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THE BROWNS MIGHT SURPRISE YOU
BY DAWGMAN (BROWNS FAN)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch (2) gets a pass off with Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Seith Payne (91) at his feet during the third quarter in Jacksonville, Fla. Sunday, Oct. 17, 1999.(AP Photo/Tony Ranze)

THE BROWNS ARE PROGRESSING. The last game [against Jacksonville] was another step in the process. We again covered the spot (barely) and played great football at times. We also lost the fumble that  broke the teams back. After Kirby's second fumble, the Jagz turned it up defensively and their backup QB pulled a Scott Mitchell on us. If you're wondering why the refernence to Scotty boy, old time Browns fans will recall a day in the Kosar years when Marino went down with an achilles tendon pull while playing the Browns. In comes Scott  Mitchell and lit us up. Same as yesterday with Fiedler...the guy from Dartmouth!!! We had  our oppurtunities, but things like the fumble are way too hard for this team to continue to recover from.

Kirby looked good for a while, gained 70 some yards, but back to back fumbles---well we can't have that.

We did much better in third down situations. In the first half and some of the third quarter we looked real good ofensively  moving the ball down the field. Only scored 7, but we did make some key plays and did it against the best defense in the league. I was real encouraged by Couch and his first half play. He looked sharp, in control,  and didn't make rookie mistakes. His TD to Kirby was        thrown within centimeters of the line of scrimmage.        

Once again, when the Jagz D came to life, the pressure increased and things slowed way down.

We are getting better and that easy cake schedule we were given has become quite brutal. In the long run, playing the better teams will hurry up our  development. We may not win much, but the learning process is vital.

THE RAMS GAME. Playing the 5-0 Rams  after the 4-1 Jagz on the road makes a tough two weeks.

I don't expect blow out. My gut says different. I keep getting these visions of a gigantic effort by the Browns "D". I understand that the final outcome will probably put the Rams at 6 - 0 and us at 0 -7, but I also think the Rams  and their fans will know they were in a fight and perhaps just played their toughest opponent thus far.

Going into a game with such lopsided records is a gem of a time for surprizes and/or  catching somebody taking somebody else lightly.  Some breaks, some favorable refs calls and that great "D" that the Browns are building may cause Rams fans some stomach trouble!

With our young Browns, nothing is taken for granted. Still, until we play a consistent full four quarters, we can never assume we will win. Our offense has the ability to completey shut down. When that happens, our D is always on the field too long and well...you know what occurs then. I will say we are more equally  matched with New Orleans and Baltimore and SHOULD  give THEM a run for their money.

Browns fans---just look for the good next week and  hope we can put a full 60 minutes into this one.

Rams fans---buy some rolaids! -:)