Denver has always been a house of horrors for Browns teams, and it was again yesterday. Today is blame head coach Kevin Stefanski for losing the game by calling one play. One. Just a small reminder, the Browns are 7-4 because of Kevin Stefanski. They’ve won games with three different quarterbacks and next week against the Rams it could be four, depending on the injuries to quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robertson. He’s in concussion protocol and has a shoulder injury. Memo to Mark Sanchez, yes that was roughing the passer and yes launching yourself helmet first into another player is a dirty hit. That’s the second Fox broadcast of the Browns I’ve had to watch, and the announcers were wearing the other team’s jerseys. The 49ers broadcast was the first. It seems the Broncos teach their players to lead with their helmets, because the hit on wide receiver Amari Cooper was also a dirty hit. A reminder, head coach Sean Payton was once suspended for a year by the NFL for a head-hunting plan to hurt opposing players. The Denver fans aren’t any better, heckling DTR as he headed to the locker room after getting injured. Very classy. I wish nothing but bad karma on the Denver Broncos.
Going into the fourth quarter, this was a winnable game for the Browns. From the time the Broncos made it 14-0 to the DTR injury, the Browns were the dominate team. At the beginning of the game, the Bronco defense loaded the box and dared the Browns to run. When they tried, they had little success. It was when the passing game started to click, the Denver defense had to back out of their stacked box and the running game started to shine. The problem prior to that was dropped passes. I know David Njoku apologized last week after the Steeler game for dropping so many passes, but he was at it again against the Broncos. I was very impressed with wide receiver Cedric Tillman. Strong hands and good route running. And his run blocking was much better. The team might need him next week if Cooper misses time, but according to Kevin Stefanski, the x-rays on his ribs were negative. Speaking of Cooper, you have to catch the two-point conversion try, have to. I hope DTR can play next week, he’s getting better with every game. Besides I see Joe Flacco as a break glass in case of emergency quarterback.
Another Browns road game and another 14-0 lead for the opposition. I don’t know why they can’t be ready to go from the start like they do at home. As always, after the second quarter starts, they step up their game. Hopefully this won’t happen this week in Los Angeles. Because Browns fans will absolutely take over that stadium, it might have the feel of a Browns home game. It’s very obvious the Browns missed cornerback Denzel Ward yesterday. Greg Newsome is a great slot defender, but he gave the Bronco wide receivers way too much space. I really thought defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz would play a little more zone to protect the secondary. But what the hell do I know, I’m just some fan. JOK had better be named an All-Pro, he played one hell of a game. As for defensive end Myles Garrett, he went into the game with a sore left wrist and left with a sore left shoulder. As I write this, we are all awaiting the news of an MRI he’s supposed to have today in L.A. Finally, would someone please show DE Alex Wright where to line up? Thank you.
No PFF grades today folks, I’m currently still out of town and need to start packing up the car to head back home. But I’ll leave you with a rooting guide for next week courteous of a great twitter follow, CLEology (@_CLEology). Week 13 #Browns Rooting Schedule: CLE over LAR AND TEN over IND, ARI over PIT, HOU over DEN*, JAX over CIN *Both outcomes are good but Denver would jump us with a win and a loss by us. Houston cannot jump us with a win due to a worse conference record (4-3 vs 5-3). As well as playoff position. AFC playoff picture heading to Week 13. The #Browns cannot slip out of a playoff spot heading to Week 14 (with a loss Week 13) due to tiebreakers. The Broncos could jump the Browns, but we’d hold the tie break over Indy and Houston. No one else is within a game. Stay safe, hope for the best on injury news and Go Browns.