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the Browns were 'giddy' after Pats win

bitonti

By bitonti
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bitonti

bitonti

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I know everyones all worried about the Browns, but they seem like they are on an emotional roller coaster. and it's gonna crash this week.

Browns giddy after upset win

By Marla Ridenour / Akron Beacon Journal | Monday, November 8, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Columnists

Photo by AP

CLEVELAND — Giddiness reigned on the Browns’ sideline in the final 2½ minutes of Sunday’s 34-14 pounding of the Patriots [team stats].

Quarterback Brett Ratliff doused coach Eric Mangini with the Gatorade bucket and Mangini smiled and savored every drop, saying it felt "warm and refreshing."

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan gave offensive coordinator Brian Daboll a potentially lethal belly shove. Left tackle Joe Thomas chest-bumped Daboll and knocked him to the ground.

"We saw how excited he was after that touchdown, I thought it would be kind of fun to go over there and knock him over," Thomas said. "We’re not worried about him going on IR."

Mangini and his staff had just won their Super Bowl, so it was no wonder Mangini couldn’t wipe the grin off his face in his post-game press conference.

He’d beaten his mentor, Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Not just beaten him, but annihilated him.

The only way it would have felt better was if it had come in the AFC Championship Game.

The outcome didn’t keep Mangini and Belichick from exchanging a quick handshake and a "Good game" afterward. Daboll received a hug from Belichick.

"We didn’t do a good job on anything today," Belichick said afterward. "Pick any subject you want and say, ’How did it go?’ and it wasn’t very good."

Few saw this coming. The Browns (3-5) had upset the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in their last game, and Mangini was 3-1 after bye weeks. The Patriots (6-2) had won five straight, boasted the best record in the NFL and had the league’s leading MVP candidate in quarterback Tom Brady [stats].

But Mangini, Daboll, Ryan and special teams coordinator Brad Seely had all worked for Belichick with the Patriots. They knew that New England’s defense was short on playmakers, that Brady was operating with limited weapons since Randy Moss was traded. They used the extra time to draw up the perfect game plan.

They also had nothing to lose except their jobs, which seemed like a foregone conclusion a month ago. Even a week ago, for that matter.

On Tuesday, president Mike Holmgren had little positive to say about the staff other than they were hard workers.

So they threw caution to the wind again, just as they’d done in the Superdome. In rookie Colt McCoy’s third start, Daboll came out with aggressive play calls, throwing a 21-yard pass to the forgotten Mohamed Massaquoi on the first play as the Browns drove to a field goal.

After safety Ray Ventrone’s fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff, Daboll went for the jugular, calling for a sideline route to 6-foot-6 tight end Evan Moore, who pulled it in for a 17-yard gain to the Patriots’ 2.

Peyton Hillis scored on the next play.

"I told him, ’I’m throwing you a rebound, go catch it,’ " McCoy said of Moore, who played basketball at Stanford.

Armed with a 10-0 lead before Brady had touched the ball, the all-out assault continued.

Mangini went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Browns’ 36 with nine minutes left in the first quarter, with McCoy calling for a shift, then gaining 3 yards. Daboll even went to the fumblerooskie family for receiver Chansi Stuckey’s 11-yard TD run in the second quarter that put the Browns ahead 17-7.

"You’re never going to get to really where you want to by holding back," Stuckey said of Daboll’s calls. "I commend him for that — for not holding back and playing lights out. You can’t have any regrets at the end of the game."

Thomas knew that Daboll may have felt under siege after Holmgren questioned the offensive philosophy last week.

"We knew this was a huge game for him," Thomas said of Daboll. "This was his first job as a coordinator. On offense we’ve all had our share of question marks."

Holmgren may understand the Browns’ offense a little better today after watching the Patriots’ tight end-centric passing game. He may also have a better appreciation for the talents of Mangini, now 3-5 against Belichick and a winner of their last two meetings.

Stuckey and Ratliff are among the Browns who played for Mangini during his three-year stint with the New York Jets [team stats], the Browns’ next opponent.

The back-to-back games had Mangini conjuring up an obscure 2009 chick flick starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.

Asked what the victory meant to him personally, Mangini said: "It feels great. I feel like I’m in that movie, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, how we had New England this week and the Jets next week.

"It’s special to me because of our guys, because of our team, not because of their team. It’s a good group of guys that work hard and for me to see them be rewarded with the victories, that’s what’s special."

Mangini tried not to make it about him. But his players knew. They probably didn’t see Mangini staring at Belichick’s back during pregame warmups, just hoping he’d turn around and they’d have a chance to begin repairing their broken friendship.

More than once, Belichick did the same thing. They were 20 yards apart and never met in the middle until it was over.

"A lot of people thought Eric didn’t have a shot against Bill," linebacker David Bowens said. "But today showed what Eric’s capable of, what kind of game plan he can put together. When we all have our mind set on that game plan, we’re pretty good."

Bowens admitted he was the "setup guy" in Mangini’s Gatorade shower. And Mangini didn’t mind one bit.

"That’s one thing about Eric this year. He’s more relaxed, he’s more calm," Bowens said. "He’s a heck of a coach when he’s able to coach."

No one would have said that when the Browns were 1-5. But now they’ve beaten two playoff-caliber teams. Hillis is running like Kevin Mack, especially in the fourth quarter. McCoy is managing games and not turning the ball over. Mangini and his staff are coaching to win, not like they’re afraid to lose.

Let the chest-bumping continue. Daboll can take the pounding.

___

Visit Akron Beacon Journal Online at http://www.ohio.com/.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1294847

from a pure football perspective, i think the game is easier than we think. all they can do is run. Jets stop the run. They have weak OLB and secondary and the Jets passing offense seems to have come alive like Frampton. the D seems to injure the other teams... watch out Colt.

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THE ILK

THE ILK

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I know everyones all worried about the Browns, but they seem like they are on an emotional roller coaster. and it's gonna crash this week.

from a pure football perspective, i think the game is easier than we think. all they can do is run. Jets stop the run. They have weak OLB and secondary and the Jets passing offense seems to have come alive like Frampton. the D seems to injure the other teams... watch out Colt.

They also shut down brees and brady the last two weeks, while we've had trouble scoring.

Yes we can stop the run, but it won't be an easy game.

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bitonti

bitonti

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it should also be noted they could have a qb controversy. Delhomme and Wallace return from injury this week. Either choice is good for the Jets. If it's Delhomme or Wallace, those guys might be rusty, or flat out aren't good. if it's Colt McCoy, he's not that great either (pick 6 against KC). Basically their game is Payton Hillis all day long with some trick plays thrown in there. If the Jets shut down Hillis, they don't got much.

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SenorGato

SenorGato

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it should also be noted they could have a qb controversy. Delhomme and Wallace return from injury this week. Either choice is good for the Jets. If it's Delhomme or Wallace, those guys might be rusty, or flat out aren't good. if it's Colt McCoy, he's not that great either (pick 6 against KC). Basically their game is Payton Hillis all day long with some trick plays thrown in there. If the Jets shut down Hillis, they don't got much.

I hope they start Wallace. That motherf*cker goes down with Hillis.

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slowmoe57

slowmoe57

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I hope they start Wallace. That motherf*cker goes down with Hillis.

Colt McKoy beats the Saints and Pats -- If he doesnt start the Brown fans may revolt - anyway I had the utmost confidence last week against Detroit and look what happened .

No matter I still have the utmost confidence. This game not scaring me - B)

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slats

slats

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But Mangini, Daboll, Ryan and special teams coordinator Brad Seely had all worked for Belichick with the Patriots. They knew that New England’s defense was short on playmakers, that Brady was operating with limited weapons since Randy Moss was traded. They used the extra time to draw up the perfect game plan.

They don't have the extra week for the Jets, but they know the staff here. Mangini knows Schottenheimer, and Rob probably has a pretty good feel for Rex. Mangini had what seems to be a pretty amicable split from the Jets. Don't see the same revenge factor he has against Belichick. But he'll be looking to beat his old team in a real way. This game will be bigger to him than most on his schedule this year. Not as big as the Pats, but big.

Biggest difference between the Jets and the Pats is that the Jets can play defense. Browns got a gift TD against the Pats, and were up 10-0 before Brady took the field. Just don't see that sort of thing happening this week. Pats have a great QB and limited options, Jets have a limited QB with a ton of options. Completely different team for the Browns to defend.

Browns have been playing real loose the last couple weeks. Be interesting to see if they tighten up as expectations start to grow.

Game'll probably be tighter than I'd like.

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LionelRichie

LionelRichie

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Browns are playing really well right now. They are basically 2 plays away from 5-3 and may have had the hardest schedule in the NFL so far this season. I think the Jets win another close one on the road - if they can stop the run I just don't see Cleveland scoring.

The combined record of Cleveland opponents is 42-23. Losses to Pit, Balt, ATL, and NE are nothing to be ashamed of....oops they actually beat NE.

When Holmgren cans Mangini at the end of the year to become HC he'll point to the teams record. In all fairness to Mangini CLE has played a brutal schedule and they have been right in just about every game.

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rick34125

rick34125

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I know everyones all worried about the Browns, but they seem like they are on an emotional roller coaster. and it's gonna crash this week.

from a pure football perspective, i think the game is easier than we think. all they can do is run. Jets stop the run. They have weak OLB and secondary and the Jets passing offense seems to have come alive like Frampton (is Peter Frampton still alive? has the Jets offense really come alive?). the D seems to injure the other teams... watch out Colt.

2 teams with no offense should make for an interesting game this sunday.

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Boozer76

Boozer76

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PIT is the only team that flat out blew up CLE. As I recall CLE had late game leads on TB, KC, and BAL in the first 3 weeks of the season. they really are a couple plays here and there away from being 5-3, maybe even 6-2. Just like we're 2 plays away from being 4-4 (DEN and DET). Bottom line is CLE is playing inspired football and seems to be beginning to understand how to win football games. This is not a team to sleep on at all.

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SenorGato

SenorGato

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PIT is the only team that flat out blew up CLE. As I recall CLE had late game leads on TB, KC, and BAL in the first 3 weeks of the season. they really are a couple plays here and there away from being 5-3, maybe even 6-2. Just like we're 2 plays away from being 4-4 (DEN and DET). Bottom line is CLE is playing inspired football and seems to be beginning to understand how to win football games. This is not a team to sleep on at all.

I think the lesson to take from the past 3 weeks is that no team is really a joke on Sunday. Even crappy teams will put up a fight, especially if everyone is calling them the clearly lesser team.

I wonder if the D will finally crap on an offense though...The Browns offense really isn't even all that talented after you get past the Thomas-Steinbach-Mack side of the OL...After that the only guys who've really shown anything significant is the FB (Vickers), a decent veteran TE (Watson), and a solid young WR in Massaquoi.

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The Crusher

The Crusher

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PIT is the only team that flat out blew up CLE. As I recall CLE had late game leads on TB, KC, and BAL in the first 3 weeks of the season. they really are a couple plays here and there away from being 5-3, maybe even 6-2. Just like we're 2 plays away from being 4-4 (DEN and DET). Bottom line is CLE is playing inspired football and seems to be beginning to understand how to win football games. This is not a team to sleep on at all.

If the Jets of the last three games show up we lose. We need to not make mistakes and not turn the ball over. I'm hoping they have a letdown game after the last. We have to play very disciplines to win.

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whodeawhodat

whodeawhodat

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It's pretty sad that we are talking about other teams having a let down to help us win a game. We have the roster, we need to take the win. We were out worked for 3 quarters against the Lions. We need to be the physical team and take it to our opponent. That was our motto last year, teams dont want to play us. This year, I am not so sure. It is like we have skill players so we dont have to bully other teams into submission like we did last year. Just my $0.02, we dont look as physical and I miss it...

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