Post game from the Bengals Browns Match-Up

Well, what’s to say? Can we really be that sloppy of a team?  Do we really miss that many assignments? I mean, there some good things, but in all reality, the good obviously wasn’t enough in a game that really should have been won by the Cleveland Browns.

First off, the first quarter was terrible. How do you get 18 yards of offense in the quarter on three drives? Overly conservative play calling, a lack of push from an already injury ravaged offensive line, and just enough pass protection to let McCoy get the ball snapped to him before he was running for his life.

Then, the offense looked great for the second and third quarters, The Browns took the game, and the Bengals, by storm in putting up 17 unanswered points, Pat Shurmer, new head coach of our Browns, opened up his playbook and let Colt McCoy throw the ball down the field. It resulted in long gains by Mohammed Massoquoi and Ben Watson. Then, the ball was moved well in the third quarter to let the Browns get a field goal to increase their 14-13 lead to 17-13.

The defense was very impressive all game, shutting down convict Cedric Benson (who probably should have been suspended for a couple games) and taking Andy Dalton out of the game, up until about five minutes left in the game. Then, on a hurry-up offense, the Browns stayed in the huddle for too long, the Bengals snapped the ball, and with Cleveland not even out of the huddle, scored  touchdown on a pass from Gradkowski to A.J. Green, who had been blanketed by Joe Haden all game, This was his one and only catch, Shurmer is challenging the legality of the play, but nothing can be done at this point.

Finally, still only down 20-17, the Bengals had the ball in Browns territory on a pivotal third down and short. Assuming a run to the left side, Browns defenders shifted to that side as the play started, and Cedric Benson ran to the right!  A bit surprising, but what was even more surprising was the T.J. Ward was supposed to cover the grand-canyon size gap on the right side of the line, but for some reason was on the left side of the field (if looking from the quarterback’s perspective), This ended up being the game sealer as the Bengals won 27-17.

To me, the Browns were disorganized, sloppy at critical moments, and need a lot more practices before playing another game, Too bad new league rules prohibit two-a-days, but at least the Browns play the Colts next week, who lost their first game without Peyton Manning in 12 years by a score of 34-7.