So many times, we tend to pass judgment too harshly and too quickly. Each week, after we have had a chance to digest the game, here at DawgBones.com we will break down the Cleveland Browns game from the week before. Let us look at the top 5 good things, the top 5 bad things and the top 5 things that failed to impress us in this week’s game. The segment is called 20/20 Browns Hindsight and we hope you enjoy it.



Top 5 Good Things: Chiefs Game

1. Offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson has taken some flak from us as of late, but Sunday he was brilliant. Not only did the Browns line all-purpose performer Joshua Cribbs up at QB, they also ran 2, yes 2, flea flickers. The Browns scored 31 points, the most in any game this year and also tallied 438 yards of offense, also a season high. It may have taken 13 weeks, but on Sunday the Browns offense looked legitimate.

2. The defense as a whole had trouble stopping the Chiefs, but in the 4th quarter, trailing by 14 they came up with two stops to give their offense a chance to tie. Then in overtime they forced the Chiefs to punt after holding them on 3rd and 6. The Browns took possession on their own 22 yard line and marched down the field to win the game.

3. Backup QB Derek Anderson had no idea he would see the field on Sunday and neither did the Browns fans or the Chiefs defense. Anderson led the Browns to 17 un-answered points and a come from behind win on Sunday. The pocket presence and at times ad-libbing that Anderson did was energetic. He showcased an arm that looked like a cannon and made some throws in the red-zone that not just anyone can make. His biggest attribute though on Sunday, his 33 yard scramble to give the Browns a 1st down on the Chiefs 12 yard line. Three plays later the Browns won on a Phil Dawson field goal. It sure is nice to see the Browns have a competent backup QB.

4. The linebackers as a whole played very well Sunday, but the most impressive was probably Willie McGinest. McGinest was everywhere stopping the run and disrupting plays. His 9 tackles were a season best and clearly showed that there is still a lot of life and fight left in the veteran linebacker.

5. Te Steve Heiden is the forgotten man, playing in the shadow of Kellen Winslow II, but he showed Sunday he is as dangerous as ever. The fact that the Browns can run 2 TE's in their offense and get solid performance from both is huge to their offensive success. Heiden snagged 5 passes on Sunday and now has 28 receptions on the season. They say a QB's best friend can be his TE, for young Charlie Frye and Steve Heiden they have 2.



Top 5 Bad Things: Chiefs Game

1. The defense did come up with plays and stops when it needed to, but falling behind by 14 points is not something you want to try and get a way with weekly. The Browns pass offense was abysmal as they struggled matching up with a TE for the first time in 2006. Chiefs TE Tony Gonzales scorched the Browns for 9 catches, 105 yards and 2 TD's. QB Trent Green completed 75% of his passes for 297 yards and 4 TD's. This unit is starting to show wear and tear from a season riddled with injuries.

2. The Browns 3rd down defense was also lousy on Sunday, the Chiefs converted 9-13(69%) of their attempts. The Browns also failed to stop the Chiefs when they had them pinned down on their own 1-yard line after a Dave Zastudil punt. The chiefs marched down field 99-yards and scored a TD.

3. Returning CB Leigh Bodden may have rushed back a week early and it showed. Bodden was beaten time and time again by journeymen receiver Eddie Kennison. Kennison caught 7 balls for 117 yards and a TD. Bodden failed to knock down even a single pass on Sunday. Those stats and Kennison's tell us Bodden may have returned to soon and the Browns were hurt by it.

4. The Browns continue to struggle with their pass rush. Chiefs QB Trent Green dropped back to throw 34 times and the Browns were only able to sack him twice and hurry him 4 other times. This is an area of deep concern and will clearly need to be addressed this off-season.

5. The Chiefs. They had a chance to solidify themselves as a top team in the playoff hunt, but failed to put a way a 3 win team after being up by 14 points in the 4th quarter. They are much better at home, but more then likely if they make the playoffs they will be traveling.



Top 5 things that failed to impress: Chiefs Game

1. DE Alvin McKinley continues to be disappointing. On Sunday he recorded only 3 tackles, but was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. More then likely he is growing increasingly upset with his lack of performance and the organization's lack of commitment to him. McKinley is a free agent after the year and more then likely won't be back.

2. After having his best performance catching the ball against the Bengals a week earlier, WR/PR Dennis Northcutt failed to catch a ball. Like McKinely, Nothcutt is playing his last games as a Cleveland Browns player. If you didn't know it though you would swear he already has.

3. The officials were not very good again on Sunday, surprise, surprise! They flagged Browns DB Brodney Pool for illegal contact on Tony Gonzales, truly a phantom call. They also failed to even review two plays that were crucial. The Browns had a 4th and 1 and called for a QB sneak by Charlie Frye. It did not appear that Frye got the push he needed to get the 1st down, but the zebras gave him the call. As time ran down on regulation the Chiefs called a time out with what appeared to be 1 second remaining in the game. The officials ruled the game was over and that overtime would ensue. Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards said they would have attempted a field-goal, albeit a highly unlikely one, for the win.

4. Browns TE Kellen Winslow II wants to be one of the games best, a playmaker. On Sunday he was the invisible man. Sure he had a beautiful 26-yard grab in overtime, but it was the only ball he caught all day. We truly think he is hurting more then he is letting on, but on game day he needs to produce more.

5. The "so-called" experts out there who again failed to give the Browns credit for a well deserved win. Instead they were talking about how the Chiefs blew the game. Last we looked it takes two to tango and the Browns were just a bit better dancing on Sunday.

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