Cleveland Browns: Colt McCoy Solid, Mangini and Staff in Trouble, More Thoughts

For the second week in a row, the Cleveland Browns failed to beat a team that only had two wins for the 2010 NFL season, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals 19-17 in the "Battle of Ohio."

Head coach Eric Mangini has failed to win the easy games the past few weeks and nearly lost to the Carolina Panthers, winning by only one point in Week 12.

Now Mangini's name will be in the same sentence as the words "hot seat" for the remaining two weeks of the NFL season.

Here are several thoughts and observations of Cleveland in their Week 15 loss.

Eric Mangini and Staff Are Definitely on the Hot Seat Now

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 19: Head coach Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns on the sidelines while playing the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Mangini has a combined record of 10-20 in two seasons with the Browns, but improvement in 2010 is evident compared to one season ago.

To give him some credit, the Browns have been very competitive in nearly each of their games this season, and the Browns do have the third-hardest schedule in the NFL, too.

But wins are what matters most, and the Browns have only five, which equals the same number they had in 2009. The Browns still have two games left, but they are against tough division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, who are each in playoff contention right now.

It has been a tough road, but the mediocrity of both the offensive and defensive playcalling could be the nail in the coffin since there has been a lot of inconsistency in the playcalling, too.

Mangini, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan are all on the chopping block, with team president Mike Holmgren doing the evaluations after this season.

Colt McCoy Confirms That He Is the Real Deal

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Colt McCoy #12 of the Cleveland Browns warms up during a game agaisnt the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on November 21, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

After taking some time off due to a high-ankle sprain, rookie quarterback Colt McCoy was back under center for the first time since Week 11 when he was injured against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

McCoy once again looked poised and confident, despite questionable playcalling and racking up stats at the end of the game when the Bengals were in a soft prevent defense to maintain their lead.

A 132.6 quarterback ranking, along with zero turnovers, has helped McCoy win the starting job in Cleveland for the foreseeable future.

Many also questioned if McCoy could play in colder weather, and even though the weather is Cincy is not as brutal as at Cleveland Browns Stadium, it was still cold and 28 degrees on Sunday afternoon.

Now the Browns just need to get him better weapons on the outside.

Ben Watson Continues To Shine and Have a Pro Bowl-Caliber Season

Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

CLEVELAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Tight end Benjamin Watson #82 of the Cleveland Browns runs by defenders Anthony Toribio #98 and Eric Berry #29 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sulliv

Watson had another great game against the Bengals, catching nearly everything that was thrown his way and showing no fear while going over the middle and going up for jump balls, all of which expose him to taking some punishment by the defense.

With seven catches for 92 yards, Watson has 58 receptions for 674 yards and three touchdowns.

Watson is having a career year, and he is among the league leaders in receptions and yards for a tight end and rightly deserves the chance to go to the Pro Bowl.

As a comparison, his stats mirror those of former Browns tight end Kellen Winslow at this point in the season, and many would say that Watson is a better overall player than Winslow is due to Winslow's bad knees.

Don't Get Too Excited About Brian Robiskie

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 20: Brian Robiskie #80 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during their NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 20, 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Browns defeated the Chiefs 41-34. (Photo by Ja

Former Ohio State Buckeye receiver and current Browns letdown Robiskie had his best game of his young career against the Bengals, but even though he did catch his first touchdown in the NFL, he is still not a starting-caliber receiver.

Robiskie was able to break free due to poor coverage and terrible tackling on his long 46-yard touchdown reception from McCoy, and that play was really a product of luck over skill.

Not to be a downer on him since it was nice to see him have a solid game statistically, but he needs to play like that every week in order to change many opinions of his play moving forward.

Ahtyba Rubin Continues His Dominance in the Middle

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 20: Ahtyba Rubin #71 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during their NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 20, 2009 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Browns defeated the Chiefs 41-34. (Photo by Jami

Rubin is one of the top defensive lineman statistically in tackles this season, and he continued to make plays on Sunday against the Bengals.

With 74 total tackles this season, Rubin has more tackles than most linebackers who are not fighting off two giant offensive lineman that are right is their faces, as Rubin does on every play.

In only his third season, Rubin is a keeper as the Browns centerpiece on defense, and they need to lock him up on a long-term contract since it is very hard to find solid nose tackles in the NFL who can make plays while getting double teamed.

Reggie Hodges Is Touchback Free

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 17: Phil Dawson #4 is congratulated by teammate Reggie Hodges #2 after kicking a field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers of the Cleveland Browns during the game on October 17, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Pho

Hodges has been such a stud on special teams, it is no wonder why the Browns were willing to just drop former punter Dave Zastudil several weeks back in favor of keeping Hodges and signing him to a contract extension, too.

Punting is not an easy chore in the NFL, especially when it comes to trying to not kick the ball into the end zone, which Hodges has not done since Week 5 of this season.

That is unheard of in the NFL.

With that and the fact he is one of the NFL leaders in landing kicks inside of the 10-yard line, Hodges could easily be voted as the special teams player of the year for the Browns.

Final Thoughts

Leon Halip/Getty Images

DETROIT - AUGUST 28: Mike Holmgren President of the Cleveland Browns watches the action prior to the start of the preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on August 28, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Many Browns fans are hesitant and resist the thought of another coaching change, but the NFL is a win-now league, and if you cannot coach up the players provided to you by the front office, you will not coach very long, as in Mangini's case.

He and his staff deserve a ton of credit for making the best of the hands they were all dealt, but with Holmgren a seasoned coach who loves offense, he will most likely bring in his own crew of coaches after this season.

Just speculation right now, but it is hard to not get this feeling after losing to both the Bills and Bengals in two straight weeks, as both should have been wins for the Browns.

If you cannot beat the team you should beat, someone else will be brought in to replace you to do it.

Browns fans need to start mentally preparing themselves for another coaching change whether it happens or not, because if it does, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

(Also posted on Dawg Scooper: A Cleveland Browns Source)