Listen in as Anthony Stalter and I discuss Willie Parker, Brady Quinn, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Cassel and Donovan McNabb. We’ll also kick around a few sleeper QBs that have nice matchups this week.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
The opening and closing music is Dramarama’s “Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You),” which was actually one of the most requested songs of the ’80s on L.A.’s KROQ.
Ultimately, one player doesn’t make or break a team in terms of wins and losses, but Trent Edwards is getting awfully close to being the exception to the rule.
After throwing three interceptions in the first half of the Buffalo Bills’ 29-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Monday night, Edwards played like a scared schoolgirl the rest of the game. He constantly threw check down passes to Marshawn Lynch instead of going downfield and rarely attempted a pass more than 10 yards.
But it’s not fair to hang the Bills’ loss solely on Edwards. Rian Lindell missed a field goal in the closing seconds that probably would have won the game. Fred Jackson coughed up the ball in Cleveland territory. The defense allowed Jerome Harrison to bust off a 72-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter.
It wasn’t just Edwards that lost the game, but he had more than enough opportunities to make plays and he didn’t because he was too scared. His offensive line gave him loads of time and replays showed that he had open receivers to throw to all game, but he just couldn’t pull the trigger. Have you ever seen a quarterback so afraid to throw downfield? His confidence is totally shot in the wake of Buffalo’s four game losing streak.
The Bills were a nice early season surprise, but their playoff hopes are fading fast.
Conversely, this was a nice win for Cleveland. Not only did Brady Quinn get his first win of his career, but the Browns also didn’t joke in the end. They finally played four quarters and while it got hairy in the fourth quarter, they finally closed a team out and won a tight ball game. (Of course if Lindell makes the field goal, all of this is a moot point and we’re talking about another massive Browns’ collapse.)
The phrase “must win” is a term widely overused in sports – especially in football. After all, isn’t every win a “must win?”
That said, the Buffalo Bills are essentially in a must win situation when they host the Cleveland Browns on perhaps the worst Monday Night Football matchup of the year. (I’m still trying to figure out why I’m getting ready to watch the Browns play on Monday night for the second time in just over a month.)
The Bills are 5-4 and currently sit two games back of the Jets in the AFC East after losing thee straight games. In those three games, Buffalo has turned the ball over a whopping nine times and all three defeats came against divisional opponents. They can ill afford to lose to a 3-6 Cleveland team starting a second year player (Brady Quinn) at quarterback.
If they want to end their skid, Buffalo can start with not turning the ball over. Quarterback Trent Edwards has had success driving the offense into opponents’ territory, but he has been way too careless with the football. The Bills had a magnitude of success earlier in the year because Edwards was playing mistake-free, but lately he’s turned into the 2008 version of Marc Bulger.
Quinn was solid in his first career start last week, but dropped passes and a poor defensive effort in the second half allowed Denver to sneak out a win. This is a Cleveland team that has been in most games, but often finds a way to lose in the end. You’d think a team like Buffalo – whose playoff aspirations are on the line – would stomp an opponent like the Browns from start to finish, but something tells me this going to be a tight game throughout.
A loss and the Bills can essentially kiss their playoff hopes goodbye. The Jets, Pats and Dolphins all own better records right now in the division and the Colts and Ravens are a game up on Buffalo for the two Wild Card spots. The Bills could really make a statement tonight and turn around their season.
All of the talk surrounding the Cleveland Browns from the start of the season until now has been around the quarterback. But the fact that they sit 3-6 right now after losing 34-30 to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night has little to do with the play of their quarterback.
It has to do with Kellen Winslow fumbling. And Braylon Edwards not making plays. And the defense’s ability to choke away leads by giving up big plays. And defensive coordinator Mel Tucker putting his corners on islands in the most inopportune situations.
In his first career start, Brady Quinn was outstanding. The Browns were able to get the running game going and Quinn was able to pick apart Denver’s decimated secondary by getting the ball out of his hands quickly and taking what the defense gave him. His final numbers (23 of 35 for 239 yards and two touchdowns) should have been good enough to earn him a victory. But the Browns continue to lose because they can’t do the simplest of tasks. Don’t turn the ball over. Don’t give up the big play. Don’t squander double-digit leads. Catch the freaking football when it’s throw right at you.
Conversely, this is a huge win for the Broncos. The AFC West is so horrible that 9-7 will probably win the division. Cleveland couldn’t get any pressure on Jay Cutler all night he shredded them for 447 yards and three touchdowns. At several points during the first half, Cutler looked frustrated and almost downtrodden but the Browns could never break his back (figuratively, not literally obviously).
Impressive comeback by Denver, but Cleveland choked on applesauce for the second straight week.
Tonight marks the much-anticipated NFL debut of Brady Quinn as the second-year quarterback will make his first career NFL start when his Cleveland Browns host the Denver Broncos on the NFL Network at 8:15 PM ET.
Quinn has been given a fantastic opportunity to succeed tonight. Not only does he make his first start in the comforts of the Dawg Pound, but he’s also facing a Broncos’ defense that has been shredded by air, ground and sea this year, and will also be without cornerback Champ Bailey, who continues to nurse a torn groin muscle.
Some feel that starting Quinn is a final desperation move by Romeo Crennel to save his job. That might be, but former starter Derek Anderson didn’t give him a lot of choice either. He was plagued by dropped passes (see Edwards, Braylon) and injuries (see Winslow, Kellen), but outside of a great game against the Giants and a decent first half against the Ravens, DA flat out hasn’t made as many plays as he did last year.
Quinn is going to be fine…at least tonight. The Browns have done a nice job building a solid offensive line and if they can get the running game going with Jamal Lewis, it’ll allow Quinn to take what the Broncos give him (which should be a lot) in the passing game. As long as offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski doesn’t ask him to do too much, Quinn shouldn’t have any problem moving the ball.
Looking ahead, Quinn has both favorable and nasty defensive matchups. Buffalo will be a decent test next week, but after that he faces two mediocre defenses in Houston and Indianapolis before getting his first huge challenge in Tennessee. He’ll also face Jim Johnson’s blitz-happy Philadelphia defense, as well as the Steelers at the end of the year so we’ll see what kind of mettle the young man has over the next two months.
But the thing to remember over the final eight weeks is that Quinn is still a pup. The torch has been passed, but everyone should give him time to develop. He might have a dazzling performance tonight, but fizzle next week; that’s just what you get from young quarterbacks. Regardless, the Browns have presented a great opportunity for him to succeed tonight. Let’s hope for Quinn’s sake that the offensive line opens holes for Lewis and the onus can be off of their young quarterback. As long as he doesn’t turn the ball over, he should be fine.
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