Bills vs. Browns: Cleveland Playing David To NFL's Goliaths

by MattRichWarren on Dec 10, 2010 8:00 AM EST in Buffalo Bills News

The 5-7 Cleveland Browns have done something this season the Buffalo Bills haven't done in ten years; beat the New England Patriots. The Browns also boast an impressive win over the New Orleans Saints and in back-to-back weeks no less. How have the Browns been able to topple the mighty? I asked Dawgs By Nature blogger Chris Pokorny.

"Against the Saints, the Browns played a good game but were fortunate to have a couple of huge plays on special teams and defense. On special teams, the Browns ran two trick plays - the first involving Joshua Cribbs throwing the ball laterally to another player across the entire field, and the second involving punter Reggie Hodges running for a near touchdown. On defense, linebacker David Bowens intercepted two passes and ran them back
for touchdowns.

In both games, Cleveland ran a unique defense where only one defensive lineman would have his hand on the ground (announcers called it the amoeba). The rest of the defense was standing and constantly moving, and
Drew Brees and Tom Brady struggled reading the defenses. Neither team had their running game going very well at the time, so that helped Cleveland pull this type of defense off. The Browns ran the ball very well against
the Patriots and arguably had their best gameplan of the season.

Since that game, Cleveland has gone away from the "amoeba" defense for the most part, possibly because the team lost their best linebacker, Scott Fujita, to injury. Nonetheless, the defense has held it together since then, including a great performance against the Dolphins this past Sunday."

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Browns vs. Saints and Pats

Browns fans and media have been hanging their hats on those games all season. Anyone who looks closely sees that both those teams played Pittsburgh the next week. Think maybe they were looking past the Browns? Yeah, me too.

They include a “heart breaking” OT to loss to the Jets as reason to be optimistic too. However, they also barely beat Carolina recently and early in the year were unable to hold onto leads.

I live in the Cleveland area and I hate the Browns and their fans. It only intensifies when the Bills face the Browns. All I’ve heard this week is “how can the Bills be favored over the Browns?” Like their some kind of freakin’ juggernaut or something. I would like nothing more than for Hillis to fall flat on his face, Delhomme to toss a pick six or two and the Bills trounce ’em.

Here's hoping!

by mcmaurer on Dec 10, 2010 9:09 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd

Here’s your “Amen” brother.

Be miserable or motivate yourself. What's to be done it's always YOUR choice.
Hutch-Tech Class of '76 Buffalo born & bred. Bills fan since 1968.

by MtJulietTNBillsFan on Dec 10, 2010 9:24 AM EST up reply actions

who hates the Browns?

No offense dude but it sounds like you are sipping that Haterade a little too hard. To be honest I’m even surprised the Bills are favored over the Browns. Also, its the NFL, even bad teams can surprise a so called contender on any given Sunday (unless you are the 08 Lions).

YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!

by uscBillsGamecock on Dec 10, 2010 10:03 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

I dislike the Browns. I don’t hate their fans like I do fans of other teams, but we are riding a 3 game losing streak to them. So, boooooooo Browns.

"Ability without character will lose. The Bills are going to be a team of high character. That stamp I will push very hard. I hope we can convey that to our fans and project something very special to the rest of the nation." - Marv Levy

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Dec 10, 2010 10:15 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I'm pretty sure Belichick coached teams

don’t look past any opponents.

All your tshirt needs.
Twit wit, minus actual wit.

by twoeightnine on Dec 10, 2010 11:16 AM EST up reply actions

Patriots just made way too many mistakes to stay in the game...

…They fumbled the ball 2 yards away from the goal line and they let a ball drop on a kick off which the Browns recovered. They just were unable to stay in the game.

Pats Pulpit | @Follow Me On Twitter

by Richard Hill on Dec 10, 2010 1:51 PM EST up reply actions