Chargers-Browns: Entertaining Afternoon Ends Predictably for Cleveland

Brady Quinn silenced his critics, temporarily, in a thrilling fourth quarter on Sunday.

In what turned out to be a more entertaining game than anyone, including myself, could have predicted, the Browns actually staged a rally against the San Diego Chargers, ultimately losing 30-23.

Quinn’s numbers on the day were fantastic: 25-of-45 for 271 yards and throwing for three touchdowns. His lone gaffe was a fumble toward the end of the second quarter near the goal line.

Yes, it probably could have made a difference, but the Chargers offense was unstoppable. Antonio Gates put on a receivers clinic, catching eight passes for 167 yards, including a 56-yard catch.

Head coach Eric Mangini admitted after the game no matter what kind of coverage they tried to put on Gates, it didn’t matter. That’s probably a talent issue, which is why it really isn’t worth getting upset about this year.

LaDainian Tomlinson added to his legend, passing Jim Brown’s career rushing mark in the fourth quarter.

At the end of the day, though, the Browns now are 1-11, and the defense isn’t getting any better, or healthier, as C.J. Mosley went down in the first quarter with an ankle injury and had to be carted off the field.

Rookie wide receiver Brian Robiskie, mysteriously absent from the active roster these many weeks, finally was allowed on the field and contributed to the tune of four catches for 69 yards.

The question that needs to be answered, which Mangini will not do, is where the heck has Robiskie been?

It’s not fair to say Robiskie has been on the field and not contributed, because that’s not true. He hasn’t dressed for about half the games, and in the few he has been dressed for, he’s barely been allowed on the field.

That’s a coaching issue, a serious one that the Browns' new football czar would need to address if that person were to consider keeping Mangini around for another year.

Not playing your second round draft picks, especially after a season is all but over, says one of two things: Either the coach missed terribly on the pick, or the coach has a personal vendetta against the player.

Neither option reflects well on Mangini, and perhaps that perception, as well as Robiskie’s meeting with the coaching staff last week, finally prompted Mangini to let his rookie wide receiver on the field.

The positives to take out of this were that Quinn showed the poise and intelligence he flashed last year, and now that Jamal Lewis is out, the Browns have gained speed at the running back position.

The stark realities are offensive coordinator Brian Daboll still has trouble calling plays, especially in the red zone, and the Chargers sat about half their starters on defense yesterday.

I can’t forget to mention Evan Moore, the free agent signed off of Green Bay’s practice squad, who caught everything thrown his way and was a key factor in the Browns' offensive surge.

The Plain Dealer’s Terry Pluto reported Moore’s knock has been he’s injury-prone. If Moore can stay healthy, he can end up being a diamond in the rough for Mangini.

It’s a short week as the Steelers come to town Thursday night. With their loss to the Raiders, their season also looks to be about over. If the Browns can keep the offense from going back to sleep again, the Steelers defense looks vulnerable.