Browns-Ravens: ...And They're Still the Browns...

Just when you thought they had actually turned things around for good, the Browns reminded the football world that they are still the same old Browns. A week after a great team-win on the road in Jacksonville, Cleveland came home to a wild crowd and a gorgeous day, only to give up 24 points in the final 16 minutes to the hated Ravens. 

Early and often, they made Joe Flacco look like a Pro Bowler, as he picked apart the young secondary that had shined in prior weeks. There were way too many missed tackles and unexplainable inconsistencies. 

For instance, how can the defense get great pressure and force a big sack, and then on 3rd-and-forever, give up a big pass to Derek Mason (who was quite open), for a drive-extending first down. However, you can't blame this one solely of the defense; they did their best, considering how much they were on the field in the second half.

I'm not sure who's totally at fault, Derek Anderson or Rob Chudzinski, but regardless who the culprit was, the Browns were inept at best in the second half. Five-straight three and outs helped Baltimore score those 24 unanswered points while barely letting our defense sit down on the sidelines before they were back on the field.

How many drives will we see Jamal Lewis up the middle for one, then up the middle for two, and then Derek throws a bad pass, or completes a great five-yard out on 3rd-and-7. I've hated that play call ever since Chris Palmer called it years ago (I thought we were past that). 

On another drive, Anderson broke the pocket right into oncoming rushers for a sack.  And how about more tipped passes...how does a 6'6'' quarterback get passes deflected at the line? Don't even get me started on Braylon's dropped passes—that's just pathetic.

This team is all over the place, and I'm not sure Romeo Crennel/Phil Savage know where to go from here. Three out of four wins, one over the Super Bowl champs, and yet, they just seem lifeless some weeks; if you saw today's game, you know the latest example. 

Something has got to give, and if it doesn't, Romeo won't last the year. I'm not sure if Brady Quinn does any better, if Chud continues to call stupid plays, but something has got to give, otherwise we may as well not show up.

I guess they're still the Browns...