NFL Week 14 (12/8/13): Browns (4-8) @ Patriots (9-3) [1:00 PM EST, CBS]

godfather said:

It was a bad call. There was some bad calls both ways throughout the game to be fair. But that's not pass interference. You got to wonder if the refs just panicked though, and flew the flag fearing not doing the same in Foxborough this time. I hate refs that get influenced by the crowd.

Hard loss to swallow, but on the flip side we're in a better position for a draft pick, and we clearly outplayed on of the better teams in the NFL. Just trying to give some positive.

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That's the whole purpose of home field/court advantage. Refs are supposed to be immune to crowd emotion, but they are human and can't help being influenced by the home crowd. Happens in every sport. We saw it earlier in the Panthers-Pats game, and then we saw it again today.

This is how I feel:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Browns take the loss, refs pick up the win, &amp; Pats get lucky &amp; a lot of help to take credit in beating a 4-8 Browns team.</p>&mdash; Numbers Don't (@RCFblogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCFblogger/statuses/409802764105940993">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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And from around the twitterverse:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Keep watching that PI call over and over. Browns were cheated. NFL writer once told me league is run by Krafts and Rooneys. I believe him.</p>&mdash; Sam The Bullshit Whisperer (@SamAmicoFSO) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamAmicoFSO/statuses/409805348292161536">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Horrible pass interference call helps the <a href="https://twitter.com/Patriots">@patriots</a> score a go-ahead TD. Officials shouldn't make that call unless it is blatantly obvious</p>&mdash; Bucky Brooks (@BuckyBrooks) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuckyBrooks/statuses/409799481106776064">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Jim Donovan: In the 15 years we've been doing this...now I've seen it all.</p>&mdash; Zac Jackson (@FSOhioZJackson) <a href="https://twitter.com/FSOhioZJackson/statuses/409798967723958272">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Pathetic call against Cleveland.</p>&mdash; Probasketballdraft (@Probballdraft) <a href="https://twitter.com/Probballdraft/statuses/409798587971694594">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>PI has to be reviewable. Horrific given situation. NE</p>&mdash; Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitlockJason/statuses/409798668758163457">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Browns. Robbed.</p>&mdash; Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) <a href="https://twitter.com/SI_PeterKing/statuses/409798610163728385">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ugh…that’s a ticky-tack penalty called on the Browns.</p>&mdash; Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) <a href="https://twitter.com/nfldraftscout/statuses/409798446548135936">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Browns are not allowed to beat the Patriots, it's a rule. <a href="http://t.co/pqRGf3vXoW">http://t.co/pqRGf3vXoW</a></p>&mdash; SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationGIF/statuses/409799562161709056">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>NFL is going to kick these terrible calls today under the rug while smiling and pointing to the exciting finishes.</p>&mdash; Collin McCollough (@cmccollo) <a href="https://twitter.com/cmccollo/statuses/409798976926269440">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Pass interference or not? You decide. <a href="http://t.co/WVH7sGbNGT">http://t.co/WVH7sGbNGT</a></p>&mdash; SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationGIF/statuses/409801712090615808">December 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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And that quote by Collin McCollough personifies exactly why I'm pissed.

We will hear nothing about the Browns and how we earned this win. The shit officiating will be overlooked. But the media will not shut the fuck up about Brady's poise and sheer talent.

Sickening.

Well at least it's being acknowledged by the national media. I just thought it would be conversations about how clutch Brady is.

Really pushing for a screen grab

Doc Shakalou said:

There are bad calls in any game, sure. How many of them move the ball down the field 40 yards and put the opposing team on the 1 yard line?

The Browns just had to keep them out of the end zone for about 1 minute. Refs make horrific call putting them on the 1.

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The more important play was the onside kick recovery by a long shot. As soon as they did that, I knew the game was over.

I'm used to these professional sports leagues screwing over the smaller market teams. This isn't something new.

Which calls went for the Browns that were incorrect? I remember Chud having to challenge two that were incorrect and obvious (first down spot on a run and Pats completion that had actually hit the ground twice while being bobbled that was ruled a catch on the field). Then the pass interference of course but also the uneccesary roughness for a hit that was not helmet to helmet, nor leading with the helmet, nor at the reciever's head, and also the no intentional grounding on Brady and the bogus intentional grounding call on Campbell who was both out of the pocket and threw to a back in the "vicinity," at least as close of a vicinity as you could argue Brady was throwing to.

On the plus side, Gordon manages to increase his yards per game and Brandon Weeden didnt play.

JSS2306 said:

The more important play was the onside kick recovery by a long shot. As soon as they did that, I knew the game was over.

I'm used to these professional sports leagues screwing over the smaller market teams. This isn't something new.

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No - in my opinion it was the previous drive. Horton going into complete prevent hurt us big time. It allowed them to pick up 10-15 yard chunks, WITHOUT having to use a timeout. That drive is what put them back in it.

Dungong said:

Which calls went for the Browns that were incorrect? I remember Chud having to challenge two that were incorrect and obvious (first down spot on a run and Pats completion that had actually hit the ground twice while being bobbled that was ruled a catch on the field). Then the pass interference of course but also the uneccesary roughness for a hit that was not helmet to helmet, nor leading with the helmet, nor at the reciever's head, and also the no intentional grounding on Brady and the bogus intentional grounding call on Campbell who was both out of the pocket and threw to a back in the "vicinity," at least as close of a vicinity as you could argue Brady was throwing to.

On the plus side, Gordon manages to increase his yards per game and Brandon Weeden didnt play.

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The pass interference at the end of the game, it was a complete non call that gave the Patriots the ball at the 1yd line.

elcheato said:

Beating the Patriots and going 5-11 would have made all the difference in turning the franchise around.

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That's the spirit. Might as well just lose then, right?

JSS2306 said:

The more important play was the onside kick recovery by a long shot. As soon as they did that, I knew the game was over.

I'm used to these professional sports leagues screwing over the smaller market teams. This isn't something new.

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Um, no it wasn't.

We still had the lead when they recovered. The AWFUL PI call in the endzone set them up at the 1 and was by far the more important play.

One of the worst calls I've ever seen. At the same time, typical Browns ... blow the lead, let them recover a fucking onside kick. You can't make this shit up. Should have known that was just setting up for an even more spectacular shitfest in the form of a horrible call and then a 60 yard FG attempt.

I'm so angry right now

WellYouNeednt said:

No - in my opinion it was the previous drive. Horton going into complete prevent hurt us big time. It allowed them to pick up 10-15 yard chunks, WITHOUT having to use a timeout. That drive is what put them back in it.

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One of my biggest pet peeves in all of sports. Has this EVER benefited a NFL team?