Ugh. What a letdown. Up two TDs in the second half. Couldn’t finish. Offense off-kilter. Defense beaten. Swept by a dreaded division demon.
Against a tough rookie, Joe Flacco, the Browns brought pressure early, stuffing many a run, but they couldn’t reach the QB enough. They didn’t force any substantial mistakes.
The offense stuffed it in Jamal’s gut a bit too much. Try, try again — he wasn’t going far up the middle. More misdirection against their aggressive lot might’ve helped. Play-fake and flip it to Cribbs in motion. Set up a rollout screen or two. Stretch handoff to Harrison bouncing it outside. Challenge the secondary. Ya know? Three starting DBs out, and this?
At the season’s quick halftime, Cleveland’s late collapse puts them down at 3-5. According to Football Outsiders’ playoff odds report, the Browns had a 5.2% chance of reaching the post-season. Before the Ravens game. Now it’s hope against hope…
Given DA’s inconsistency, the near futility of the season, and a key playing time incentive now unlikely to cost cap cash, the case for Brady Quinn to start soon is stronger than ever. Give ’em each half the season, and decide directly an off-season personnel strategy for long-term championship quarterbacking.
Thursday’s Denver game at home would be just fine with me. I don’t buy the logic against it due to the short week; RAC has always said Quinn needs to be ready at any time.
It’s time.
