PLAYOFF GAME #2

Once I realised they weren't just trying to draw the browns defense offsides and were actually going for it on 4th I knew it was over. This defense has to be the worst 4th down defense in the history of the NFL.

I would have fully backed Baker to drive down the field with 1 TO and 2 mins on the clock, but I still would have went for the 4th and 9. Fail to convert and hold them to a FG and you still need a touchdown anyway (+ 2pt conv). If you allow Henne score a touchdown to end the game, then so be it.

Ok I’m done lol. We called Final TO after this play. Didn’t challenge - which at worst is a TO.

CBBI said:

Ok so in either scenario you need a touchdown no matter what.

And in one scenario, you at least have a chance to convert a 9 yard play.

And in the other scenario, you don't get the ball back. Got it.

Click to expand...

It’s disingenuous to assume that you don’t get the ball back. Without a total collapse of the defense (which is what happened), you would’ve gotten the ball back.

And the 15% chance they convert 9 yards on the play doesn’t overrule the 85% chance they don’t, the Chiefs waltz to a TD and the game is over.

The punt by itself wasn’t a bad call, not having at least 2 timeouts when doing it was.

TheLand1287 said:

I appreciate all the “good season” “building block” comments but the reality is Mahomes isn’t going away. The AFC in general is only going to get tougher. Nothing is guaranteed. You had them on the ropes with Mahomes out of the game (when is that going to happen again). This was one they should’ve stolen and then would’ve only been one win away against the Bills from being in the Super Bowl. It hurts. Bad.

Click to expand...

Mahomes being younger than Mayfield is why I don’t give a fuck about moral victories right now. That was a chance we may look back on for years as our best shot

The Wizard of Moz said:

Refs miss calls

We can control what we can control and this was a game we couldn’t afford turnovers

And we had 2 turnovers

Click to expand...

True, but that was one of the turnovers and it was an obvious call.

That's not to say we didn't lose it for ourselves in the 4th, though.

The thing that will take me a while to get over is the dynamics at play here.

Football is an especially unforgiving game. A franchise can turn on a dime with just one mistimed piece of misfortune.

The Browns had 25 minutes of Mahomes-less football to get a game away from the super bowl and lost.

The likelihood you ever have an easier path to an AFC championship game is about 0%.

I trust Baker Mayfield to convert a do or die play for 9 yards more than I trust THIS Browns defense to not give up two third downs to any NFL QB. Maybe in future seasons the defense will be better and I won't feel that way, but not this year.

I'm not being a prisoner of the moment. The Browns defense has been remarkably poor all year long. They had just given up two long chunk pass plays to Henne on the previous possession.

Just give your QB the chance. If he doesn't make it happen, you're still in the same defensive position of needing to NOT give up two first downs anyway.

And maybe they kick a FG to go up 8, but the Browns *still* have a chance to tie anyway, plus Butker had already missed 2 kicks too, so it wasn't like he was having the greatest day of his life either.

Got beat by chad henne. Not good enough. Dont want to hear feel good takes and silver linings. Once mahomes was out should have been ours.

DocSaric said:

Ok I’m done lol. We called Final TO after this play. Didn’t challenge - which at worst is a TO.

Click to expand...

You can’t challenge in the final 2 minutes.

DocSaric said:

Ok I’m done lol. We called Final TO after this play. Didn’t challenge - which at worst is a TO.

Click to expand...

I never got a chance in the game thread to bring this up but I THOUGHT there was a chance he was short.

shoes22 said:

You can’t challenge in the final 2 minutes.

Click to expand...

It was before. It was the swing pass 1st down with around 3 min left.

shoes22 said:

You can’t challenge in the final 2 minutes.

Click to expand...

That was still outside of 2 minutes. That was the 1st first down on that drive. The Henne run on 3rd and 14 was the first play after the 2 minute warning. So this is before that.

Wow, great game guys. Really wish they wouldn’t have concussed Mahomes though Going to be hard to beat the Bills without him but that’s tomorrow’s problem.

Much credit to Stefanski and this Browns team. It would’ve been easy to roll over and quit after the pick to start the second half but they never gave up. It’s incredible how much different this Browns team looks vs. just last season. You all have found your coach now and the future is bright!

I checked in on this thread from time to time to see what everyone was saying. A few frustrations about not matching up to the Chiefs, but it’s important to remember that progress is 1% at a time. In 2015 the Chiefs got their first playoff win in 22 years and I was fired up for them to win in New England in the division round. They ultimately lost by 7 and lost the next couple playoff games, but built a foundation that led to a SB last year. It happens season by season, 1% at a time and the Cleveland Browns made an improvement today. Be happy fellas, the future is bright and there will be more Chiefs/Browns playoffs matchups to come!

For those of you that made the RCF bet I appreciate you stepping up. I shot Ben a message and will send a link shortly. This is a great community thanks to members like you!

Exactly, distance was irrelevant with the time on the clock.

Rich said:

That was still outside of 2 minutes. That was the 1st first down on that drive. The Henne run on 3rd and 14 was the first play after the 2 minute warning. So this is before that.

Click to expand...

I can forgive not challenging. I can’t forgive calling the TO instead of challenging. That isn’t that tactically advanced.