Browns slightly more powerful in week 3
Posted by disappointmentzone on 20 September 2007
It seems no one knows what to make of the Browns’ offensive explosion against the Bengals last Sunday. Most people are apt to believe that it was an aberration born of good luck and a bad opposing defense. Few people are holding out hope that week one was the aberration and that the aberration was traded to Seattle, leaving in its place the true offense.
I am wavering between the two camps, but am leaning more towards the second. Considering I’m a fan of Cleveland sports this means I’m embracing optimism in a way that is frankly just unnatural.
Few people in the media are as optimistic as I am, which means that a) the Browns are still firmly an underdog team (a chip on the shoulder is always good) and b) the eventual regression back to the norm won’t feel like such a long fall. Thank goodness we have NFL experts to undermine our optimism and set expectation levels at their proper height. I mean, they’ve done so well this year with the Saints, Lions, Eagles, 49ers, Texans, Packers, and Redskins that it’s almost hard to believe that they aren’t paid more to spout their opinions on all matters NFL.
On to the Power Rankings.
Browns ranking last week: 31.5
Browns ranking this week: 25.8
Dr. Z, Sports Illustrated: 25
If the output vs. the Bengals was the real deal I’ll yank them upwards, Johnny-fast, I promise. Hey, Jamal Lewis‘ 216 yards rushing was the most by a Brownie since a certain person did it in 1963. I need not mention his name. No one ever did it better.
ESPN staff, ESPN.com: 26
The Browns look like geniuses, don’t they? The trade of Charlie Frye moved Derek Anderson into the starting quarterback’s role. The offense responded by putting 51 points on the Bengals. Guess no one will call for Brady Quinn this week.
Ryan Stetson, Covers.com: 29
Derek Anderson chucked five TDs against the Bengals. Over/under 11 TD passes for the season?
Peter Schrager, FoxSports.com: 25
What a difference a week makes. Seven days after looking absolutely inept on the offensive side of the ball against the Steelers, the Browns put up a mind-boggling 554 yards of offense and scored 51 points in a monumental upset of the inter-state rival Bengals. Though Browns fans spent the past week longing for Brady Quinn, the answer to the team’s quarterback woes may just come in the form of Week 2 starter Derek Anderson. The third-year man out of Oregon State went 20-33 for 328 yards and five touchdowns on Sunday. Running back Jamal Lewis, considered past his prime by most fans and critics entering the season, looked like the Jamal Lewis of 2003, tearing off 215 rushing yards in the victory. The Browns defense was yet again horrendous, but the unit came up when it mattered most — stopping the Bengals with a Leigh Bodden interception on Cincinnati’s final drive of the game. Brady Quinn may very well be the future. But for now, it’s Mr. Anderson’s team in Cleveland.
Pete Prisco, CBS SportsLine.com: 27
For a day, Derek Anderson gave this team hope. He lit up the air. But can he maintain it? The defense has been awful.
Dennis Dillon, SportingNews: 23
Looks like Romeo Crennel knew what he was doing when he said goodbye to Charlie Frye.
kiddicus said
I agree with most of the sentiments up there, but Dennis Dillon from the SportingNews can suck a buttcheek. Romeo Crennel knows how to “look stoic” “make bad challenges” and “coach poorly”. and eat. a lot. don’t give him much of the credit for this victory… and remember – we’ve given up 70 some-odd points this season already.
disappointmentzone said
I agree completely, but in his defense I think Crennel got screwed on his challenge last week. Since when did possession start when the ball touches your hands???? Possession starts when you gain control of the ball. TJ Houshasdfamasdfmz was clearly out of bounds.