A Divisional Family Brawl
The 1999 expansion Cleveland Browns have arrived in 2020 with a 9-3 record heading into tonight’s Monday Night Football showdown with the 7-5 Old Browns of Baltimore. The eyes of the nation will be on a frigid, in the 30’s, with a wind chill of burr at First Energy. Luckily, the Orange and Brown are built for cold weather, AFC North, smash mouth football with a backfield not seen since Byner and Mack; cruising each to a 1,000 yard season. Nick and Kareem have pounded the rock, controlled the clock, and made life on Baker easier; hope his Progressive rates have improved. The young gun slinger hasn’t had a pick in, what seems like forever, and Higgins looks like 2018. Last week in Nashville, The Dawg Pound held the best back in football, Derick Henry, to a misally 60 yards, and a huge 4th down stop that catapulted the offense to 4 TD’s thrown by Baker. Will they be able to beat another high quality opponent tonight?
Since the split of the embryo, the team from Baltimore holds a commanding 32-11 record over the up in coming, Cardiac Kids of Cuyahoga, and 2 Super Bowl Wins, but let us not forget one of Baltimore’s two loses last year came in week 4 against Baker’s Browns in 40-25 spanking at home. Don’t let this diminish your rational thoughts of football. Baltimore is a solid team with weapons. They have 3 quality backs, Edwards, Ingram II, one former Buckeye, Dobbins, and Lamar, so 4. TE, Andrews, has 6 TD’s; to along with 12 from Jackson, Edwards, and Dobbins on the ground. Although, the whole purple team seemed to get Covid-19, they are playing tonight and want a win, to prove that last year was no BS.
Kevin Stefanski’s 2nd place Browns are looking to show all of the NFL their recipe of run first, sling 2nd, control the clock and D up, wins ugly games. Last week, the offensive outburst in warm weather was welcoming, but we haven’t seen it except for opponents named the Bengals. Baker’s Dwight Shrute, “Idiot,” reference had me cracking up; hopefully Michael Scott doesn’t make an appearance tonight. If he keeps rolling out with confidence and doesn’t tap dance in the pocket, the team always has a chance to win the game. I believe Baker when he said, “I don’t think we’ve played our best football yet.”
Will all our Rowdy friends be there tonight? Last I heard 12,000 fans would be able to attend the game. The 19 has really altered our way of life but the Browns have made progress through the uncertainty. A winning record of 9-3 certainly assures a playoff spot for the 2nd place squad. But, they need to treat MNF as a playoff game, a test. This rivalry, has been one sided far too long and if Cleveland wants to make a statement of strength, when would NOW be a good time?
