Some pregame thoughts from the Browns-Broncos …
— These brown pants have to go.
— I agree with our esteemed beat writer Marla Ridenour that Knowshown Moreno could be the key to the game. If the Browns can't stop the run, they can't beat the Broncos. Which means they have to stop Moreno. It doesn’t seem like Kyle Orton brings a lot of fear to the defensive table.
— One would figure that Champ Bailey's assignment will be to shut down Braylon Edwards. Not a big limb to be on, but Edwards could have a challenge against one of the best corners in the league.
— Flew into Denver and couldn't see the mountains due to smog over the valley to the East. There really oughta be a law.
— Pulled into the parking lot an dthe guy said to "park in anyspot except the ones with the cones." I was grateful. He saved me from plowing right over the cone.
First quarter: Opportunities squandered
Denver fumbles the opening kickoff. Not a good start for them. … Browns get to four, but fail to score. Two runs get nothing and third-down play is ineffective. … Browns lead, but they squandered an opportunity. … Brandon Marshall falls down on a deep pass. The crowd murmurs. Marshall has pretty much put himself in the position that whatever he does is questioned. … We are 19 minutes into the game on the clock, and they've had 4:53 of actual playing time. … Another TV timeout is needed. … Third-down snap by Alex Mack is poor and Denver recovers. … Anyone know how Mark Sanchez is doing in New York? … Denver has called two timeouts and 8:07 remains in the first quarter. … Don’t they practice during the week? … This game might take until the opening of the NBA season to finish. … Apparently it was worth it. … Denver isolates the tight end on Kamerion Wimbley and scores a touchdown. … Broncos took advantage of Browns error, Browns did not take advantage of Broncos error … Mack's snaps have to be a concern; he's had several bad ones in two games. … Matt Prater just made a field goal on the kickoff. … Browns respond with nice drive that includes good read and throw made with authority over middle to Braylon Edwards for 20 yards. … Quinn makes third-and6 throw for 1 yard to Josh Cribbs, who is covered by Champ Bailey. … I'm thinking Denver likes that matchup. … Browns get second field goal. … Denver 7, Cleveland 6.
Second quarter: Paint is drying
Brandon Stokley breaks free on a crossing patter as Hank Poteat chases him. Poteat got torched by the Browns in their lone playoff appearance since 1999, and he's still chasing guys. … Stokley converts a third down with great effort. … Brandon Stokley. Browns killer. … Denver drive stalls at 5 and Broncos take field goal. … Brandon McDonald made excellent play in end zone coverage, but second foot just out of bounds. … Eric Mangini continues to stand by himself on the sideline. As of this TV timeout — imagine that — there's nobody within 20 yards of him. It's like a DMZ. … If the Browns can't win facing Kyle Orton, then it's time to start the Canasta league up again. … Browns run up the middle on third and 1 and don't make it. … This game has devolved into paint drying. … This game is driving a person to the coffee. … Now. … Stokley catches a third-down pass. Poteat interferes with Stokley. … Old stories never die with the Cleveland Browns. They don't even fade away. … Stokley makes another catch and gets another first down. … Against the Browns this guy is Jerry Rice. … Denver misses a field goal. … There's nothing quite like a quality NFL game. … Twenty-three seconds left, Browns have the ball at the 29, three timeouts left. What do they do? …. They line up and kneel down and end the half. THAT is pathetic.
Third quarter: The comedy continues
First down pass, Lewis picks up the blitz, but Quinn ducks in the pocket and is sacked. … Quinn did not need to duck there. … He did not look good on the play. … Third down, Cribbs fumbles. First down for Denver, a penalty — and on third down Stokley drops what would have been a first down and big gain. … Field goal puts Denver up seven. … Browns must punt. … Offense is anemic. … Denver touchdown here puts the game away. … And Orton finds Brandon Marshall for a 25-yard-gain on third down. … Marshall toyed with Eric Wright. … Two plays later Wright was ready for an interception and touchdown but Orton bounced the ball. … Third and 10. Brandon Stokley anybody? … Orton throws underneath for a gain of 8. … And Matt Prater misses a second field goal. … This game is setting football back 50-some years. … Does this miss with 2:49 left give the Browns new life? … Nope. After some good gains, Quinn has two passes knocked down at the line and Browns punt. …
Fourth quarter: It's a Denver runaway
Denver's kicker has kept the Browns in the game. … But not for long. … Thrown and run in front of Brandon McDonald puts Broncos at two-yard line, and Denver scores on first down. Broncos up 14 with 12:18 to go. … It may as well be 140 the way the Browns offense is playing. … So the Browns series goes this way: Loss on screen, penalty on John St. Clair, sack by Elvis Dumervil around St. Clair, another sack and near safety by Dumervil. … Pa-thet-ic. … Correll Buckhalter scores on a 45-yard run. Brodney Pool misses badly, and Wright is carred the final seven yards into the end zone. … Is there no pride on this team whatsoever? … Denver scored on three plays in 67 yards. … Enough live blogging. … Denver leads 27-6. … Denver wins 27-6.
Sorry you had to watch in person. It looked really bad on TV. If I were you I would request additional compensation for attending these games. An argument can be made it is hazardous to you health.
Any chance you get to the point were you just reprint game stories from previous seasons and change the player names? We have read and seen the same story from 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and now 2009.
that was fun.
pat, you ever wonder sometimes why you didn't ditch the sportswriter gig for something more exciting and stimulating, like professional rubix cube solver, or one of those guys who paints the double line on I-76?