A SICKENING COMPARISON TO 2007
By STEVE KING
As I write this, I am sick to my stomach.
It is the same “sick to my stomach” that I felt 13 years ago.
The latter ailment came after the 2007 Browns lost to the hapless Cincinnati Bengals 19-14 on the road in the next-to-last game of the season. If they had won – and they were heavily favored to do so – they would have clinched an AFC playoff spot. They won the following week with ease at home, 20-7 over the San Francisco 49ers, to finish 10-6, but it still wasn’t enough, as they lost the AFC North championship to the Pittsburgh Steelers on tie-breakers and the conference’s final wild-card spot to the Tennessee Titans on tie-breakers.
The Browns blew that game in Cincinnati, and with it, they blew their whole year, the one nicknamed “the Season of Dreams.”
I am fearful they did the same thing on Sunday with the 23-16 road loss to the hapless New York Jets. Déjà vu all over again?
They can still salvage everything – earn a wild-card berth — by defeating the Steelers at home on Sunday, but it obviously won’t be easy in this, the closest thing the Browns have had since then to the Season of Dreams in 2007.
All of Cleveland’s clinching scenarios: #Browns pic.twitter.com/0Wq5yJE7yP
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 28, 2020
I am so glad that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, especially, and also quarterback Baker Mayfield refused afterward to blame the defeat on the loss of all the players due to COVID-19 protocols. It is owning up to the responsibility of finding a way to win, no matter what, instead of looking for excuses. There is no room for that. That kind of stuff is for losers, and these Browns certainly aren’t losers.
That’s the one positive to this nightmare.
We can only hope that this adherence to responsibility – and taking ownership for what happens, or doesn’t — is present again on Sunday when the Steelers visit.
Cleveland Browns:
- “Browns’ Playoff Chances Take Hit With 23-16 Loss To Jets” (AP) – “After a 23-16 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, the Browns will need to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday if they’re going to end the NFL’s longest playoff drought.”
- Browns biggest concern. Kicking.
- “Baker Mayfield says he ‘failed’ Cleveland Browns with fumbles in loss to New York Jets” (ESPN) – “Still, Mayfield refused to use those key absences, especially at receiver, as an excuse, and he shouldered the blame for the loss.”
- “How the Steelers saved the Browns — and now the Browns can make the playoffs by beating them” (cleveland.com) – “They say the enemy of your enemy is your friend. This time, the Browns’ enemy was their friend.”
- “Kevin Stefanski: Not having receivers is no excuse in Browns’ loss to Jets” (BrownsWire) – “Losing your entire group of starting receivers less than 24 hours before a game is certainly less than ideal.”
- “A weekend and loss like this could only happen to the Browns” (BrownsZone) – “If something like this was ever going to happen to a team in the NFL, it could only be to the team that it happened to.”
- “NFL Week 16 PFF ReFocused: New York Jets 23, Cleveland Browns 16” (PFF) – “Due to trailing the entire bout, Baker Mayfield attempted 53 total passes, completing just 28 for 285 yards and no scores.”
- Gotta mention this tweet below
I know this feels hollow, esp without the team getting the Victory. There is a grand history with @Browns Congrats @NickChubb21 !!! I know U will keep the drive 2B the best going.
— Earnest A. Byner (@EByner) December 27, 2020
As Upush yourself, U will make others on the team better. Love your game! #ForTheLoveOfTheGame pic.twitter.com/q6AsEYRrWt
