2016 Regular Season
We get out of the preseason with a few dings, but nothing all that serious. We got a very nice performance in the exhibition games from rookie RB Renaldo Frederickson, and I’m fairly optimistic that he can be a nice asset for us. Clearly, Gus Stewart will be the all-purpose back, but Frederickson will battle Joe Baker for reserve time.
If we are going to have an offensive playmaker in the passing game, it might be WR Joey Newsome. He will start at the flanker spot, and looks like the most refined target we have. My fear is that he will be injury-prone, and that will curtail his productivity. Hopefully, rookie TE Karl Sellers will grow into this role quickly.
Week 1: Baltimore at Cleveland
We’re already dealing with DL injuries, but we cobble together a lineup there to get through the opener, and we win 24-17 on a big fourth quarter effort. Nice Browns debut for WR Joey Newsome, with 7-76 and a TD.
Week 2: Washington (1-0) at Cleveland (1-0)
We get a defensive effort here that saves the day, as we win 9-6. DE Jimmy Fox (a long time Brown, by the way) gets the game ball with two sacks – right now, he is by far our best pure defensive end.
Week 3: Cleveland (2-0) at Denver (0-2)
QB Kim Roux, longtime Houston Texan, now leads the Broncos – and they shake off their bad start with a 27-24 win over us at their place. James Houston’s 4 interceptions probably spell the difference – we were otherwise very effective on offense. Houston is diagnosed with a broken hand, and I’ll sit him for a couple of weeks – we’ll call on Deion Brock.
Week 4: Cleveland (2-1) at Buffalo (1-2)
Buffalo bottles up Gus Stewart pretty well (20-42) but we manage to eke out a 16-10 win behind 313 yards passing from Deion Brock.
Week 5: Pittsburgh (2-2) at Cleveland (3-1)
At home against division rival Pittsburgh we unleash the f-ing fury, and whup on then 52-7. Deion Brock throws for 4 TD passes, and we get James Houston back into action, and he adds two more. Right now, I have to wonder whether Deion Brock is the more effective QB—he has a 5/0 TD/Int ratio right now, which is awfully good. However, with Houston healthy and Brock nursing a bum knee, we reinstate Houston as the starter.
Week 6: Miami (2-3) at Cleveland (4-1)
We survive a late scare here, and come away with a nice 23-21 win. Gus Stewart has 153 yards rushing as we lead most of the way, and take measures to cover up a bit.
Week 7: New York Jets (3-3) at Cleveland (5-1)
The jets have an exciting rookie QB in Randall Kay, but we outgun them here 48-21. James Houston makes a big statement with a huge effort – 271 yards, 4 TDs, no picks. Solid effort, and we are looking pretty sharp – even on defense, where I am very worried about our depth.
Week 8: Cleveland (6-1) at New England (1-6)
Another 100 yards from Stewart, and another QB injury – Houston goes down with a knee, and will miss a few weeks. Brock looks great in his stead, and we take a 28-6 win. DT Gary Cascadden, in his return since his latest injury, has 7 tackles – and he means a lot to our defensive front.
Through 8 games, here are our team’s vital stats:
Code:
Record: 7-1
Winning Pct.: .875
Cleveland Browns Team Rank
Rushes 227 4
Rushing Yards 1031 6
Yards Per Carry 4.54 8
Pass Attempts 292 5 (T)
Completions 188 1
Passing Yards 1910 3
Yards Per Attempt 6.54 11
3rd Down Conversions 48.5 3
Points Per Game 28.0 2
Turnovers 12 18 (T)
Turnover Margin +9 3 (T)
Opponents Team Rank
Rushes 208 22
Rushing Yards 755 16
Yards Per Carry 3.62 3
Pass Attempts 253 18 (T)
Completions 146 19
Passing Yards 1636 19
Yards Per Attempt 6.46 18
3rd Down Conversions 37.8 9
Points Per Game 14.7 5
Turnovers 21 2
We once again are thriving off the turnover – S Kenneth Eskridge has 4 picks, and is on pace once again to be among the league leaders in interceptions. We have also caused the most fumbles in the league – I don’t know how that happens (punishing hitter ratings, maybe). Our run defense has been solid again, even with DT Cascadden missing most of the season so far. DE Jimmy Fox, with 7.5 sacks, may be on his way to a career year, and has snapped out of a long time depression. We’re looking pretty solid – an RB Gus Stewart has nearly 1,000 total yards, and will again pursue the 2,000 yard park for the season.
Week 9: Cleveland (7-1) at Baltimore (3-4)
We effectively drub the Ravens 24-7, topping it off with an interception TD from reserve safety Jason Arnold. DT Zack Bailey has 6+2 tackles and 2 sacks to get the game ball – the defense played very well here.
As I had feared, we have lost WR Jimmy Newsome to an injury – he has broken his leg, and will miss 9 weeks. We may have him back for the playoffs, but not before then, it seems. There goes our chance at a 1,000-yard receiver – Newsome had 569 yards through 9 games. We’ll use Cornelius Tilton (the touchdown maker) in his place.
Also as feared, we have lost DT Gary Cascadden to a serious injury- and he will be out for the full year, and maybe beyond. He’s just gotten brittle, and this is what he amounts to now – a few good games, and a lot of missed time.
Week 11: Cleveland (8-1) at Cincinnati (7-2)
Huge division game – our chance to put it away, probably. We’ll go with Deion Brock at QB, ahead of Houston, who has been upgraded to probable, but is still not 100%.
We get a great start, forcing a three and out and then getting Van Harmon to take the punt all the way for an opening TD. The Cinti defense is tough, but we prevail 27-11 to get the two-game lead in the division.
Week 12: Philadelphia (10-0) ay Cleveland (9-1)
What a matchup in the regular season! Regrettably, legendary QB Jacques Cheatham has been injured the last couple of weeks, and they are going with Kenny Capstick (a former Bengal QB) to lead them. But their offensive line is jus unbelievably good, and we expect trouble regardless. This is a great team that they have in Philly (Earnest Carlyle, my former coach, has left for Pittsburgh – so he’s no longer at the helm there).
In a supposed clash of titans, here is the main stat line you need to see:
Code:
Total Plays 47 71
Total Yards 136 346
Yards Per Play 2.8 4.8
Our defense just dominated the game, and we win it 23-3. Gus Stewart was solid, Deion Brock was very solid, and we put together a great win to hand them their first loss.
Week 13: Jacksonville (7-4) at Cleveland (10-1)
I pegged JAX as an up-and-coming team last season, and they seem to be right on track. 3rd year QB Quentin Quinn and 2nd yr RB Winfred Mandzuk make a formidable pair for the emerging offense. The two of them, as it turns out, put together a great game, and the Jags upset us at our place, 27-20. Brock throws two picks, but it was their offense that really made the difference.
We remain comfortably ahead for the division and a very likely bye week, though.
Week 14: Cleveland (10-2) at New York Giants (4-8)
Deion Brock rebounds, still in as our starter, with 287 yards and 4 TD passes, leading us to a 32-18 win. Tyrone Gover, a former Brown himself, leads the Giants passing attack to 354 yards – but we wrap up the win.
Week 15: Cincinnati (7-6) at Cleveland 11-2)
The Bengals, behind QB Edwin Sanderson, put up a great effort, and upset us at our place 31-24. They got help from a kickoff return TD and a fumble return TD, but ended up with a very nice effort to hold on to win.
Week 16: Cleveland (11-3) at Dallas (8-6)
We need to bounce back here, after losing two of three at home. We have James Houston back in as the starter, but the offense is just flat. We lose 13-6, and our tumble continues – not the right time of year to have a team crisis. We are still a lock for the bye week, but now Jacksonville is an edge ahead for the #1 seed.
Week 17: Cleveland (11-4) at Pittsburgh (7-8)
We get the game we wanted, with Deion Brock back in the saddle, a 31-21 win. Not exactly a titanic win, but we needed a good offensive effort to recharge the batteries for our bye week. We get six sacks from the DL, including two from old man Willie Oliveira – a starter in the absence of Cascadden.
Code:
2016 Regular Season Standings
AC North W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div
Cleveland 12 4 0 .750 411 249 9-3 5-1
Cincinnati 9 7 0 .563 351 356 8-4 4-2
Baltimore 9 7 0 .563 314 241 7-5 3-3
Pittsburgh 7 9 0 .438 333 395 6-6 0-6
AC South W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div
Jacksonville 12 4 0 .750 385 268 9-3 5-1
Houston 8 8 0 .500 278 318 7-5 3-3
Tennessee 8 8 0 .500 324 340 7-5 3-3
Indianapolis 5 11 0 .313 301 341 3-9 1-5
AC East W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div
New York J 8 8 0 .500 275 288 5-7 4-2
Miami 6 10 0 .375 301 313 5-7 5-1
Buffalo 5 11 0 .313 324 334 4-8 3-3
New England 3 13 0 .188 184 436 2-10 0-6
AC West W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div
Denver 9 7 0 .563 365 374 7-5 4-2
San Diego 8 8 0 .500 268 258 7-5 4-2
Oakland 8 8 0 .500 268 329 7-5 2-4
Kansas City 5 11 0 .313 275 359 3-9 2-4
NC North W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div
Minnesota 11 5 0 .688 356 268 8-4 5-1
Green Bay 8 8 0 .500 356 366 6-6 3-3
Detroit 8 8 0 .500 339 318 5-7 3-3
Chicago 2 14 0 .125 282 425 1-11 1-5
NC South W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div
New Orleans 11 5 0 .688 431 352 9-3 5-1
Tampa Bay 10 6 0 .625 334 291 6-6 2-4
Carolina 8 8 0 .500 426 368 5-7 3-3
Atlanta 7 9 0 .438 363 369 6-6 2-4
NC East W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div
Philadelphia 11 5 0 .688 336 312 10-2 4-2
Dallas 10 6 0 .625 323 288 6-6 4-2
Washington 9 7 0 .563 285 276 6-6 3-3
New York G 5 11 0 .313 325 362 4-8 1-5
NC West W L T Pct PF PA Conf Div
San Francisco 10 6 0 .625 337 299 8-4 6-0
Seattle 8 8 0 .500 406 285 5-7 3-3
Arizona 8 8 0 .500 323 334 6-6 2-4
St. Louis 8 8 0 .500 247 314 5-7 1-5
Philadelphia suffered a terrible season collapse without QB Jacques Cheatham, and barely hold on for their bye week. But he ought to be back for the playoffs, and they’ll be tough again.
We have both AFC wild cards come from our division – tough place to play, it seems. As the #2 seed, we would have to play at Jacksonville, if it comes to that.
Code:
2016 Summary for Cleveland Browns
Record: 12-4
Winning Pct.: .750
Cleveland Browns Team Rank
Rushes 451 14
Rushing Yards 1932 11
Yards Per Carry 4.28 12
Pass Attempts 541 19
Completions 334 7
Passing Yards 3490 17
Yards Per Attempt 6.45 14
3rd Down Conversions 42.7 11
Points Per Game 25.6 3
Turnovers 20 6 (T)
Turnover Margin +12 2 (T)
Opponents Team Rank
Rushes 404 6
Rushing Yards 1443 1
Yards Per Carry 3.57 1
Pass Attempts 562 26 (T)
Completions 312 18
Passing Yards 3577 20
Yards Per Attempt 6.36 15
3rd Down Conversions 38.0 7
Points Per Game 15.5 2
Turnovers 32 4
Week Team Versus Oppnt
1 24 BAL 17
2 9 WAS 6
3 24 at DEN 27
4 16 at BUF 10
5 52 PIT 7
6 23 MIA 21
7 48 NYJ 21
8 28 at NED 9
9 24 at BAL 7
11 27 at CIN 11
12 23 PHI 3
13 20 JAX 27
14 32 at NYG 18
15 24 CIN 31
16 6 at DAL 13
17 31 at PIT 21
Passing Pos Att Comp Yards Y/Att TD Int
2 Brock QB 294 186 2086 7.09 21 3
7 Houston QB 246 147 1396 5.67 11 8
**Team --- 541 334 3490 6.45 32 11
Rushing Pos Att Yards Y/Att TD
39 Stewart RB 300 1384 4.61 7
28 Frederickson RB 59 222 3.76 1
36 Baker RB 52 217 4.17 1
**Team --- 451 1932 4.28 10
Receiving Pos Targ Catch Yards Y/Ctc YAC TD
39 Stewart RB 103 79 580 7.3 236 4
83 Tilton WR 97 49 723 14.7 123 7
89 Harmon WR 83 46 501 10.8 80 4
87 Newsome WR 70 43 569 13.2 91 3
80 Sellers TE 59 38 399 10.5 80 3
32 Lesky WR 46 26 293 11.2 27 5
45 Brandon FB 27 21 108 5.1 51 2
**Team --- 540 334 3490 10.4 742 32
Defense Pos Tack Asst Sack Hurr Ints Defn
55 Davis ILB 90 23 8.0 12 2 4
97 Blackwell ILB 82 36 1.0 1 3 10
20 Eskridge S 81 38 1.0 0 6 17
91 Dodge OLB 73 35 4.0 5 2 5
24 Weed S 68 20 1.0 0 1 3
46 Caston CB 65 12 0.0 1 1 7
96 Bailey DT 63 20 13.0 32 0 0
40 Diaz CB 55 14 1.0 2 1 5
93 Fox DE 31 7 11.0 11 0 0
76 Oliveira DT 30 7 3.5 9 0 0
47 Arnold S 30 2 2.0 1 1 3
92 Winters DT 28 16 1.5 3 0 0
58 Frederick OLB 19 9 6.0 17 0 0
**Team --- 817 254 53.0 100 20 56
Deion Brock really played well, and we finally settle on him as our starter with the big win in the final game. So, in Cleveland tradition, he strains his calf in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh, and is listed as out for three weeks. James Houston will have to lead us – not too bad, really, but what a weird twist of fate we seem to get every year. (I could look back, but I know we have had starting QB injuries in the playoffs more seasons than not)