Carson Wentz, Eagles claw the Browns 29-10 in another season opening loss
By Mark West, @Markw2112
Hello Browns fans, welcome to the 2016 season. Or, as it might be called, another Season Of Horrors.
The Browns gutted their team of veterans on defense and have a new quarterback on offense with Robert Griffin III as the 25th starting quarterback since 1999. New head coach Hue Jackson was supposed to bring an exciting offense to the table. That, however, was not really shown in this season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles and their new quarterback, Carson Wentz.
While RG3 struggled with new receivers, Carson Wentz went to town against a very young Browns defense and looked like a grizzled veteran in his first ever NFL start. The #2 pick in the draft, Wentz was passed on by the Browns who thought he wasn't a top 20 pick. The joke's on the Browns and their Harvard grad front office. Wentz threw for 278 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, both to receiver Jordan Matthews who scorched veteran DB Joe Haden both times. He looked cool and confident for most of the game. Ryan Matthews also contributed 77 yards and a touchdown.
RG3, meanwhile, had some good throws to start the game but looked lost after the second half. He ended the day with 190 yards passing, no touchdowns and 1 interception. He was sacked 3 times and under pressure more often than not. Corey Coleman did have 2 catches for 69 yards in his first start. Terrelle Pryor had 2 excellent catches but was held to 1 catch in the second with 68 total yards. Isaiah Crowell had 62 yards rushing and a touchdown but most of those yards came in garbage time at the of the game. Duke Johnson, who looked light years ahead of Crowell, had 50 total yards.
In more "only the Browns" moments, Cam Erving, the 19th pick in the 2015 draft, snapped the ball over RG3's head which was then kicked out of bounds for a safety. But the biggest boneheaded mistake was a fake punt that the Eagles sniffed out with the greatest of ease. It ended in a field goal for the Eagles.
My thoughts: Again, this team is a gigantic mess. Hue Jackson has his work cut out for him. With as bad as the team was, dropped balls and missed opportunities killed the offense. Two of those drops were by Gary Barnidge, who was a non factor all game. Terrelle Pryor and Corey Coleman could make a nice tandem if RG3 is given time. On defense, Danny Shelton looked like a pile of marshmallows. But Carl Nassib was a force for most of the game. Emmanuel Ogbah also had some very good moments. Joe Haden, though, was toasted by Jordan Matthews more often than not. If this team isn't tanking, it's a fact that it's just not good. At all.
Player of the game: Carson Wentz. Paul DePodosta and his "not a top 20 pick" comments must have gone through Wentz's head as he was fantastic all game long. The kid has a bright future. Meanwhile, the Browns are still searching for their franchise QB.
Play of the game: Carson Wentz's first touchdown pass of his career to Jordan Matthews.
Second play of the game: Corey Coleman's first catch on a 58 yard bomb.
Fun fact: The Browns are now 0-12 since 2005 on the first game of the year.
Next up: Browns play their home opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, 9/18 at 1 PM. Get the liquor ready.
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