ben Rothlisberger sat out in favor of Mason Rudolph, and it still was a two-point win that was played down to the wire at home.

2) As excited as I am about finally kicking the playoff drought to the curb, there is still a talent difference between the Browns and the other playoff teams and while the Browns are competitive at the top of the roster with top talent, they lack the depth that those teams have. 

There is the difference between the Browns and better teams- the test in the offseason is catching the Browns up with those franchises.

3) Covid-19 has shown the difference in depth because you cannot count on anything from week to week and what seems to be a position of strength can turn into a vulnerable spot in one day.

The Browns depth becomes even more of a factor in this year of all years- I have a feeling in one way or another that this will be a factor in Pittsburgh.

4) Baker Mayfield wasn't spectacular, but he was solid and didn't turn the ball over.

Mayfield was steady at the wheel and in a game that needed a calm hand, Mayfield was able to provide an even keel.

5) Mayfield also should get some credit for not tipping off the called running play for himself at the end

of the game.

At times, a quarterback can show his hand on running plays because in most cases, it's not what they naturally do and it can show.

Mayfield didn't look like he was going to run and that may have made all the difference.

6) However, once again Kevin Stefanski may have overcoached a bit and didn't use his top weapon nearly enough.

Nick Chubb only carried fourteen times for his one hundred plus yards and seemed to be ignored for the second week in a row.

7) BUT I'm going to give Kevin Stefanski the benefit of the doubt- Could the lack of use of Nick Chubb be as simple as using a different gameplan for one game against the Steelers and using the running game more in the next game?

If it works out next Sunday, it's a genius move, but awfully risky with the playoffs on the line.

8) The Browns took a huge loss when Oliver Vernon was lost for the season with an injured Achilles tendon.

Vernon had sacked Mason Rudolph earlier in the game and had another tackle for loss.

Vernon was playing well over the last month and it's a huge loss for the Browns opposite Myles Garrett.

The injury couldn't have come at a worse time for Vernon, who is scheduled to hit the free agent market at the end of the season.

9) There was only one turnover between the two teams and it was a big one as M.J. Stewart, who hasn't seen as much action as I would have thought starting the season, intercepted Mason Rudolph in the third quarter at midfield and returned it thirty yards to the Steeler 20.

Stewart hung back and stepped in front of JuJu Smith-Schuster to grab a Billy Kilmeresque pass that was caused by the pass rush from Jacob Phillips and an interior lineman (I kept watching the replay and cannot catch a number) that would set up Jarvis Landry's three yard touchdown run.

10) I've always cut Mack Wilson breaks on his missed tackles because I like his energy and physical skills. But it's hard when you see those chances for big plays go by because Wilson doesn't wrap up.

At least twice yesterday, Wilson had chances to make big plays for sizable losses and the running back broke Wilson's tackle attempt to move up field.

11) Wilson should be looking over his shoulder at the improved play of Jacob Phillips, who finished with eight solo tackles and the earlier noted hit on Mason Rudolph that caused the errant throw that M.J. Stewart intercepted.

Phillips has dealt with injuries this season and it'll be interesting to see if Phillips can stay healthy and in the lineup for the long haul.

12) Can the Browns win in Pittsburgh Sunday night?

Yes. Is it likely? No, but it's possible.

I may have a preview later in the week, so I won't dig too deep now, but there is a path to victory and it's different that many may think....

Devils struck by Lightning-Lose Game One

The New Jersey Devils return to the postseason was not a smooth one as the Devils dropped game one of their series to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 in Tampa.
New Jersey fell behind 3-0 before goals by Taylor Hall and Travis Zajac cut the lead to just a goal before Tampa pulled away to the 5-2 win.

Game two sees the teams stay in Tampa Bay Saturday as the series continues.

Hell Raisers

1) Taylor Hall finished with a goal and an assist, but the goal came on an accident when Tampa's Ondrej Palat made a brain-dead play when instead of sending the puck around the boards, Palat couldn't have given Hall a better pass unless he skated over and laid the puck on his stick.
Hall had an occasional lapse defensively, but once again did his part on offense.

2) I thought Keith Kinkaid played reasonably well in his first playoff game and considering he allowed four goals.
It's tough to blame Kinkaid for any of the four goals that he gave up and though the scoreboard doesn't indicate it, he was far from the worst offender in this defeat.

3) The Devils did allow one goal to Tampa Bay on the power play (like those rhymes, do you?), but I thought (especially in the first few chances) that they did very well with clears and they did it in a fairly physical fashion.
Tampa's power play is one of the stronger in the league, so this wasn't a total failure at least,.

4) If the Devils want to be a true contender, the team is going to have to address the defense and add another good defender.
Ben Lovejoy is terribly slow, Mirco Mueller made mistakes that directly led to two Lightning goals and John Moore seems to be always around everything but the puck.
You cannot fix everything overnight and Ray Shero has done an excellent job in shoring up a leaking ship, but the Devils still have some holes-most of them behind the blue line.

5) What the hell was the deal with the thundersticks in Tampa?
I hate crap like that (mainly because they were supposed to give them out once at a football game, they didn't and I've heard about it ever since from Cherie!).
Artificial noise is really ridiculous and shows just how hard it is to summon real excitement in sports anymore!!

Back later, if time permits with the final day of my trip...

Saints season ends in Seattle 23-15

The New Orleans Saints ended their season in Seattle with an NFC Divisional playoff loss to the Seahawks in Seattle 23-15 with a loss that will be debated for much of the off season by Saints fans.
Drew Brees threw for over 300 yards with all but 35 of those in the second half with Marques Colston grabbed 11 passes for 144 yards,although he'll be remembered for a pass more than any of the catches....

Game Notes

1) When people say the home field advantage does not matter-refer them to this game.
The difference in the Saints offense in a dome compared to in the damp conditions of Seattle makes the difference in these two teams.
Seattle was a deserving winner,but different track might have made a different winner.

2) Normally,I think Sean Payton is among the best play callers in the game,but I did wonder on a few in this game.
Everyone has a bad game and this one might have been Payton's.

3) For example,asking Shayne Graham to attempt two field goals over forty yards into a driving wind was asking too much of a kicker not known for a power leg.
I think both kicks (and I know the first one for sure) would have been good in better conditions,but considering that they weren't and Graham is not known as a long range booter-I might have gone a different way.

4) Key play in the game was the Mark Ingram fumble in early second period play.
Ingram's fumble handed Seattle great field position and they quickly scored their only touchdown until late in the game.
Take that fumble off the board and the two first period field goals make this anyone's game.

5) Khiry Robinson played well and might have put himself in position to be the feature back next season.
John Lynch said that Bill Parcells compared Robinson to Curtis Martin.
I can see those comparisons due to running style,but I think he would have a long way to go to be a Curtis Martin.

6) The play that everyone is talking about the play that ended the game. Drew Bress gunned the ball to Marques Colston by the sideline.
Instead of stepping out of bounds and giving the Saints one shot at the end zone,Colston threw the ball forward for a penalty and since the Saints were out of timeouts,the ten second runoff rule took affect and ended the game.
Yes,it was a wacky decision by Colston,but watching the replay,had Colston put the throw on the money for a backward lateral-it might have worked.
The player that caught looked pretty open to me and it would have at least been interesting to see.

7) No blame on Rob Ryan's defense.
They were on the field most of the day and allowed just two scores-one on a short field and the other late in the game when they were worn out.
Give them credit for keeping the Saints in the game not blame.

8) Jimmy Graham-one catch on the next to last play of the game.Credit to Seattle for keeping the ball out of the hands of the Saints top playmaker,but the Saints did not really try to get the ball to Graham a lot.Six targets is not a ton for Graham..

9) I know the weather is going to get some blame for the offenses struggles and Drew Brees did not relish the first half conditions,but the Saints let the weather and the environment change what they do-go downfield and make things happen.
I'm all for establishing the running game,but seldom in the first half did the Saints try to go downfield.
Sometimes,you have to be what you are-even if things are going to dictate problems with that.

10) The things that will need to improve for New Orleans football in the off season is finding a way to win on the road in order to play at home.
Put the heartbreaking loss at New England aside,two road losses to mediocre teams in the Jets and Rams and the road loss in the rain at Carolina shows the difference in the team on the road.
Win one of the aforementioned games-Just one and the Saints are hosting the 49ers today instead of being in Seattle yesterday.
That is what the top need for the franchise will be-learning to win the road games that you should win..