Browns Win! Browns Win!
After three weeks of fighting, working and struggling, the Browns finally broke through on Sunday and pulled out a win against the Bengals – the Browns first win of the season, only their second win at home vs. Cincinnati since 2004 and the Bengals first division loss in nine games.
Even though they were outgained 413 yards to 295, the Browns avoided the mistakes that plagued them in the first three games. The defense was able to put enough pressure on Carson Palmer – four sacks – to overcome two touchdown passes and another rough day from the secondary (the defensive coaches need to fix Eric Wright in a hurry). Peyton Hillis had another 100-yard day and a touchdown, and even Chansi Stuckey got in on the action, catching five passes for 56 yards, doubling his season output.
The Browns earned their first fourth-quarter first down of the season, Mohamed Massaquoi had his weekly reception – for five yards -the team overcame the weekly bizarre play calling on offense, Seneca Wallace managed the game well in his third start of the year and, after the Bengals cut the lead of 23-20, the Browns were able to use up the final five minutes of the game and never allow the Bengals another chance with the ball.
And did we mention the Browns won? We don’t want to over emphasize one win, but this was an important win for the Browns. Not only was it a division win, but it was a win at home and finally rewarded the team for working hard, giving them something tangible to show that they are really making progress.
And it helped them from breaking some kind of ridiculous record. Heading into the game, the Browns were the first team since the 1954 Packers to hold a lead in the fourth quarter of their first three games and end up losing. Those are the kinds of records the team doesn’t need.
And even though they committed another seven penalties, they really didn’t seems to hurt the team. We’ll take the personal foul penalty from T.J. Ward anytime, as that kind of aggressive play will pay dividends down the road as it had the Bengals crying after the game. And if he can deliver a hit like that on Hines Ward in a couple of weeks he’ll get a free pass for the rest of the season.
This team is by no means a finished product, something we are sure to cover this week, and there are still several areas that worry us, but for one week we can bask in a well-deserved win.
Well played lads, well played.
Red Right 88 