NFL Week 1 (9/7/14): Browns @ Steelers [1:00 PM EST, CBS]

[Jack Brickman]

There's some truth to this but it's unknown if those adjustments in the 2nd half were that of coaching or just a fluke of nature when a team is so far down that the other team allow's its intensity to dwindle under the circumstances by simple human nature. I'm not saying we didn't look much improved, because we did, but we also looked like the same team in the first half on those last couple of drives both defensively and offensively.

The Steelers are a middle of the road team at best and we should have taken that momentum to a victory if we are actually the team of the 2nd half rather than the 1st half.

We negated the entire 2nd half by a couple of bad drives on BOTH sides of the ball so therefore there is no positive. That's my take.

I agree with you to some extent. However, it's important to remember that we've got a rookie head coach and the other team has a guy who has coached his team to titles. Even if our coaching staff proves to be really good, there are going to be moments where we fuck things up. I'm not ready to proclaim my faith in this coaching staff just yet, but I thought they did a nice job the second half of running an offense and defense that threw the Steelers off guard. Obviously the ending wasn't ideal, but hopefully we've got something to build on.

 

[shoes22]

I'm excited for a sweet Bills OT win too.

You shouldn't be excited for that. We have their draft pick.

 

[MRMsix6]

You shouldn't be excited for that. We have their draft pick.

You don't say?

 

[col63onel]

Farmer found 2 RBs in the 3rd round and UDFA that are much better than TRich.

 

[macbdog]

Eh, they came back. The first half was obviously a fuster-cluck but you saw a considerably improved team at the half. As in, a team that made half-time adjustments- which you all may think is a small thing, but to me that is a big deal. The Browns are going to be feeling this out in these first few games as they implement for the 9th time an all-new offensive system and defensive system. For how awful that first half was the 2nd half was something to definitely build upon. Pettine can hang that on his resume.

 

[bigfoot5415]

I feel emotionally and physically drained. To make such a great comeback and come up short is a killer. Especially when we could have just made a few basic plays to convert when we needed it. I loved the uptempo offense and can only imagine what it'll look like when Gordon and Cameron are in it. I can't really understand why our offense wasn't as effective in the 1st half.

I'm not being a pessimist because there is alot to like. If you want pessimistim, go read those old fast bast arms on OBR.

Tackling as a whole sucked. Our DBs looked bad. Gilbert had a tough game, but I'm confident he will adjust. Haden was abused, and it bothered me. Defensive pressure was sub par in the 1st half.

Hoyer doesn't make the best decisions but it worked. Especially in the uptempo style. The 3 and 1 killed us. Especially when our running backs were killing them. Also, I thought the play calling with two minutes to go was pathetic. With the way the we were rolling, our uptempo could have atleast put us in range. We could have atleast tried to kill the clock by running the ball.

Not worried about the fake, or the blown punt coverage. Pitt didn't benefit from either.

All in all, hopefully these guys have learned that they can play of the put forth the effort.

 

[Tornicade]

The first half was pettines way the second half he let his coordinators do their jobs. Teams tend to relace when they get up big and mometum is important in football.

The no huddle
going to the pistol
west and crowell getting solid opportunities
on the defensive end they went to buster more in the secondary and increased the pressure.

its clear pettine sticking with hoyer in the 2nd half had an impact on hoyer.

Its funny that a guy who gets pulled over in pssesion with weed is in the game tearing up the browns while Gordon is not allowed to play.

 

[bigfoot5415]

The play of Bell and Blount pissed me off. They should not be playing.

 

[DaNewCavs]

The play of Bell and Blount pissed me off. They should not be playing.

They will be sure to be suspended after week 6.

 

[Binkster]

Regardless of what happened in the first half, I put this game on Pettine.

He needed to run the ball three times and punt on that final possession to exhaust the Steeler's timeouts and play for OT. Rookie head coach mistake.

Pettine doesn't call the plays...

 

[EdMonix11]

Jesus. This is a sad-ass thread.

Too many jaded Browns fans with unrealistic expectations.

Sucks we lost but we largely outplayed an 8-8, playoff bubble, team from last year. If we didn't shoot ourselves in the foot in the 1st half, it's a runaway win with very little to no contribution from Jordan Cameron (because of 2nd half injury), Ben Tate, Joe Haden, and obviously Josh Gordon. That's SIGNIFICANT progress from the 4 win quitters from last year.

Obviously we got punched in the mouth in the 1st half but our young guys really showed some talent in the 2nd half. Bitonio adjusted nicely in the 2nd half and was a beast when he was the pulling guard-- I can't wait to see him and Bowie together at the two guard spots. We got way more production out of the WR's than I ever imagined. West and Crowell are really good. Defensively, the biggest difference in the 2nd half was the DL was winning the LOS battle which allowed our LB's to pressure Big Ben. Gilbert had a rough first half but if anyone re-watches the 2nd half, he was actually playing pretty well. I expect this is what his season will look like-- he's playing the 2nd toughest position in the NFL and playing on an island-- it's gonna take time.

Kyle Shanahan showed that he's willing to stick to his game plan, unlike our many previous coaching staffs when facing a deficit. Regardless of what happened, it's clear that Mike Pettine was able to push the right buttons to get this team back on track and make adjustments-- Shurmur and Chud wouldn't have gotten the team within 17.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

If the team is able to take what they learned at halftime and apply that in the future, then we really have something.

I expect to see a few games like that this year, though. By the end of the year, I expect to see the Browns playing like they did in the 2nd half for full games.

Realistically, this team has a mental block with Pittsburgh, and overcoming a huge deficit is always a good positive. But like always, key and young mistakes cost us.

 

[Simmy]

Just got done watching the full game replay (I know...). Here's how I look at it:

- Yes, it was a "Browns" kind of game with a "Browns" kind of result. I was entirely ready to cash in a refund for my NFL League Pass at half time. But the reality is, they showed real fight and real promise in the second half. I know we're all sick of moral victories but this felt like something a little more. Yes, they blew it in the last 60 seconds ("Once Browns football, always Browns football" - we know) and yes this could've been a blowout and the beginning of another embarrassing season. But they really showed heart and a great deal of pride to fight all the way back.

I thought the game would've swung in Pittsburgh's favor after that fake punt on 4th down but we still managed to look the better team and gave ourselves every opportunity to win.

Yes, it was a "Browns" kind of finish - mostly. Let's be realistic: we essentially had no right to win that game from the beginning. And the fact that we crawled our way back into it was a miracle in itself. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to have won and am sick of "moral victories" as well, but something tells me it meant more than morality to this team last night. Something tells me it wasn't your typical "Browns" kind of game.

Only one way to find out, though: Let's see how they come out next week!

 

[upper lip]

Just got done watching the full game replay (I know...). Here's how I look at it:

- Yes, it was a "Browns" kind of game with a "Browns" kind of result. I was entirely ready to cash in a refund for my NFL League Pass at half time. But the reality is, they showed real fight and real promise in the second half. I know we're all sick of moral victories but this felt like something a little more. Yes, they blew it in the last 60 seconds ("Once Browns football, always Browns football" - we know) and yes this could've been a blowout and the beginning of another embarrassing season. But they really showed heart and a great deal of pride to fight all the way back.

I thought the game would've swung in Pittsburgh's favor after that fake punt on 4th down but we still managed to look the better team and gave ourselves every opportunity to win.

Yes, it was a "Browns" kind of finish - mostly. Let's be realistic: we essentially had no right to win that game from the beginning. And the fact that we crawled our way back into it was a miracle in itself. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to have won and am sick of "moral victories" as well, but something tells me it meant more than morality to this team last night. Something tells me it wasn't your typical "Browns" kind of game.

Only one way to find out, though: Let's see how they come out next week!

I love the optimism man. Wish I had your attitude. I'm still pouting and bitter about this game, it ruined my whole week probably. I'd rather have gotten blown out than to lose like we did. So deflating.

 

[Simmy]

I love the optimism man. Wish I had your attitude. I'm still pouting and bitter about this game, it ruined my whole week probably. I'd rather have gotten blown out than to lose like we did. So deflating.

I mean, it was entirely deflating, I won't lie there. And very upsetting more than anything at the end. But the way I see it is that there's not much point us sitting here and sulking about it. There's not much point in the team doing that either. There's nothing to gain whatsoever. All they can do is use this energy as a platform to elevate their game next week. It's still early and there were a lot of bright spots - we'd have to be bias to ignore that. But let's see what the week brings us - I never expected us to get close after half time. Who knows what other "unexpected's" we might run into this season.