CLEVELAND – Choose almost any game from last season and the script would be familiar. The Minnesota Vikings came into Cleveland Browns Stadium today and dominated the home team.
Although it didn't start that way with the scored being 13-10 in favor of the Browns at halftime, that was short lived as someone woke the slumbering Vikings up at halftime and they went on to shut the Browns down in the second half defeating them 34-20 in front of 70,560, less than capacity.
Quarterback Brady Quinn was less than sharp in his season debut,connecting on just 21-of-35 passes for 205 yards, one touchdown and a score. The Vikings Brett Favre didn't stun. in fact he didn't have to carry the team as Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns.
The saving grace of the afternoon: an offensive TD with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter as Quinn hit Robert Royal for 26 yards for a score.
Quick hit: It didn't take long for the knives to come out nationally on Mangini. Boomer Esiason delivered the quote of the day on CBS's pre-game show while talking about the coach's decision to delay naming his starting quarterback. Esiason's remarks may signal a league consensus:
Eric Mangini can take the fun out of a 10-year-old's birthday party with Big Bird there. That's how miserable this guy is becoming. Cleveland deserves better. This is a proud franchise with great fans and you have one of the most stifling, if not the most stifling, of all head coaches in the NFL there.
I thought Crennel left! Same play calling by a coaching staff that belongs in highschool, second string college players trying to play as pros . Ten years and browns management still looking for a coach and pro players. O" well wait till next year.
I thought the play calling was better then Crennel, misdirections and such, but it's all about talent and the Browns don't have much talent. Minnesota will be one of the best teams this year hands down so I think the Browns will be able to compete with alot of teams but they have to get into the end zone more often. They will go 6-10 at best and Quinn will have a decent year.
Well i wonder if mangini still wants to play hard ball with the only multi -talented player he has ( cribbs) if i were cribs i would i would ask to be traded & tell this miserable team & manegmant to stick there contract where the sun never shines !!!!