On the down side....

The Browns have absolutely no outside receivers capable of playing in the National Football League. It's now apparent that Browns opponents can concentrate their efforts on stopping the Browns running game and short passes and that places limits on what the Browns offense can achieve.

What is particularly discouraging about this is that the Browns, in spite of having made real improvements to the team this year, are very likely to finish with a worse record in 2010 than the disaster of a season they had in 2009. We will have to hope that the 2011 draft will yield a top flight playmaker at wide receiver and that he can hit the ground running otherwise it might be 2012 or 2013 before we have a competitive team.

.......all this of course, if the 2011 season is not destroyed by a work stoppage.

Another defeat but all is not lost

...but there were a few positives today:

- Colt McCoy looked good, throwing for 281 yards. One of his two intercepts could have been caught.

- The Browns defense almost managed to keep the Steelers and a rusty Ben Roethelisberger under control. But Big Ben got his bearings in the second half and managed to exploit openings in the Browns pass D.

- Inspite of the fact that gamer Josh Cribbs fought to continue playing, the Browns were smart enough to sit him after he suffered a nasty concussion. The team should be applauded for this.

- The Brown Log almost exactly nailed the final score, missing by 3 total points. Our prediction was Steelers 26, Browns 9 and the final was Steelers 28, Browns 10.


the Browns are now 1-5 on the season and our next loss will be on the road next Sunday against defending Super Bowl champions New Orleans.

BL Live Blog

Punter Reggie Hodges is the Browns MVP today. Down 14-3 good punts won't help any longer

BL LiveBlog

I thought Colt looked good in the first half. Calm and much improved since the preseason. We are still in this game

BL Live Blog: the NFL chess game

First time all year I've seen the Browns make a major first half adjustment. By putting a receiver in motion, faking an end around, the Browns opened holes for Hillis. They clearly noted a Steelers key and threw a wrench into it. Love it!

BL Live Blog: Cribbs

An illegal helmet to helmet hit on Cribbs

BL Live blog: 0 man defensive line

Twice on passing downs the Browns have used no down lineman.

BL Live Blog

Great play by Haden!
Playmakers win games and that was a great intercept and return

BL Live blog

Coly looked great on the 18 yard pass to Moore.
He looked like a rookie on the sack.
The intercept was actually a beautiful pass that the receiver didn't catch.
Good start.

BL Predicts: Week Six vs. the Steelers

There is no rational reason to choose anyone other than Pittsburgh to win this Sunday.
It's likely Colt's NFL debut, so the Browns go with a rookie QB going against Big Ben in his grand return.
We are on the road and have nowhere near the depth the Steelers.

Looks like a long day is in store.

BL Predicts

Steelers 26
Browns 9


BL is 2-3 so far this year, which is better than the Brownies at 1-4. We should get back to .500 this week

Think positive

Year to date, the Browns have faced the second toughest schedule in the NFL. Their opponents have a record of 16-7.

The Colt Era

Nobody imagined the Browns would be 1-4 after 5 games and that Colt McCoy would be a starter by game 6 vs the Steelers. In all likelihood Colt will answer the call this Sinday (Roethlisberger returns for the Steelers, hence 'Sin'day). Let's hope it's the beginning of the Colt era, and not yet another false start.

BL Predicts: Week Five vs. the Falcons

Sometimes it's useless to think too much. The fact is that the Browns have almost always kicked the Falcons asses (Browns are 10-2 lifetime vs the Falcons) and this years matchup will be played at home.

BL Predicts

Browns 27
Falcons 21

BL year to date prediction record 2-2