So clearly I didn't get around to posting some mid-week filler in the last few days (but with two papers to do and finals to study for, can you blame me?) but the Browns take on the Bills today up in snowy Buffalo, New York in what I think should be called the Battle of I-90.
In the last three years, these two teams have met and the Browns have won all three match-ups. In 2007, there was the memorable Snow Bowl game where Phil Dawson hit two clutch field goals in crazy swirling wind, and the Bills snapped a punt over the head of their punter and out of the end zone for a safety. Then there was Romeo Crenel's last victory as coach of the Cleveland Browns in 2008, when Jerome Harrison had a 72 yard run for the Browns last offensive touchdown that year, and Phil Dawson hit a 56 yard field goal with 1:39 left in the game to win. And last year, there was Eric Mangini's first win as the coach of the Browns where the Browns got by on two Billy Cundiff (yeah, bet you forgot about that one, huh? I know I did...) field goals, and Derek Anderson had one of the worst games a Browns QB has ever had going 2/17 for 23 yards and an interception. So what's going to happen today?
Well I think any way you look at it, we'll have a great game. Sure, the Bills petered out last week against the Vikings after playing very well in their previous three games. They first had wins against Detroit and Cincinnati, two teams who are just not doing so well right now, and then took the Pittsburgh into overtime, eventually losing 16-19. They bring a lot of competitive fire to the table, but, in my opinion at least, not too much else.
First off, their run defense is terrible giving up 170.9 yards a game. With the weather conditions predicted to be as Buffalo as ever (meaning really snowy), I think that's a recipe for Peyton Hillis to have a terrific - if not career - kind of game, as long as he can stay away from the fumbles. He will also, in all likelihood, go over the 1000 yard rushing mark for the season as he's sitting on 962 right now.
Jake Delhomme will be the starting QB this afternoon, and I really think Brian Daboll knows that this is going to be a game managing situation for the veteran. The strength of the Bills defense is clearly in the way they defend the pass as they're only allowing 207.2 yards per game - it isn't the best, but it's definitely better than than what they do against the run. Yikes. The offense may or may not have Josh Cribbs back as a wide receiver and in the wildcat, but I'd say chances are more likely that he'll stay just on the kick coverage. At least that's what I think I'd prefer for him until he's closer to 100%. Last week it was clear to me that he was still hurting, as he just looked slow when running with the ball. Hopefully he'll be healthy sooner rather than later, as we could really use his talents for our last three weeks of the season.
But enough about the future, a big key for the Browns winning today will be if their defense can contain Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has really come on to be a productive quarterback this year. Fitzpatrick has thrown for 2384 yards with 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions - pretty solid numbers for a guy who has been a back-up for most of his short career. Fred Jackson (yeah, who?) is their running back, and he's had an alright season with 663 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns. As a team, I was surprised to find out that they're averaging more offensive yards per game than the Browns, 312 over 305. Still, I think the Browns will continue to show defensive improvement, and Joe Haden will go for his fifth straight game with an interception. I honestly doubt that he'll get it - if not because of the weather, than because Fitzpatrick studied film this week.
So what's the bottom line today? I think the Browns are going to show that they're over the hump because they're clearly the better team. I don't think we're going to see any of the slop we saw a few weeks ago with the Jaguars and then Panthers, and we'll see a team that's more like the one who took on the Jets, Patriots and Saints and came out 2-1 in that stretch. The Browns have been practicing outside in the cold elements of Cleveland this week and should be well prepared for the conditions at Ralph Wilson Stadium today. So I'm going with the Browns for a great, low scoring December win today.
The Prediction: CLE 17 - BUF 6
See you at the half,
~MAS
(p.s. I'd just like to say that I was very close to being right on my prediction last week, and I was quite right with my "Dawson hits a field goal to win it" call. Go me!)
No comments:
Post a Comment