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In Cleveland, hope dies last

Archive for the category “New York Jets”

13 Nov 2010

Browns vs. Jets – Week 10

The Browns go for their third win in a row over a team with a winning record – something they haven’t done since 1989 – at home on Sunday vs. the Jets.

The Opposition

New York Jets: 6-2
Offensive rank: 14th overall/21st passing/4th rushing
Defensive rank: 4th overall/16th passing/4th rushing
All-time record: Browns lead 12-7 (including playoffs), with a 9-5 mark at home. The Browns have won four out of the last five overall against the Jets
The line: Browns +3

What to Watch For

The Browns have been making steady and discernible, progress this season, culminating in last week’s win over New England, a true team win and the best example yet of what Browns Football should look like under coach Eric Mangini.

Sunday’s game against the Jets should be another tough – but not insurmountable – test for the team.

The Jets are 4-0 on the road this season and haven’t lost a regular season road game since Week 11 of last year, against New England. That’s a credit to the team’s strong rushing attack, which is fourth in the league at 148 yards per game.

The Jets bring the league’s fourth-ranked defense into the game as they are fourth against the run and 16th against the pass. But looking closer at the defensive numbers in comparison to the Browns starts to give us a path to victory for Cleveland.

As good as New York’s rushing defense is, their numbers are not that much better than the Browns: the Jets give up an average of 3.3 yards per rush, the Browns 3.9; the Jets have given up only three rushing touchdowns this year, but the Browns have only given up one; the Jets do have an edge when it comes to rushing yards, as they are giving up 87.4 yards on average per game, while the Browns are at 105.9.

Eighteen yards may not seem like much of a difference, but that equals about four to five first downs, keeping drives alive and wearing down the opponents defense.

But if the Browns can bring a stout run defense to the game on Sunday that could pave the way to a win because it will force Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez to have to make a play – and that is something the Jets probably want to stay away from.

After not throwing an interception in his first five games, Sanchez has thrown five in the past three games. He’s had to pass more because the Jets have fallen behind and the more the Browns can put the ball in Sanchez’ hands the more chance there is he will make a mistake.

If the Browns defense can confuse Drew Brees and Tom Brady, it’s not a stretch to believe they can have success against a second-year quarterback who hasn’t played well since Week 4.

Offensively, the Browns just need to keep doing what they have been doing: pound Peyton Hillis, take what the defense gives them in the passing game, mix things up a bit and don’t make any mistakes.

If the Jets can shut down the running game, it could be a very long day for the Browns offensively. Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis is reportedly 100 percent healthy and he can probably single cover both Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie by himself.

Oh and hope Colt McCoy doesn’t have a “rookie” game on Sunday.

The Best Browns vs. Jets Game I’ve Ever Seen

This is the easiest one yet: the double overtime playoff win in 1986. The Browns winning the Super Bowl is probably the only thing that will ever top this game. Mark Gastineau’s roughing-the-passer penalty, Brian Brennan drawing a huge pass interference penalty, Webster Slaughter open down the left sideline, Mark Mosley finally ending it; still, to this day, the most amazing Browns game I’ve ever seen.

Read The Plain Dealer‘s game story here. Video is available here.

The Prediction

We really want to pick the Browns this week. They are playing well and, despite some adversity early in the year, the team hasn’t given up. They were rewarded last week when the beat the Patriots and they deserve to be rewarded again this week.

But despite their offensive troubles, the Jets are good, real good, and they are tough on the road. There’s also very little chance they will overlook the Browns this week, not with all the connections between the two teams.

If the Browns were getting four points they would probably be a safe pick this week. But this game as three-point loss written all over it, so we’re going to take the Jets -3.

One thing we are sure of, though, is no matter what, it should be one heck of a game on Sunday.

Record picking the Browns this year: 1-6-1

Posted in Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, NFL | Leave a comment
09 Nov 2010

Jets Week is Finally Here

The NY Jets arrive in town on Sunday, reportedly CBS’ No. 1 announcing team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will also be in town, and there’s lots to go around.

First up is Gary Myers in The New York Daily News, who writes that Browns coach Eric Mangini has no hard feelings about the team that fired him after the 2008 season:

“For me, personally, it’s special to play the Jets,” Mangini said from the Browns offices in Berea, Ohio. “Just like last week it was special to play New England because I was able to take so much from both of those organizations. And in New York, they gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach.

“I was really proud of the things that we did there and I learned a lot and been able to take those lessons here to Cleveland, apply those lessons here to Cleveland, grew a lot as a head coach. I just really appreciate that time, that experience, those people, all those guys that worked hard. It was a really special time in my life, both personally and professionally.”

The Jets players are saying all the right things as well, according to Manish Mehta in The Daily News:

Darrelle Revis insisted there’s no animosity between the Jets and Eric Mangini, but he didn’t exactly praise his former coach, either. Mangini will get his first crack Sunday at the team that fired him two years ago.

“There’s no hatred with us as the New York Jets organization (from) when Mangini was here,” Revis said. “Smart guy. He did all he could … Now he’s in a different place. I’m sure he’s looking forward to this game … I’m sure after the game guys will go talk to him … and see how he’s been.”

The Jets will face a rejuvenated Cleveland defense coached by Rex Ryan’s twin brother, Rob.

“If he’s half of what Rex is,” said center Nick Mangold, “it’s going to be a major pain for 60 minutes.”

And lets not forget it’s Ryan vs. Ryan this week. Oh, did we mention that it is Rex Ryan vs. Rob Ryan as well?

Finally, old friend Braylon Edwards opens mouth, inserts foot, as Fanhouse’s Pat McManamon shares:

“I remember the comments,” Edwards told (New York’s) Newsday. “I remember the writers, I remember the fans, I remember the coaches, I remember the people in the organization. I remember everything and everybody there that had something to say when 17 exited the doors. … I left there with a bitter taste in my mouth, and I’m going back there for some satisfaction. They can see it for how they want it. They can read it for how they want it. Just know that 17’s coming to work when we play next week.”

It’s been a wacky, unpredictable and enjoyable Browns season through the first eight games of the season. Something tells us that Sunday’s game versus the Jets might top anything we’ve seen so far this year.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, NFL, Rex Ryan, Rob Ryan | Leave a comment
03 May 2010

That Rascally Rex

The National Football League is often criticized as being the No Fun League. The Commissioner’s Office has legislated a lot of the personal displays of excitement out of the game, turning it more corporate.

That’s why Rex and Rob Ryan are a breath of fresh air. Over the weekend, Sexy Rex talked about the Jets top draft pick, cornerback Kyle Wilson, and mentioned how the Browns, especially defensive coordinator Rob, wanted Wilson over Florida cornerback Joe Haden, whom the Browns selected.

“There is somebody that I really know well for a long time that basically said that he was their guy and they picked a lot earlier than us,” Rex Ryan said in published reports. “You can probably figure it out. That’s who he wanted and then after practice, I’m like ‘Yep. I guarantee you were right because this guy is the real deal.'”

There were several reports on draft day that the Browns were debating between Haden and Wilson, which, as pointed out here, is a good sign for the team.

Disappointingly, the Browns would not let Rob Ryan respond to what his brother said, which is surprising given the new air of openness that is blowing through Berea after last year’s black cloud of misinformation and distrust.

In any event, this gives the Browns, and Rob Ryan, a little more fire for what is sure to be a crazy fun week when the Jets come to Cleveland on Nov. 14.

We may just have to wait for the response until then.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, fresh air, National Football League, New York Jets, Rex Ryan, Rob Ryan | Leave a comment

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