| Greetings SEMBBers! Well, the Browns are 5-7 and have a two-game win streak going after a very entertaining defensive and special teams display last Sunday. Unfortunately, it came with a cost–stalwart LB Sione Takitaki is out for the season with a torn ACL. Additionally, Anthony Schwartz has been placed on IR, but it is debatable if that is a good or bad thing. |
| A WIN WITHOUT WATSON To say that Deshaun Watson’s performance was rusty in his first game back after nearly two seasons would be an understatement. Thankfully, he did little to damage our chances (the INT in the end zone notwithstanding) but he certainly didn’t perform as the elite-level quarterback touted by club management this preseason (12/22 – 131 yds.; 0 TD/1 INT; 1 SK; 53.4 RTG). And his running of the offense was, at best, anemic–174 yards running and 130 yards passing…that’s 304 yards total people! Granted, Houston’s total offense was even worse at 283 yards. Let’s hope the offense has no where to go but up. Thank God for the Special Teams and Defensive units!Donovan Peoples-Jones continues to impress. This was a great pick last year and has proven his versatility and worth to the team. The 76 yard punt return to the house was great to watch last Sunday!Denzel Ward gained a bit of redemption for his inconsistent play this season by his heads’ up play in picking up the Josh Allen fumble and running it in for a TD.And second year man Tony Fields II had a career day, made even sweeter by the fact that he was playing in front of his pops. I’m hoping he can prove to be a consistent talent for the team in years to come.All in all, it was great to be able to sit back and watch an easy-ish Browns victory. Unfortunately, they have a couple of very tough games coming up next. BATTLE FOR OHIO, PART 2 OK, on to the business at hand. The Browns are down in Cincytucky to take on the Bungles in the Jungle. By the numbers it doesn’t look good for the good guys–as mentioned above the Browns are 5-7 while the Bungles are 8-4. The Oddsmakers are picking Cincy to win, favoring them by 5.5 points. We’re down a couple of key players. And, the Bungles are looking to avenge the butt-whooping they got on Halloween night! That being said, here’s a few other things to consider:The Browns defense has lived, rent-free, in Joe Burrows’ head since he came into the league. Burrows is winless against the Browns.The Browns have one the last five straight and eight of the last nine match ups.And, Sports Illustrated’s Madden 23 Simulator has the Browns beating the Bungles this Sunday. (OK, the last one is a stretch.)So, kickoff is at 1 pm. The game will not be shown locally. The local CBS affiliate will be broadcasting the Jets-Bills game at this time, but I will be at the Sports Den in Northville to host our club viewing of the game. All are welcome (Except Squeeler and Ratbird fans!). A LOOK AHEAD Just a quick head’s up on the next two games:The Ratbirds game is scheduled for next Saturday, December 17th at 4:30 pm. It is a home game, and I will have a special guest host for the viewing at the Den–Susan Fisher!The next game is at home also against the Saints, and is on Christmas Eve the 24th.It has been Club tradition not to host official viewings when games have fallen on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and we will continue that this year. However, if you so choose, feel free to come to the Den to watch the game as they will have an area reserved for us in the main dining area to watch the game.That’s it for this week except, of course, always and forever… GO BROWNS!!! |