Monday is the 40th anniversary of former Browns defensive end Joe “Turkey” Jones’ spike-sack of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback on Oct. 10, 1976 at Cleveland Stadium.
That seems fitting since the Browns were dropped onto their heads on Sunday in a 33-13 loss to the New England Patriots at FirstEnergy Stadium in a game that was over by halftime.
That was expected. So was Browns head coach Hue Jackson’s comment afterward that the Patriots, a juggernaut for a decade and a half, are what the Browns, who have struggled for a decade and a half, want to be like someday.
The Patriots put on a clinic. It was like the varsity playing the JVs.
What is the biggest lesson that Jackson and the Browns should have taken away from the loss?
That a quarterback makes all the difference in the world. Last week, the Patriots lost to the Buffalo Bills, of all teams. Their offense went nowhere. This week, they added Tom Brady and they were back to their old selves.
So, then, the biggest difference in the teams is that while Brady may end up winning his fifth Super Bowl championship this season, the Browns are hoping that Charlie Whitehurst – Charlie Whitehurst! – will be healthy enough to play next Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
