Pregame
For my money, and that's not much, Ford Field is the finest football facility in the NFL. Beautiful place. … For a stadium. … Always makes me wish that Cleveland had built a domed facility like this so the stadium could be used more than 10 times a year. … Browns inactives include two second-round draft picks (Brian Robiskie and David Veikune) and running back Jerome Harrison. … You can never get enough of Chris Jennings.
First quarter: Fabulous one for the Browns
Touching moment of silence before the game for Stephanie Spielman, the wife of former Lions and (briefly) Browns linebacker Chris Spielman. Stephanie Spielman died of breast cancer last week. … A second-down throw by Brady Quinn DOWN THE FIELD that gains 24 yards. … Chansi Stuckey does a little reverse action while in motion, which got Anthony Henry going the wrong way and Quinn found Stuckey for a first down. … This may be unprecedented. … Drive ends with field goal, and Browns lead. … There are about 40,000 people here. … Is this an NFL game? … Unbelievable first play for Detroit … nobody within 30 yards of Kevin Smith on short catch and long run after catch. Smith ran 59 yards after catching the ball. … Drive ends in another field goal. … Quinn responds with a 59-yard touchdown throw to Mohamed Massaquoi. … The Browns look like a real offense. … First TD by a Browns WR since Nov. 2, 2008. … That's a long time. … Jamal Lewis avoids an open-field tackle to make a first down. Could this be the Browns day? … Yes it could. Quinn just hit Chansi Stuckey for a 40-yard touchdown. Two touchdowns and 17 points in the first 11 minutes of the game. … And on first down Eric Wright intercepts Matt Stafford and makes a great return. … This is really coming together today. … Excellent coffee here in the Lions press box. … Good Lord, did I just sound like Peter King? … It's now 24-3 thanks to Quinn's touchdown throw to Josh Cribbs. … It's Detroit's turn to be humiliated. … Lions score their own TD on a wide receiver screen — a play that usually never works. … That was quite a quarter. I don't know what to do with myself. … Cleveland 24, Detroit 10.
Second quarter: Lions come back in a very entertaining, but defenseless, game
Another Stafford touchdown. Hey … the Browns do still lead. … Really can't get over the quality of the coffee here in the press box. Starbucks has nothing on this. Wonder if it's Eight O'Clock Bean. French roast. … Massaquoi just went over 100 yards receiving. … Shaun Rogers just jumped offside (or encroached) on consecutive plays. The crowd loves it. … They love it more when Stafford finds Calvin Johnson for a 75-yard touchdown to tie the game. … Were the Browns really winning? … Browns move to 29, and have fourth-and-four. During a timeout I state: Go for it. What the heck, they're moving the ball and they're 1-and-8. Why not? … And Eric Mangini sends the offense back on the field. … Quinn gets first down on pass to Stuckey against the blitz. Good for the Browns. … Chris Jennings just dropped a touchdown pass. … Browns fake a field goal and get a first down, but there's only six seconds left so the Browns now line up for another field goal. … If it sounds confusing it probably is. … Kick is good; 27 points at halftime, which is pretty dadgum good. For any team, not just this one. … Cleveland 27, Detroit 24.
Third quarter: Detroit leads, but still anyone's game
The Browns force a punt and continue to move the football. If they win will this be a touchstone game, beating a Detroit team that has one win since 2007? … Eric Wright just made a tackle. … Calvin Johnson is killing the Browns. He just caught a pass and took it to the 1. Nobody can cover him in the Browns secondary. … Touchdown Detroit, and the Browns have seen a 24-3 lead turn into a 31-27 deficit. … This guy sings a Lions fight song after every score. … "Go hard win the game, with honor you will keep your fame, down the field and gain, a Lions victory." … It's pretty annoying. … Quinn misfires on two deep passes and the Browns have to punt. … Detroit takes over at the 2. It already had a 94-yard drive in the game. … Nope, the Browns force a safety. And the deficit is two points. … These two teams haven't won many games, but this is an entertaining game. … Detroit 31, Cleveland 29.
Fourth quarter: Do any other teams lose games like this?
Another third-down misfire, and the Browns have to punt. So does Detroit. … Questionable blocking in the back call — the defender seemed to turn around — on Lawrence Vickers negates a 12-yard gain. … Browns just converted their second third-and-short, move ball to their 46. … Now it's third-and-short again. And Detroit goes offside. … Quinn underthrows Massaquoi deep and the pass is broken up. Not a good throw by Quinn. … Quick screen to Josh Cribbs who makes an amazing run to the four for a first-and-goal. Great effort by Cribbs, and a nice drive by the Browns. … Quinn just threw behind an open Mike Furrey at the goal line, and he couldn't make the catch. … Bt on third down Quinn throws going backward to Michael Gaines, who bulls his way into the end zone. With 5:44 left, the Browns lead and go for two. … It's good and the Browns lead 37-31. … Phil Dawson somehow sent the kickoff out of bounds. … Big play as Stafford comes up short on third down run. Fourth and inches — sneak does nothing. It all depends on the spot. … Detroit makes it by the slightest of margins. … Stafford throws deep into triple coverage and Brodney Pool makes a very athletic and impressive interception. … The Browns have a win within their grasp. … Browns first down might just secure the win with 2:47 to go. … But on third down after the two-minute warning, Quinn throws incomplete. That was a poor call. The Browns should have kept the clock running. … Lions take over at their 12, with 1:47 left. … Detroit throws underneath twice with no timeouts left. … Lions to Browns 43 and the clock is running. … Twenty two left. … Eight seconds remain and the Lions are at the Browns 32. They'll get one throw into the end zone. … They do and the Browns are flagged for interference. … Unbelievable. … Detroit scores. … Unbelievable. … The Browns lose on a touchdown and extra point with no time left. … Detroit 38, Cleveland 37.
Pat … what??? Unless a stadium has a retractable dome, a domed stadium stinks. It's not football. Playing in Ford Field is like playing in the world's largest greenhouse.
And as I'm typing this, that stiff Stuckey just grabbed a bomb for a TV, minutes after that stiff receiver from Georgia grabbed a bomb for a TD. Stiffs catching bombs from Brady Quinn. If Braylon Edwards was still on the team, he'd be breaking the NFL record of six touchdowns today. I figure maybe 11 or 12. This Detroit team is putrid.
Did I write "grab a bomb for a TV?" Maybe that's Stuckey's contract bonus, a TV for every touchdown.
I stand by it … They have all kinds of events here … Final Four, MAC Championship, Hockey Final Four, Super Bowl … Our $320 million extravagance is used what … 10 times a year? What a colossal waste.
I'll concede that point.
hee hee, tv's for bonuses
what a ridiculous game. hahahahahahahaha.
i guess we know for sure who the worst team in the nfl is.
Why call a timeout at the end? Were the Browns more disorganized than a Detroit team coming in with a backup QB and one play left?
Two timeouts with zero seconds left, both inexplicable. Stafford was hurt and had to be helped off the field, by rule the Lions should have been assessed a timeout — but they had no timeouts left, so isn't there a penalty? And then why, with a cold quarterback behind center, would Mangini call a timeout to give Culpepper a chance to warm up and Stafford a chance to go back in?
But the Browns had an offense!!!!!!
I wonder if they'll be able to score against anyone else now.
Maybe (Ok, wishful thinking) this IS a touchstone game.
supposedly, if there is an injury in the last two minutes and the team has no timeouts they get a freebie. if there is another one then there is a penalty.
This team has no talent. Pettigrew was wide open against Trusnik (special teams guy at best) on the last play. Rey Malualuga, Cushing or Matthews? Buehler, Buehler, anyone.
Pat you are 100% right on the dome. Indy's is pretty nice too.
Like everything else in Cleveland not very well thought out.
I got to go now. I got to catch my bus over on Euclid Ave.
I think the greatest part of Cleveland's stadium is the county's sin tax has paid $11 million to Lerner so far this year. In 10 months, the guy rakes in $11 million of the public's money. In just 10 months. Can't wait until Gilbert starts fleecing the populace even more than he already has. What a great country.
If Braylon Edwards was still on the team, he'd be breaking the NFL record of six "dropped" touchdowns today.
Fixed that for you Alan.
Brian D., I get the feeling Edwards once ran over your cat, because there's really no other explanation.
This team has no concept on how to win or what it takes to win a game. It starts with the coaching and that's where sweeping changes are needed.
Ah, so thats it huh Comaguy? When you hate someone, you got the perfect explanation it seems.
I guess Ferry, Windhorst, Pluto, and Gilbert all have run over your puss at one time or another. Because there's really no other explanation.
Extremely bad form, Stalker Boy. You said you would never post again. You said you were finished stalking me. Four years of stalking was finally over. Now, you're back. What do you not understand about the word "never?"
Oh, now I just realized why you posted. Like a rapist who just can't control himself. My off-the-cuff Gilbert remark. Gotcha.
Game should have never gotten down to that last 'Hail Mary". What kind of defenseless defense do the Browns play?Entertaining game though even if i did not see it.Hey,at least the Steeler's lost;do I see a chink in their armour?
Time for the latest installment of Braylon Watch 2009:
Week 11: Braylon 1 catch for 10 yards
Total catches with NYJ: 17
% towards 55 catches in NJ: %30.9
Remaining games: 6
Catches needed per game for 55: 6.33
Braylon's team record in the last 16 games: 1-15
The Sanchize stats for week 10: 8/21, 136 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT
Oh wait, that's right, the reason Braylon is so awful is because he is triple teamed on every play. Sorry Alan, I forgot.
Mangini must have learned his end-of-game strategy from Belichick. With 30 seconds remaining in the Jets vs. Patriots game, with New England up 31-14, Tom Brady (in the shotgun) throws a bomb incomplete to Randy Moss. What are either of those guys doing in the line-up? Were they trying to embarrass CB Darrelle Revis or was Bill just trying to rub it in the Jet's face?
Brian, what is it with you about that 55 catches thing? Clearly, it doesn't exist. Fake number concocted by a fan website.
Besides, please explain to me how a bunch of flotsam for Edwards is value for value. He's a playmaker. Like Calvin Johnson. Even on an atrocious team, that guy is double-teamed on every play.
Bill Livingston had a name for the trades of Edwards and Winslow that I really liked. "Stepienesque." It fits. Take the only current and future assets you have, and then give them away.
This just in… breaking news…
Braylon Edwards is a has-been.
That is all