Author: Rose Baker

Missing due to injuries both starting safeties (Thornhill and Delpit) plus their middle linebacker (Hicks), the Browns defense played about as well as could reasonably be asked against the Eagles. They stonewalled previously high-flying Eagle running back Saquon Barkley to a mere 47 yards in 18 attempts and largely contained Jalen Hurts. Unfortunately, it was hardly enough. Given the state of the Browns offense, the defense has to show up every week plus it needs to make a couple of impact plays that turn the tide of the game. Instead the offense has made a habit of giving up a couple (or more) big plays a game that nail down the loss for the team.

The offense received an early lift from the return of pro bowl right tackle Jack Conklin even though one play later the Browns lost their starting / third string center (Harris) for the season and were forced to move their starting right guard (Dunn) to center. The running game was perhaps its best all season (not saying much) even after Ford went down and Strong was featured. Little more can be said about the passing game, and anyone who is still holding out hope for Watson has far more patience than I do.

With the trade of Cooper for a third round pick (nice compensation for a partial year rental), the Browns have officially thrown in the towel on the 2024 season. The Browns might still play spoiler starting with next week and the Bengals, or they might try to trade away all of the talent that they cannot afford under the salary cap next year. We will find out between now and the trade deadline November 5, but in the meantime what a disappointment.

Hey, GCBB team! We are having our first party of the season on Sunday, 10/6/24 at Mac’s Pizza Pub. Here are the details:

Our Miller Light keg will be tapped at kickoff, Brown @ Commanders, 1:00 pm. Mac’s will be serving party food at halftime: jumbo chicken wings, boneless wings, pretzels with beer cheese, loaded tasty tots.

The Raffle items are: #40 practice jersey, LaCount III practice jersey, Anthony Walker signed ball, Donovan Peoples-Jones signed ball, Browns seat cushion, Joe Haden signed mini helmet.

The Grand Prize is: Phil Dawson signed jersey.

In the week leading up to the game against the Raiders, we were advised that right guard Wyatt Teller was placed on injured reserve – out for at least four games. Later we were told that right tackle Jack Conklin and left tackle Jedrick Wills were deactivated due to injuries. Also inactive due to injury was David Njoku, an underrated blocker from the tight end position. These injuries almost guaranteed that the Browns would again have trouble running the ball and that Watson would again not have time to go through his progressions to find open receivers. The offense did well enough on the first drive producing a touchdown, but the Raiders made adjustments, and the Browns struggled offensively for the rest of the game.

Given the offensive line injuries, this was to be expected. What was not expected was how bad the defense was with the worstBrowns tackling that we have seen in years and way too soft coverage by Emerson. By the time the defense stiffened up, it was too little too late with the game being decided by a dropped touchdown, a missed extra point and a phantom offensive holding call.

We are now being told by some that injuries are no excuse, that injuries are part of the game and that it is next man up. But isn’t it interesting that almost every year it is pointed out that the Super Bowl teams have been remarkably healthy. And if the next man up is as good as the starter, then why is the starter being paid $10 million more?

Fortunately, three losses do not a wasted season make. Help is on the way. Chubb is now practicing. Conklin, Wills and Njoku could all return this week. And although it might be too slowly, Watson is improving game-by-game. The Browns might now need to win some games that they were figured to lose, but the playoffs still beckon. Stay tuned.