Can the Browns beat the Steelers tomorrow night?
Logic might indicate yes. The Browns have lost so many in a row to the Steelers that they have to win at some point. It's the old monkey at the typewriter theory. Put one there and eventually a word comes out.
But instead of a hope, Thursday night's game seems to be a bit of an opportunity for the Browns. The Steelers are reeling a bit, having lost four in a row, two in overtime, one to Oakland. Not a very Steelers-like stretch.
Too, Pittsburgh's two leaders, the two guys who really get them going, probably will not play. That would be Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward. If they don't play the Steelers lose some serious leadership. Ward is iffy with a hamstring injury, but if he can play at all he will. Ward recently mistakenly called out Ben Roethlisberger when he didn't play with a concussion, so Ward might not be inclined to sit out if there's any chance he can play.
The Browns have a chance to do something right by beating Pittsburgh at home for the first time since Chris Palmer was the coach in 2000. (Palmer did one thing very right, and that was beat the Steelers; he was 2-2 against them.) It could eliminate some of the negatives that have surrounded the season.
It won't eliminate them all, nor should it. Anyone who says the team's record doesn't matter as long as the Browns beat Pittsburgh are spitting in the wind. It's just not logical. By this logic, it would be wrong to go 14-2 and lose twice to Pittsburgh. The object is to win games, lots of them. And the Browns only win this season came in Buffalo thanks to a fumbled punt return.
Every time I think of the Browns possibly winning, though, I think of Dick LeBeau. And the thought of the Browns pulling an upset quickly fades.
We could flash back to Brady Quinn's game against San Diego for confidence, but I flash back to the Cincinnati game. The Bengals defense confused and bothered Quinn with blitzes. There is no team in the league better at confusing and bothering quarterbacks with blitzes than Pittsburgh. It seems that LeBeau might be able to do a lot to make things tough for Quinn.
A Hall of Fame assistant coach.
A third-year quarterback showing signs of growth but making his 12th start.
I think I'd go with Lebeau.
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Pat,
It just won't happen. The Browns can't stop either the run or the pass. They may score some points, but I just can't see a win. Especially when Browns Stadium will be S**tsburgh West.
No!
It'd be just like the Browns to win a couple of meaningless games in December and botch their draft position.
This season has been an abortion any way you slice it. The only thing we can do now is prepare ourselves to be better in 2010.
That second paragraph is curiously coincidental. On my bedroom nightstand, I just happen to keep a photograph of the old McManamon cubicle at Cleveland Browns.com. http://xr.com/mw0
Who'd have thought that the little French guy would one day be an NFL defensive coordinator after he got out of Stalag 13?
Quinn and LeBeau will probably be the only two people on the field who appreciate what a Browns-Steelers game used to mean. Hope it happens, but I'm not holding my breath.
Who had the Raiders winning in Pittsburgh last Sunday ? I don't want to hear about The Steelers injuries Pat;given the list of starters out for The Browns.
Go Browns !
The Browns probably would have had a better chance of winning if the Steelers hadn't lost 4 in a row.
I think Palmer did a few things well — it's too bad that he had such a poor GM above him and made the comment about the runaway train. Without any QBs, he was using the wildcat before there was one! In fact, I think Palmer was a better coach than Davis who was a better coach than Crennel (maybe) who was a better coach than Mangini — meaning it's going downhill.
No, the Browns defense can't stop anything.
The stadium will be filled the black & gold faithful, waving their piss-colored underwear in the wind to dry them off before they head back to their hovels. It will be an ugly scene.
I haven't expected a Browns win against the Steelers since the very early 70's. If there was ever an opportunity, it's knocking Thursday night. It all depends on what offense shows up.
If the offense that played against the Lions shows up and we score first and last we stand a damned good chance.
If the offense against Cincy shows up all we can hope for is a KO of Big Ben in the first quarter. I hope HW does not play because I really think it would be funny that he called out Big Ben and now cause his wittle weg hurts he can't pway.
As a side note…ever since Turkey Jones gave Bradshaw the pile driver I have found that even if the Browns don't win, I take some sort of morbid satisfaction when the cart has to be brought out and hauls off a "name" Steelers player with a game ending injury. So if we cannot win…let there be carts!
What the Browns-Steelers game meant to whom?? Whether it was the real Browns or these imported guys with the same name, what's been the game results since the merger? The Browns-Steelers game has only meant something to the hundreds of thousands of very low self-esteem Clevelanders, and a few drunks who'd make the drive in from Pittsburgh once a year.
By the way, why didn't Lerner force Pat to sew an "AL" monogram on that monkey's sleeves?
1. Yes the Browns started their 2010 exihibition season against the Chargers after they were officially knocked out the playoffs.
2. Give Mangini credit. He took a bad team and made it worse.
3. Gone from the team are troubled players Winslow , Edwards and others who didn't buy into the Browns new regime.
4. Yes the ex Jets players brought in by Mangini are just good enough to get him fired , again.
5. Give Mangini credit. For playing the rookies. This would have never happened in years past , when we would watch the veterans stuggle .
6. I do believe in Rex Ryan and the defensive coaching staff. Yes the defense has been over matched and out of position at times this season. Injuries , inexperience have contibuted to our problems.
7. It was great to see Quinn , Mack , Massaquoi , Robiskie , Moore ,and Jennings making strides in the Chargers game. Name another team with so many rookies involved in the offense.
8. Should we blame the Off. cordinator Daboll on the 2nd and 3rd quarters against the Chargers ? Where were the adjustments ? Why don't we see a coach in Quinns ear on the sideline during the game. Is Quinn inaccurate or are the receivers running poor routes ? The off. seems to be bunched up at times , plays being run out spread formations seem to be more productive. Is the no huddle really working ?
9. Like most Browns fans I'm looking forward to the NFL draft already , instead of the playoffs. Look for a right tackle and defensive backfield players to be a priority. Why don't we see more CFL players make their mark in the NFL ?
10. Who will step up in the Steelers game ? Remember QB Warner was a stockboy at one time , LB Harrison was cut from Steelers what 3 times and Mack , Byner and Minnifield were just some USFL players.
Yes the Browns can win. Let the players get down and dirty and enjoy the game. Players seem to under stand the passing game better , we are developing a one , two punch with Jennings and Harrison with our rush game. Yes i'm worried about mid game adjustments and the right side of that O-line. Defensively we are beat up on the line which will hurt stopping their run game. LB Roth meets the Steelers should be fun to watch. Cribbs should get another KR score.
You could be from Pittsburgh if…
You wash your truck more often 'n your kids.
You think espresso means 8 items or less.
You have 8 cars and still have to bum a ride to work.
You wake up the day after your wedding to find your sister next to you.
You have no hubcaps on your vehicles because you're using them to feed your hunting dogs.
You sweep up the rice at the wedding and serve it at the reception.
You take your dog for a walk, and you BOTH use the tree at the end of the block.
Your wife's best shoes have steel toes.
Your blood alcohol content has ever exceeded your IQ.
The fifth grade is referred to as "your senior year".
Your dog has ever brought home something that you cooked for dinner.
Your momma calls you over to change the flat tire… on her house.
Your wallets on a chain, your dogs not.
You think Hamlet is on the McDonald's breakfast menu.
You take a beer on a job interview.
Your father encourages you to quit school because Cletus has an opening on the lube rack.
If you think a 7 course meal is a possum and a six pack of Iron City.
Your wife's hair-do has been ruined by a ceiling fan.
If you refer to the 6th grade as the best 4 years of your life.
You still have the same in laws after 3 marriages and divorces.
Your 2 year old has more teeth than you do.
You refer to your wife and mother-in-law as dual air bags.
Your grandmother, mother, and wife all have kids the same age.
Your momma has stomped in the house and announced, "The feud is back on!"
Your house only gets 8 miles per gallon.
You lie through your front tooth.
In skipping around the internet glancing through articles preceding the game, one can get the sense that this is a game the Steelers really, REALLY, want bad. Off hand, that would indicate bad news for the Browns … but, ever the optimist, maybe not. If the Steelers really want this game because they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Browns can't compete with them and, so, think all they have to do is not shoot themselves in the foot to win, then the Browns have a chance of the Steelers not really, REALLY, being ready to play football. If, though, the Steelers don't care who they're playing (meaning they're getting psyched to play the Saints or Colts or anybody), Big Ben will throw a TD pass or two in the 4th quarter and down will go the Browns again.
So much is "if" about the game, and the Browns defense will only give up less than 20 points if the offense doesn't score more than 7. That is, if the Browns can't score early, the Steelers won't run the two minute style offense that Roethlisberger kills the Browns with for 10 straight. If the Browns offense does score early, the Steelers will pass; then it's possibly a matter of a lucky interception or fumble or some timely sacks to give the Browns a chance.
Was anybody surprised that hall of fame RB LT recoverd the onside kick to effectively " a the meaningless Chargers game in Dec. " ?
I've always thought Jeff Foxworthy is kind of a hack.
As a comedian? Probably. As a businessman? Pretty brilliant, if you gauge brilliance by s-loads of $$ made.
A hack as a comedian. As a businessman, he's Gene Simmons with a mustache.
Sure, the Browns can win, but they will need to score 30+ to do it, because the Steelers will shred the Browns D just like everyone else has all season long (Buffalo excepted).
Somehow I don't see that happening. And I'd be more encouraged by the Steelers four game losing streak were it not for the Browns 7 game losing streak, and that 12 game losing streak to the Steelers themselves.
But, hey, anything is possible. The Steelers lost to Chicago, KC, and Oakland, for god's sake, and they had a fourth quarter lead in all of those games. This is decidedly NOT a good Steelers team. So, anyone could beat them. I just don't see the Browns being the anyone.
an oddity to say the least and one to be ridiculed for sure but if you watch numbers, they seem to mostly dictate some sort of universal law -as I have noticed many, may times and I ask of you to do the same. The number 11, the example I will use since we are speaking about if Ben can beat us 11 in a row, happens to be the number that the law of averages or in this case the same ol same ol should change or provide us a win – watch we will win this one. I am sure- do your Vegas betting now as it is sure to be. How many times have you heard an announcer say, "he is in an 0 for 11 slump or he has fouled off 11 pitches, then a hit and finally , they have lost 11 in a row ONLY to win the next game! I am not a kook or oddball numerologist , I simply watch and have seen this pattern time and time and time and time…again! Browns 23 – Pitts-puck 17 (the law of averages do not apply to guessing one games final scores outcome:-)
I submit a correction -10th to the 11th…as the 11th is the winner in this and other cases as I stated – we should win this after 10 tried and win the 11th!
Hey does Pat really read any of this stuff ? Hello Pat . Step up your game , get on board . We can build a winner , we will build a winner. Yes , I'm tired of your glass half empty attitude all the time.
EVEN
There goes the lockdown corner running his mouth again. Bring out the handcuffs.
Jay … would you like me to lie? I have to write about what I (and we all) see.
Bigg Daddi … no profanity allowed here … it's a site open to kids. So keep it (relatively) clean please.
say what you want about the season(bad),but if the browns can't win this game, i think that mangini will have punched his ticket out of town.the steelers are awful right now and with injuries to key players on both sides of the ball,there should be NO reason not to come away with a win at home.a loss thursday=lerner announcement on friday.say noonish?start the 2010 season now.do not let these morons blow the potential draft picks.
In a word…..NO!
Hines Ward (whose own mother thought so highly of him that she named him after her favorite brand of ketchup) and Big Ben are lovers! That being said, the Browns will win. Unfortunately, this will no doubt insure the return of Mangini for 2010.
Yes, yes the Steelers are suffering some injuries to some of their key players, but they have something that the Browns lack……depth at most of their positions. The Browns lack talent with their starters, not a good situation for the Cleveland Browns.
The only hope the Browns have to win is that the Steelers will forfeit because their bus wouldn't start or that the turnpike was closed.
clevelanders love to hate hines ward. it's funny because they would worship him if he was on the browns.
i'll never be a steelers fan but i don't hate them like i did when the old browns were in town. however, the first home i bought in montana was next to a vacant house. some people moved in about 9 months or so after i did. they put up a steelers satellite dish on the roof and i hated them instantly. thousands of miles away from those two dumps and i still couldn't get rid of getting tormented by steeler fans. i had to hear their celebration after the super bowl in seattle. i was so pissed.
Alan ….FUNNY PICTURE………..was that old ARTHUR M. in the background the kid in the NFL gear sure looked like David…( minus the cigar telling felix wright hes a chump) hey PATRICK TOMMY JOEY JOHN STAMOS McFULLHOUSE
come to think about it ( bad browns moments) how bout an update on the MODELLS it might make us feel better,,,,, not sure how …..getting tired of running missgenie over need some fresh meat
terje…I agree with what you said about Ward. Hate his guts but wish he was on the Browns. I would have paid for him to coach Brightlights Edwards in how to respond to someone in your territory.
I don't live in Montana but might as well because here in Youngstown watching the Browns is almost as difficult. The Steelers claim Youngstown just like the Browns so it falls into the "have to" televise for CBS. You have no control over who you see and the Browns lose with CBS as well. I tried to listen to the Browns/Packers game on Sirius on my phone but even they dropped the game in the second quarter and put on NASCAR!
The guy who used to live across the street was a huge Steelers fan. Had inflatables for every game in his yard. I could hear them cheering etc. On those rare occasions when the Steelers were losing I would cheer for the opposing team just to tick him off. He would slam his doors and windows so he couldn't hear me rejoycing in Steelers misery. God I hate the Steelers!
John:
If you think you have it bad, how would you like to be a Browns fan living in Baltimore; or my brother, a Browns fan living in Pittsburgh?
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