Tale of Two Halves; Minnesota 34, Browns 20

Photo: Peggy Turbett/Cleveland.com

On Sunday afternoon, the Cleveland Browns played host to the Minnesota Vikings to open up the 2009 regular season. Eric Mangini's first half as the Cleveland Browns' head coach was promising, but in the end, the result was all too familiar for Browns fans.

Cleveland carried a 13-10 lead over the Vikings into the locker room at halftime, but the running game of the Vikings was much too fierce for the Browns in the second half. The Vikings scored 24 straight points and defeated the Browns 34-20. Cleveland now falls to 1-10 in season openers since returning in 1999.

Starting Points - After not playing in the preseason, Shaun Rogers started at NT. Also, rookie Alex Mack got the start at center over veteran Hank Fraley. With backup running back Jerome Harrison out due to injury, rookie RB James Davis also got a good amount of playing time.

The Good -When you give up 24 straight points in the second half, it's hard to give praise to your defense, but that is just what I am going to do.

I thought the first half we saw glimpses of just how good this defense can be. The Browns defense forced the Vikings into four three-and-outs in their first six possessions.

Cleveland only gave up 45 yards rushing in the first half to one of the top rushing teams in the league, and Adrian Peterson was held to one yard rushing in the second quarter (granted that was a 1-yard TD.)

I also feel that it is tough to blame the defense for the 24 straight points scored by the Vikings in the second half.

When your offense can only stay on the field for six and a half minutes in a 27 minute span, your defense is going to get tired, and that's just what happened to the Browns' D.

I also liked the pressure the Browns' pass rush got on Brett Favre. Cleveland had four sacks and six QB hits. Those stats are what we would see in a three game span under Romeo Cernnel.

The other thing I would like to focus on in the positive column is something very easy to see: Josh Cribbs. Cribbs broke off a 67-yard punt return TD in the second quarter that allowed the Browns to take a 13 to 10 lead.

With his seventh career return TD, Cribbs is now tied with Eric Metcalf for most in Browns history. The offense also showed Cribbs early in the wildcat formation. Cribbs converted a third down with a five-yard run via direct snap.