The Morning After… A Defeat
Some of you, like the guy above who set up enough TV’s to watch every game at the same time yesterday, get excited for the start of the NFL season to see all of the great NFL action around the league. Some of you are diehard fans that are excited to see your team, while you enjoy NFL action in general, and your team is the focus of not 10 TVs but of the 1, probably the biggest in your house. Browns fans tend to start out as the first, excited and optimistic about their team as Week 1 rolls around, but as the season progresses and the loses pile up start to enjoy the other NFL action.
This will be our weekly, except bye week, Morning After the Browns’ games column. A short recap of the game, a focus on the good and bad of the game and a look at the different ways we will evaluate the game in the following 24 hours.
Recap
The first half of the game was ugly on the offensive end. Two of the Browns’ 3 first quarter drives ended in Brandon Weeden interceptions. Even without those interceptions, 1 while the team was driving, the other on the 3rd play of the drive, the Browns only had 48 yards of offense in the first quarter. It was very obvious that Weeden had a little extra zip on the ball early and forced a throw into tight double coverage to Travis Benjamin that the slight Benjamin could not out fight the bigger cornerback for. Josh Gordon was missed on that play as the route was one he pulled in a number of times last year including a long touchdown against the Bengals. Gordon would of at least been able to be more physical and possibly breakup the INT. The Dolphins didn’t fair much better in the first quarter, with a total of 60 yards of offense on the 3 drives that started in the 1st. Even on Weeden’s second interception that gave them the ball at the 27 the Dolphins weren’t able to muster any offense and settled for a field goal after going backwards 4 yards. After back and forth punts and interceptions in the second quarter the Browns put together a solid touchdown drive near the end of the 2nd quarter with a good throw and great catch by TE Jordan Cameron. The Browns led 7-6 going into half.
The second half didn’t start out much better for either team with both punting on their first 2 drives. As expected the defenses were dominate for much of the game. The Dolphins took the lead for good on a long pass to former OSU WR Brian Hartline. The Browns responded with a field goal to get close at 13-10. After a Browns punt to start the 4th quarter the Dolphins took a methodical, mostly passing, drive down the field for a touchdown taking over 5 minutes off the clock. The Browns were in hurry up from this time on. They turned it over on downs on a sack by Cameron Wake leading to a short field and another field goal: Dolphins 23 Browns 10. The Browns last drive of the game they had a touchdown nullified that could of at least allowed them to try for a onside kick to recover and win the game. After the penalty the drive stalled out again and the game was over.
Factory Player (For the Browns’ Star Player of the Game)
Jordan Cameron – The defense played well at times, even holding the Dolphins when they had a couple short fields to only field goals but Cameron was the offense, along with slot receiver Devone Bess. Weeden looked to those two often after drops by Greg Little and Benjamin not fighting for the ball. Cameron came through with more then 100 yards and a touchdown.
Sadness Player (For the Browns’ Player who Made Fans Sad)
O’Neil Cousins – While many may expect Weeden here, Cousins was the weak link on what was suppose to be a great offensive line. He was pushed all around, beat on many plays and had a number of penalties. Because of Cousins the Browns were not able to get timing on offense and struggled to run the ball.
Earlier Today
3 Off-Season Decisions that Impacted the Game
24 Hours of Articles
(What to expect on FoS for the next 24 hours)
Over, Under Reactions
Spinning Week 1 Forward