Where Oh Where Did Last Weeks Browns Go?

Wow. What a game, huh? 

In the words of The Office’s Dwight Schrute, “False.”

The Browns were riding high after their Monday night blowout of the previously undefeated New York Giants and came into Sunday’s match with more confidence then they had had all season.

Unfortunately, by packing up all that extra confidence, they left their offense in Cleveland.

A scoreless first half and 11 combined punts.  Anderson had something like 30 total passing yards and four completed passes (give or take).  Where was the Anderson that secured his spot so handily last Monday?  Where was the Braylon Edwards that caught a 70-yard pass?  Where were the tight ends that showed up and caught the touchdown balls?

The Redskins on the other hand did have a good first half, yardage wise, but had no points to show for it.  Then finally they drove down the field in the third quarter and scored the first touchdown of the game.

Cleveland then saw that it was possible to score points in this game and went the other way for a field goal.

The Redskins then took it to the end zone again early in the fourth quarter.

The Browns looked all but out of it with just under three minutes to go.  They had been stopped on the two-yard line and decided to go for it on fourth down.  They did not get it, they gave up possession and they turned the ball over for what seemed to be the last time.

But wait, last years Cardiac Kids from Cleveland weren’t done yet.

Clinton Portis got the ball and ran it out of the end zone and up the sideline, and then, for the fourth time in two weeks, was stripped of the ball and possession went back to Cleveland.  Could they possibly come back?

The Browns made a couple great pass and run plays and, again, on fourth down, went for the touchdown instead of the guaranteed field goal from Dawson.  They got the touchdown.

Then they got the two-point conversion.

Could they come back and win the game with as little offense as they had had this whole game?

With two timeouts remaining for Cleveland and one for Washington, all Cleveland had to do was hold them to three-and-out and get the ball back.

Down only 14-11, Cleveland’s defense did what they had to do, stopped the run, and got the Browns one last shot at glory.

The Browns drove down the field, and then it happened. Anderson threw three straight incomplete passes and left the whole game on Dawson’s shoulders…from 54 yards.

Dawson’s kick went wide right and the game was over.  The Browns had done everything had to do in the final seconds except make the final play.

Now I am in no way putting this game on Phil Dawson’s shoulders.  Anderson and Edwards, the whole offense looked awful.  It is not fair to play a horribly executed game and then leave it on one guys shoulders to bail you out.

So, the Browns fall to 2-4 and have basically fallen out of any contention.  Any kind of momentum they thought they had is probably gone, and it looks like this will end up being another losing season for another Cleveland sports team.