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 we hope you enjoy it.



Top 5 Good Things: Bengals Game

1. We have been on CB Leigh Bodden most of the year for his sub-par play, but on Sunday he came to play. Not only did Bodden pick off Bengals QB Carson Palmer twice, both of his returns gave the Browns the ball inside the Bengals 30 yard line. Bodden also defensed 3 more passes and added 5 tackles on the day. If the Browns make the playoffs he will need to keep playing at the level he was at on Sunday.

2. The Browns defense was put on a short field late in the 2nd quarter, but refused to cave in when the game looked out of reach. They only allowed 270 yards to the Bengals and forced 3 turnovers. In the past 5 games the Browns have only allowed 1 opponent to score more then 20 points on them, the Arizona Cardinals, and 7 of those points were scored by the Cardinals defense. They are playing their best as the playoffs approach, but that may not matter now.

3. WR Braylon Edwards followed up his pro bowl selection on Sunday by catching 8 balls, 2 for touchdowns. The 2 TD's gave Edwards 15 on the season and a new club record for TD receptions in a single season. If not for the record setting season by Randy Moss in New England, Braylon Edwards would be the toast of the NFL right now. One thing is for sure, he is now in the same class as Moss and Terrell Owens.

4. LB Andra Davis followed up his best and biggest game of the year against the Bills with his best and biggest play of the year against the Bengals. With the Browns trailing 19-14 and the Bengals running out the clock Davis forced a Kenny Watson fumble at the Browns 17 yard line with 1:55 to play. Although the Browns were unable to capitalize and win the game, the play gave them a chance none the less. It appears Davis is playing his best football of the year as is the entire defense.

5. The Browns ran the ball very effectively in Cincinnati averaging 5.2 yards per carry on 26 team attempts. RB Jason Wright was able to gouge the Bengals defense for big yards, 3 carries for 38 yards, when the Browns spread them out defensively. More then likely we will see that again when these two teams meet in the future.



Top 5 Bad Things: Bengals Game

1. The fact that red hot RB Jamal Lewis carried the ball only 11 times in the 1st half was alarming. On the game he only toted the ball 21 times. All this after one of his most productive games of the year against the Bills. The fact that he wasn't used more is the equivalent of having all your timeouts at the end of a football game knowing that if you had used them along the way the game could have been different.

2. Head coach Romeo Crennel needs to shoulder a lot of blame for allowing his team to go up against the Bengals with only 5 defensive linemen knowing 4 of them were on the injury report earlier in the week. DT Ethan Kelley was out early in the game with a knee injury and was joined later by DE Robaire Smith who hurt his neck again, the same neck ailment that had him on the injury report earlier in the week! The loss of those 2 players left the Browns with just 3 defensive linemen and the inability to rotate guys in and out to stay fresh. The Bengals capitalized on it by running for 155 yards on the day and 1 TD.

3. Dave Zastudil has had a season he would probably like to forget. He has been decent as a punter, when not nursing injuries, but he has been down right bad as a holder on the field goal unit. Sunday Zastudil botched his 2nd snap of the season on an attempted field goal and the failure of the Browns to put points on the board and take the lead early changed the momentum of the game.

4. QB Derek Anderson picked the absolute worst time of his life to have a bad game. Three of his 4 interceptions against the Bengals were in the red zone meaning if those balls are just incomplete at worst the team gets 3 field goals. Besides the interceptions Anderson's clock management at the end of the game was atrocious. With the ball at his own 17, 1:55 to play and a timeout Anderson should have gotten the Browns closer then the Bengals 29 with 1 second to play. The fact that he opted to run plays instead of clocking the ball and saving time was inexcusable. At that point in the game the clock is a bigger opponent then the Bengals defense and Anderson failed to make the most of the situation.

5. The Browns run defense was gouged early in the game and then made a great comeback in the 2nd half only to be run over again late in the game. Bengals RB Kenny Watson had 99 of his 130 yards in the 1st half and 26 more on the Bengals final drive of the game. The ability to stop the run late in the game cost the Browns valuable time and field position.



Top 5 things that failed to impress: Bengals Game

1. Bengals QB Carson Palmer continued his fall from grace Sunday and almost single handedly gave the Browns a chance to win the game with his 2 interceptions to Leigh Bodden. Palmer was only 11 of 21 for 115 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT's with a QB rating of 44.8. My how the once mighty have fallen.

2. The combination of WR's T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson had 6 receptions for 69 yards and 1 TD. Third WR Chris Henry was held without a reception. Good thing the Browns gift wrapped the win for them because these 3 had already packed it in.

3. Yes we are mentioning punter Dave Zastudil again, this time for his punting prowess or lack there of. Zastudil only punted twice, but one was for 26 yards and it was from his own 42! We thought the days of 20 something yard punts left with Kyle Richardson, apparently we were wrong.

4. Although he has had a stellar season, rookie LT Joe Thomas had his worst day as a pro. Matched up for most of the game against veteran DE Justin Smith, Thomas struggled keeping Smith from batting down 2 Derek Anderson passes. He also struggled keeping Smith from collapsing the pocket and making Derek Anderson step up in the pocket and throwing off his timing and rhythm.

5. The band wagon fans of the Cintucky Bengals should be proud of themselves. Sunday the Browns had nearly as many fans in the stands as they did. Great way to support your team. Now we know why hey aren't Browns fans.

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