A windy day in Cincinnati could change everything
A windy day in Cincinnati could change everything
Today at Paul Brown Stadium could be a variation of 2007 all over again with one big difference: There is no Jamal Lewis for the Browns to turn to in case of emergency.
The weather forecast in Cincinnati around kickoff calls for temperatures around 68 degrees, with strong storms and winds from the south at 23 mph.
Chudzinski was the offensive coordinator in 2007 when the Browns rode into Paul Brown Stadium with a 9 5 record and a chance to clinch a playoff spot. They rode away 19 14 losers, their spirits crushed and their playoff hopes blown away like a paper napkin tossed from the upper deck.
The day was cold six years ago when the Browns faced the Bengals in a game critical only to the visitors. The Bengals went into the game with a Phil Kessel Youth Jersey 5 9 record.
The temperature at kickoff was 31 degrees with a wind chill of 18 degrees because of the winds that were gusting from 19 to 30 mph in a matter of seconds.
Players can brave cold weather. Manly men proudly play bare armed on days when fans are bundled in cocoons of parkas and blankets.
Playing in the wind more specifically stubbornly calling pass plays in the wind did the Browns in that day.
Lewis carried the ball 21 times for 92 yards. Derek Anderson passed the ball 48 times. He completed 29 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns. He threw four interceptions. He threw two of them in the final 1:30 of the second quarter.
The first interception was on a pass intended for Jason Wright thrown on first down from the Browns 43. Bengals safety Chinedum Ndukwe swiped it at the Browns 49 and returned the ball to the Cleveland 5. Houshmanzadeh and increase the Bengals lead to 13 0 with 1:05 left in the half.
The Browns took over at their 20 after a personal foul penalty on D Qwell Jackson set the Browns back 15 yards from the 35 with 57 seconds to play.
Did Anderson take a knee or handoff to Lewis so the Browns could go in at halftime and regroup? You know the answer to that one.
Anderson went to the air again on first down, this time on a short pass over the middle intended for Colin Kaepernick Youth Jersey Braylon Edwards. Leon Hall intercepted at the Browns 32 and returned it to the 20. The Bengals scored on the third play when Kenny Watson plowed into the end zone from the 1. A two point conversion failed, but it did not matter. The Bengals led, 19 0, with 26 seconds left in the second period.
Anderson lined up in the shotgun with 19 seconds left in the half, but that time he did the smart thing: He handed off to Lewis, and the half ended.
The following week, the Browns beat the 49ers to finish 10 6, but later in the day the Titans beat the Colts to finish 10 6 and win the final playoff spot on a tiebreaker.
It was a game that we needed to win and were not able to win, Chudzinski said Monday when asked what he recalled from the game. Certainly that was a disappointment for us and for me, and one of those games that you ll always remember.
I think every experience is a learning experience. That particular day, we did what we felt like, and what I felt like we needed to do to win in that case. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn t.
Coaches always pay close attention to the forecast when weather can be a factor. Phil Dawson was so diligent as the Browns kicker, he would check the seven day forecast the day after a game no matter whether the Browns would be home or away the next Sunday.
We ve tracked that, Chudzinski said Friday. The weather report typically changes every day you look at it. That s not uncommon this time of year. We ll make adjustments at game time or the night before when we get a better idea. You plan to have enough things, regardless of the type of weather that you can adjust.
If weather forces both teams to run, the advantage goes to the Bengals. The Bengals have rushed the ball 288 times for 1,081 yards and seven touchdowns. The Browns have rushed it 199 times for 734 yards and one touchdown.
How they http://www.authenticusahockey.com/WOMENS-OLYMPIC-RYAN-MILLER-JERSEY.html finish
The Browns (4 5) would move to within a half game of the Bengals in the AFC North by winning today.
Following is a list of how each team in the division finishes the regular season, including games today. Note the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens play four of their last six games at home. The Browns play www.49ersnflofficialproshop.com/49ers-colin-kaepernick-jersey-c-1_10.html three of their last four on the road:
Bengals (6 4): Cleveland (4 5), Bye, at San Diego (4 5), Indianapolis (7 3), at Pittsburgh (3 6), Minnesota (2 7), Baltimore (4 5).
Browns (4 5): At Cincinnati (6 4), Pittsburgh (3 6), Jacksonville (1 8), at New England (7 2), Chicago (5 4), at New York Jets (5 4), at Pittsburgh (3 6).
Ravens (4 5): at Chicago (4 5), Jets (5 4), Pittsburgh (3 6), Minnesota (2 7), at Detroit (6 3), New England (7 2), at Cincinnati (6 4)
Steelers (3 6): Detroit (6 3), at Cleveland (4 5), at Baltimore (4 5), Miami (4 5), Cincinnati (6 4), at Green Bay (5 4), Cleveland (4 5).
Draft order watch
If the season were over and the draft was held on Monday, at least 10 teams would be picking before the Browns the Jaguars, Buccaneers, Falcons, Texans, Vikings, Bills, Raiders, Steelers, Giants and Redskins.