On The Mark 10.6: #Browns & #Buckeyes Recaps

Blow Out By The Bucks & Amazing Comeback By The Browns
By @MarkW2112

For this weeks On The Mark, I will be recapping both the Buckeyes and Browns in one article!

First, the Buckeyes.  Ohio State made quick work of the Maryland Terrapins with a 52-24 blow out in College Park.  J.T. Barrett is opening eyes all over with his poise and precision, going 18-of-23 for 267 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Ezekiel Elliot lead all rushers with 139 yards on 24 carries.  Barrett ran for 71 yards and a touchdown to go along with his impressive throwing yards.

The defense was mostly solid with 4 interceptions.  Maryland was never really in it and while C.J. Brown started the game, Caleb Rowe came in the second half to try and spark their offense.  And while they were able to get 24 points, it seemed the Bucks offense were always able to respond with a touchdown of their own.  The Buckeyes, as expected, were the better team all around, a nice way to go in to another off week with their first Big Ten win.

As for the Browns, all you can say is perhaps these are the 2014 version of the Kardiac Kids.  The Browns defense were as bad as they have been the first 3 games, giving Jake Locker a ton of time to throw the ball and providing holes for their running backs to scoot through for big yards.  One of those runs by Locker was for a touchdown, in which he was hit in the helmet by Chris Kirksey.  This hit had an effect not only on Locker, but his teammates for the rest of the game which killed themselves with penalties later on.  Locker was knocked out of the game for good after hitting his throwing hand on Buster Skrine's helmet who was then penalized for roughing the passer.  Enter Charlie Whitehurst, who then threw a touchdown to Kendall Wright.  Whitehurst,before the end of the first half, threw a 75 yard touchdown to Justin Hunter, who beat Skrine by a long mile to make it 28-3.  The offense also couldn't get it going though were able to get a touchdown for a 28-10 deficit before halftime.  That's when the real fun began.

Brian Hoyer, 21-of-37 for 292 yards passing, is proving that he belongs as the Browns starting quarterback, leading back from 25 points down, which is not only a Browns record but a road team record.  Travis Benjamin had both touchdowns for the Browns in the second half, including the game tying TD with 1:09 seconds left in the game.  Ben Tate throughout was a beast, rushing for 123 yards on 22 carries.  The other big play of the second half was a blocked punt by Tank Carder, making the game 28-15.  The safety was a huge turning point for the team as the Browns defense buckled down in order for Hoyer to lead his offense back.  It was a thrilling win for a franchise in desperate need of wins.

My take: the Bucks are on their way to winning their Big 10 division while the Browns are still in the thick of the AFC North division with this huge comeback win today.  To go along with the Cavs first preseason game, it was a great weekend for Cleveland sports fans.  That said, the Browns defense needs a lot more work.  If Locker had not been knocked out of the game, it could have been a loss for the Browns.  But a win is a win.

Up next: the Buckeyes are idle next weekend while the Browns play the hated Steelers in Cleveland next Sunday.  It would be nice if the Browns could put together a full game.