On The Mark 9.19.16: Browns vs. Ravens Recap

Big first quarter lead becomes end of game bust as Browns lose 25-20 to the Ravens
By Mark West, @Markw2112

Different coaches, different players, same result.  The Cleveland Browns, who always seem to find a way to lose, did it once again against the Baltimore Ravens with a 25-20 loss that saw the Browns start out with 3 quick touchdowns in the first quarter.  Those would be the only points the Browns would score for the rest of the game.  The Ravens would come back and score 25 unanswered points to win the game.  The 2 point safety was from a blocked extra point that was taken back.

Josh McCown started once again for the Browns and was extremely accurate in that first quarter.  But he was hit very hard throughout the game and appears to have hurt his left shoulder, which would be the same injury that Robert Griffin III suffered in week 1.  But he continued to play the entire game, going 22-of-33 for 260 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.  Both touchdowns went to Corey Coleman, first one on a 31 yard bomb and the second, on a shorter one from the red zone that he scrapped and fought for.  

Isaiah Crowell had a big day with 133 yards and an 85 yard touchdown. Terrelle Pryor had 3 catches for 32 yards.  In the fourth quarter, with the Browns down 5 and needing a touchdown, McCown threw a bullet on the sideline to Pryor who caught it and went out of bounds.  As he was delivering the ball to the ref, it bounced off the defenders head and the ref coming in threw a flag for taunting.  It was offset due to a penalty by the Ravens.  The next throw was an interception to end the game.

Joe Flacco was his effective self against the Browns, going 25-of-45 with 302 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, both by Haden.  Dennis Pitta lead all Ravens receivers with 102 receiving yards.  Mike Wallace lead with 2 touchdowns.  Justin Tucker had 3 field goals including a 52 yard bomb which could have gone over 60 yards.

My thoughts:  Browns tank continues.  While growth can be seen, especially with Corey Coleman, the Browns just couldn't keep the lead and lost it in the worst possible way.  Josh McCown will more than likely be out for a while after getting hit hard multiple times on his left shoulder.  McCown is a true pro's pro, but this might have been his only game this season.  The Browns defense did somewhat better this week, with Joe Haden getting 2 picks.  But Joe Flacco was able to pick apart the Browns secondary.  They didn't record a sack and it appears that Carl Nassib may miss some time with injury.  The way the game ended was just another typical Browns ending.  So close yet so far away.

Player of the game:  Josh McCown, who soldiered on with a bad left shoulder.  If only he was 10 years younger.

Play of the game:  A 35 yard bomb from McCown to Corey Coleman in the back of the end zone.  The first of his career.

Play of the game 2:  Isaiah Crowell's 85 yard touchdown run.

Next: at Miami, against the Dolphins at 1 PM.

On The Mark 10.12.15: #Browns @ #Ravens Recap

Browns stun the Ravens 33-30 in OT thanks to huge plays by McCown, Barnidge, Coons
By @MarkW2112

The Cleveland Browns, after 2 heartbreaking losses in a row, came to Baltimore, trying to stay out of the AFC North basement with the Baltimore Ravens.  It took them 4 quarters and 7 minutes in to overtime to do it, but they were able to beat the Ravens 33-30, thanks to the gutsy play of Luke McCown, the spectacular "butt" catch for a touchdown by Gary Barnidge and the strong, steady of leg of Travis Coons, who kicked the game winner in overtime.  It was an exhilarating road win for a team that is used to giving these kind of games away for a loss.

McCown lead the Browns offense with 457 yards passing, a regular season record, and 2 touchdowns as well as a rushing touchdown.  The best touchdown he had was a 'have to see it to believe it', between the legs catch by "Big Play" Gary Barnidge, who also had 139 yards receiving.  His catch made it 22-21 Browns after being down 21-9 at one point.  Those 9 points from Travis Coons helped the Browns stay in the game before the big game winning kick in overtime.

As good as the offense was, the defense was pretty much a disaster all game.  Joe Flacco was 19 of 35 for 210 yards and a touchdown but rushed for 2 more touchdowns.  Justin Forsett had 121 yards and touchdown.  The defense was just not able to stop the Ravens offense on too many occasions, including when they couldn't hold the Ravens to not tying the score at 30 with 29 seconds left.  In overtime, they were able to stop the Ravens with a 3 and out to set up the game winner for the offense.

My take:  The high powered offense the players touted in preseason is for real, at least for now.  Luke McCown is proving to be an excellent quarterback and leader for this team.  Gary Barnidge seems to be making big plays for the last few weeks, none bigger than the touchdown catch he had, which should be a candidate for best catch of the year.  The defense, however, is still very worrisome, with them giving up too many big plays and getting hit with too many penalties.  But let's not dwell on the negative.  The Browns won and victory Monday never tasted so sweet then after beating the former Browns on their home turf in Baltimore.

Player of the game: Travis Coons.  Yes, Luke McCown was fantastic but it was Coons and his big leg that kept the Browns in the game as well as kicking the game winner.

Play of the game:  The great leg/butt catch of Gary Barnidge for a touchdown which turned the tide for the Browns, which gave them the lead for the first time during the game.

Next for the Browns:  back in Cleveland next Sunday to play the undefeated Denver Broncos at 1 PM.  How nice would a home win against a Super Bowl contender be?

On The Mark 9.21.14: Browns Recap

Heartbreak Kids: Browns lose in last seconds to the Ravens 23-21
By @MarkW2112

The saying goes "same old Browns".  And while I hate that phrase, sadly, it was the same old Browns to end the game on Sunday as they lost 23-21 to the hated Baltimore Ravens on a game winning field goal by Justin Tucker with 4 seconds left in the game.  It was a frustrating end to a game that gave Browns fans hope and yet felt like the rug had been pulled out from them as has happened to them so many times in the last 15 years.  It leaves the Browns 1-2 before their bye week.

Brian Hoyer did have a great game, going 19-of-25 for 290 yards and a touchdown.  However, whether it was the play calling of Kyle Shanahan or his own execution, he could secure a first down with 2:30 left in the game.  His incomplete pass to Andrew Hawkins was the same type of death knell that the Browns went through in week one against the Steelers.  Both Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell had touchdowns and some good plays but also made rookie mistakes.  Andrew Hawkins made some huge plays as well, setting up Crowell's touchdown.  Mile Austin also had a touchdown.

Joe Flacco, who was barely touched all day by the Browns "swarming" defense, was 19-of-31 for 217 yards and an INT but did just enough to win the game.  The biggest surprise was the running of Lorenzo Taliaferro, who ran for 91 yards and touchdown.  He bruised his way through big holes opened up by his offensive line and was a pain the side of the Browns defense all day.  Another pain was local product Kyle Juszczyk, who scored a touchdown and mocked LeBron James and his powder toss to taunt the Dawg Pound.  It appears he will get some looks going forward with the possible season ending injury to Dennis Pitta.  Steve Smith was responsible for the game winning catch that helped set up the winning field goal.

My take: this game was frustrating on so many levels.  Bad execution and bad coaching allowed the Ravens to stick around when the Browns should have won the game.  A missed 50 yard field goal by Billy Cundiff and blocked FG on a blown blocking assignment by Billy Winn cost the Browns this game.  Questionable calls by the refs didn't help matter either.  It was a bad day all around for the Browns.  They'll have 2 weeks to stew in this mess of a game.

Next up for the Browns; a week 4 bye.  Then on to Tennessee where they'll meet the very bad Titans October 5.  Hopefully the Browns won't pull a "same old Browns" and will be prepared to beat their opponent.