2018 Postseason
We’re glad to see Baltimore win their opener, and se we will host our division rival in our playoff debut. Baltimore is led by QB Howie Gordon, who spent is formative years on our bench behind James Houston. He is their #2, but has been doing fine sine taking over the starting role. WR Jeff Quinn is their real threat on offense. Another former Brown, LB Greg Daveria, is probably their best defensive player, and leads a tough group.
AFC Divisional Playoff: Baltimore (9-8) at Cleveland (13-3)
Baltimore gets the ball first, but we force a fumble and cash in for a FG to lead early. Pritchett gets a TD pass late in the first quarter, and we look strong. Midway through the second quarter we lead 16-0, but Greg Daveria returns an interception for a TD to get the Ravens back into the game.
In the middle of the third, the Ravens drive to get within 19-14, and the game is truly still in play. Their next possession, they get another TD, and take a 20-19 edge. After dominating early, our settling for FGs has caught up with us. We get going midway through the fourth, and drive into FG position – but a mind-boggling three straight false starts on FG attempts turn our 36 yard kick into a 51-yarder, and the kick falls short (of course) after a bad snap.
We get a clutch interception, and have one more shot, though. At the 2 minute warning, we are back in FG territory, but I’d much prefer a TD. Stewart takes the ball for 13 and then 9, and that does it – our two-pointer fails, though, and we only lead 25-20.
Baltimore connects on third down, and get a first down at our 39 with 45 seconds left. But S Eskridge comes through with a huge interception, and seals it up for us.
AFC Championship: New York Jets (13-4) at Cleveland (14-3)
We beat the Jets earlier this season, and earned the home field for this rematch.
The Jets’ turnaround started a few seasons ago, behind RB Winston Martinez and QB Randall Kay. Their defense is heavily focused on stopping the run, allowing only 7 more yards than our top-ranked unit. They will be a tough foe.
QB Deion Brock is dinged up, but will start. Mo Treadwell is in the bullpen, but I’d much rather go with our star there down the stretch, especially after such a great year.
We get the ball first, and move downfield to lead with an initial FG. Settling for kicks got us in trouble last week, but we’ll take the points. Our next possession yields another FG, and we lead 6-0. A TD pass to Haass in the second puts us ahead 13-0, and we seem very much in control.
The Jets won’t go without a fight, and Kay drives them for a TD, scrambling in for the score itself. But in the third quarter, we re-extend with a TD pass to Sellers, and take a 19-7 lead. And down the stretch, it’s our air game that buries the Jets, and we power to an impressive 36-7 win to claim our spot in the Superbowl.
Superbowl: New York Giants (15-3) vs. Cleveland Browns (15-3)
The Giants handled the NFC pretty effectively this season, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. They have a solid cast of role players, and a few youngsters added into the mix. QB Max Campbell and DE Duane Sheen were the 1-2 picks in the 2016 draft two seasons ago, and both have developed into key contributors for them. Safety Thurman Jacobs is a veteran leader for them, after a long career starting with our Browns and playing for the Jets for about ten seasons.
Deion Brock’s knee still has him listed as questionable, but he will start once again. DE Seth Hartman is supposedly 100%, and he will start at LDE since Jimmy Fox is injured and unavailable. Most of our other key contributors are ready to go.
On the game’s opening play, Seth Hartman sacks Max Campbell for a 7 yard loss, and we get off on a great foot defensively. The first quarter is mostly a field position battle, until Gus Stewart fumbles after a swing pass, and the Giants get great position. However, our defense holds, and force a punt from our 36. Penalties hurt both sides, as the game stays scoreless into the second quarter.
The Giants break through with a quick-paced, all-passing drive, and they lead 7-0. We respond by discovering our offense, and pull even after a nice long drive. It’s 7-7 at the half.
We open the third quarter with a good drive, but Brock gets picked off in the end zone to squelch the threat. The Giants drive down field for the TD, and it looks like the gloves are off. At 7 minutes, the Giants drive for another TD pass, and we look to be in real trouble. We have 6:10 left, and need to get two scores. We get into the end zone, but with only 1:32 on the clock – down seven, that forces an onside kick. (Glad it’s in the game)
We instead decide to kick off, and depend on our defense. But on third and seven, they run outside and get eight yards, and that ought to seal it. We fall just short this season, as the Giants take the big one, 21-14.
Season Wrap-up
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2018 Awards List
Award Player Team
Player of the Year Roger Ramirez DAL
Front Office Bowl MVP Max Campbell NYG
Coach of the Year Not Yet Awarded
Legend of the Game Not Yet Awarded
Offensive Player of the Year Roger Ramirez DAL
Defensive Player of the Year Sedrick Pedigo TBY
Offensive Rookie of the Year Rickey Bray CAR
Defensive Rookie of the Year Wade Chavez CHI
**All-League First-String Quarterback Deion Brock CLE
All-League First-String Running Back Roger Ramirez DAL
All-League First-String Fullback Josh Halvorson HOU
All-League First-String Tight End Johnnie Jennings GBY
All-League First-String Wide Receiver Sherman McGregor IND
All-League First-String Wide Receiver Jeff Quinn BAL
All-League First-String Center Dexter Gaylor PHI
All-League First-String Offensive Guard Rex Bussey CHI
All-League First-String Offensive Guard Kirk Copeland NYJ
All-League First-String Offensive Tackle Max Latschaw GBY
All-League First-String Offensive Tackle Dwight Bergsman WAS
All-League First-String Punter Matt Hughes NYG
**All-League First-String Kicker Mo Crain CLE
All-League First-String Defensive End Duane Sheen NYG
All-League First-String Defensive End J.R. Westbrook BAL
All-League First-String Defensive Tackle Kevin Kuhlman WAS
All-League First-String Defensive Tackle Brett Hickl BUF
All-League First-String Inside Linebacker Gino Michl SFO
All-League First-String Outside Linebacker Sedrick Pedigo TBY
All-League First-String Outside Linebacker Heath McIntyre ATL
All-League First-String Cornerback Karl Hulton PIT
All-League First-String Cornerback Will Wolf JAX
All-League First-String Safety Mitchell Floyd CAR
All-League First-String Safety Jim Foley NYJ
All-League Second-String Quarterback Randall Kay NYJ
**All-League Second-String Running Back Gus Stewart CLE
All-League Second-String Fullback Percy Schroeder DAL
**All-League Second-String Tight End Karl Sellers CLE
All-League Second-String Wide Receiver Leslie Oliver SEA
All-League Second-String Wide Receiver Darrin Prentice JAX
All-League Second-String Center Benjamin Knaack NYJ
All-League Second-String Offensive Guard Andre Sinclair IND
All-League Second-String Offensive Guard Kurt McDougle SEA
All-League Second-String Offensive Tackle Martin West ARI
All-League Second-String Offensive Tackle Dave Gaylor JAX
All-League Second-String Punter Marc Hedges SFO
All-League Second-String Kicker Scott Schultz NOS
All-League Second-String Defensive End Heath Sampson BUF
All-League Second-String Defensive End Graham Pierce SEA
All-League Second-String Defensive Tackle Graham Emmons CHI
All-League Second-String Defensive Tackle Dennis Schwartz DET
**All-League Second-String Inside Linebacker C.J. Blackwell CLE
All-League Second-String Outside Linebacker Matthew Ingram CIN
All-League Second-String Outside Linebacker Leon Coughlin ARI
All-League Second-String Cornerback Harris Jacobs CHI
All-League Second-String Cornerback Corwin Fisk DEN
All-League Second-String Safety Maurice Garrison MIA
All-League Second-String Safety Derrick Bryant MIA
League's Fastest Man Max Cramer MIN
League's Strongest Man Fred Howard CAR
We are well represented in the all-pro team, but RB Roger Ramirez dashes the hopes of both my stars for the MVP award.
Don Pritchett will be keeping his eyes on WR Rickey Bray, who edged him out for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
I wasn’t certain that we would be top contenders for this season, so the result is a pleasant surprise. Of course, it’s tough to lose as the favorite in the Superbowl, but regardless, this was a good season for the Browns’ faithful.