64 posts tagged “cleveland browns”

For the past half hour, I've been pouring over Browns' and Steelers' stats, (I know, great use of time), trying to make a decision on how to make this pick.

Of course it is extremely painful to take the Steelers to beat the Brownies at home. Oh, the agony! So I've been trying to justify choosing my Browns to beat the evil Pittsburgh team. This is what I've come up with so far:

- Palamalu is out and Ward is questionable (not a pull hammie either: infectious, non-life threatening STD that I've willed them both thankyouverymuch)

- Last week's point spread was 13.5 this week is only 10 favoring the Steelers - so that's an improvement!

- Big Ben has had concussion issues of late, and actually in the last 3 games Quinn had an average passer rating higher than Mr. Roethlisberger.

BUT of course:

- The Steelers have beaten the Browns 12 straight. Quinn will be the 6th starting Brown QB facing that dismal record... but we all know he grew up a Browns fan, and this game means a lot. 12 straight games - does that mean they're due? Could William's lucky Dan Marino #13 help my Brownies pull off a major upset?!

- The Steelers have to win this game to have any playoff hopes. That's inspiration to the nth degree when coming off a SuperBowl win in 09.

- Mosley and Rogers (oh Shaun) are out, and a couple other Brownies are questionable.  

- Flat out, the offensive and defensive records between the two shows the clear and obvious dominance (and painful) of the Steelers.

You know what? I'm taking the BROWNS. I know it's stupid, but only 1 pool I play is for money.. an if by chance the Brownies win and I didn't take them, I'd never hear the end of it (a la beating the Giants last year on Monday night football). Oh and I'll be 'sitting on lucky couch!' 

Apparently I haven't posted for 7 days... I think that's a record. A sad record.

Anyways, this past week-end (you may have noticed my banner) was our annual Cleveland trip. This year Kiks and Jim came along for the fun, and it was a crazy awesome good time. The dinner at the Chophouse was a little disappointing (not mine, mine was super great). They have awesome home brew there and I of course drank up.

 Somehow near the end of the night we realized Kiks' bra was on the outside of her shirt. Yes, it was that kind of drunk outing... Billy made me choke down a ham sandwich which probably saved me from a severe hang-over. What a good husband!

Kiks had never before experienced an NFL game, and Jim had never been to the Muni-lots and under the bridge, where all the die hard fans party. 

After roaming the lots for a couple of hours (of course started drinking at 10am - Jim at 9am...)

 

Of course, it wouldn't be a trip to Cleveland without visiting the team store. We didn't buy anything (I was obviously already geared up!), but had fun in there nonetheless!

 

we ventured over to the Blind Pig to watch the early games. We arrived at the perfect time, as it packed up fast. It was a rowdy big crowd...

they were filming a commercial in there (we signed releases, who knows if anyone will ever see it - they'll probably use the take when I was in the bathroom), and there were, well, a whole crop of um, 'little people' (guys actually), sitting at a 'little table' giving away 'little Miller Lites'. Jim spied a 'little person' using a 'little urinal' in the men's bathroom.

Even the walk to the stadium is fun... we arrived a little later than we would have liked because of the commercial, but everyone is so pumped and ready for a good game.

The game was really exciting (although a loss) and our seats were awesome. Looking back I was so annoying that the couple next to me moved 2 seats away. It may have something to do with nacho cheese sauce... Oh well! 

After the game we partied back at the hotel - that's when I decided to wrestle everyone and dance like in an Old Navy commercial. I have suspicious bruising and a very sore left leg, 'How cute are these boots'. I'm very grateful that there isn't any photographic evidence of my bad behavior! I could hardly walk yesterday, and didn't feel like a three hour car ride home... but I survived.

For me, every second of the week-end (okay, not the car ride home so much) was awesome. Going on a nice long cruise is so relaxing, and camping is always fun, but in Cleveland we really tear it up! I love that city! More picks tomorrow on FB.    

I can't believe how fast this football season is flying by. I can't believe how terrible I'm doing! This week is tough... there are some games that really could go either way...

GB @ DET - I chose GB for this game. I thought Detroit would fare better, then poor Stafford went from being a SuperStar against the BROWNS to throwing 4 (at least at my last count) interceptions against GB.

OAK @ DAL - I picked Dallas and it proved to be a wise choice.

NYG @ DEN - Damn the formidable power! of Manning - at least Indy will win this week. Because I hate Denver so much this NYG loss was a big surprise and disappointment... ah well.

TB @ ATL - Blah - TB

MIA @ BUF - I'll take the fins.

CLE @ CIN - Oh the pain! Oh the agony! Poor Cleveland! Even with a Cinci loss in week 11 against the Raiders of all God forsaken teams, I'm still not confident in the skills of my Brownies... Someone said last week that Quinn works out too much for a quarterback...

Brady-quinn-throwing

Yep, he big... does it hurt him and the Browns? I don't know! All I know is I love the Browns and am looking forward to going to Cleveland next week! Yeah! Oh, yeah, I'll take Cinci, although it kills me to do so. I shall don my gear and cheer heartily for the Brown Boys.  

SEA @ STL

- Seattle. I don't know why.

CAR @ NYJ - Hm... never bet against the Jets versus Delhomme realizing throwing multiple interceptions doesn't win football games... dilemma dilemma. Jets at home! Carolina is decent! Heads - Jets. tails Carolina = Go Jets!

WAS @ PHI - Phi. And I hate them still

IND @ HOU - The power of Manning! should result in a Indy win. The balance must be restored! Indy.

KC @ SD - SD

JAC @ SF - American quarter says - Heads Jacksonville, Tails San Fran = Go JAX.

ARI @ TEN - TN is on a 4 game winning streak... ARI is on a 3 game streak and at the top of their crappy division... TN is at home - ARG - well I'll pick TN and from this I should determine if the quarter makes better choices than I do... 

CHI @ MIN - Min

PIT @ BAL - Oh, I hate both of these teams so much! I love that Pits isn't a dominant team this year, but they are so unpredictable... Hmmm... ahh well, coin toss - Heads Pits, Tails Balt = It was heads, and I'm not cheering for Pits.

NE @ NO - Dilemma, dilemma... William is convinced that NO is not that awesome... Tom Brady bothers me... so does his coach... NO at home... I'll take the Saints.

Yikes, this week could be scary.

Well, American Thanksgiving is over, and it was, (if I say so myself) quite successful. It was a good time, with one very odd, slightly awkward pop over. Ah well... We had a few people cancel, and one guy (who could have potentially brought up to 5 people) thought we were having people over on the Saturday after Thanksgiving... uh, no - but now we probably are.

Last Sunday the Jude and I

attended the Lions V Browns game in Detroit. It was the best, most exciting game I've ever seen, even though the Browns lost - it was an amazing time. It was interesting to see how Detroit hosts a football game - I've only ever been to Cleveland and the Silverdome, so seeing the difference in the tailgating (we only saw a bit)

and the atmosphere downtown was really cool. Ford Field is pretty nice, but so different the the Browns Stadium - and a totally different vibe.

We went to Cheli's Chili first and it's absolutely stupid that they can't serve alcohol before noon. That Detroit by-law is costing businesses some serious dough. All in all, it was a great time, and when they play each other again I would certainly go.  

Week 11 already... do you know what that means? That means me and The Jude are heading stateside to see the BROWNS at the Lions! Yeah! Already booked on the manifested tunnel bus departing at 10:30. I think we're going to try to hit Cheli's Chili (their website sucks, and I heard from BMW not to expect much...) in the D because it's pretty close to Ford Field.

The game is of course blacked out in this area. I really thought it would sell out, thinking that Lion's fans would like to see a game that they think can be won. William said most fans don't think this way... Oh well - I'LL BE THERE! Let's Go Brownies! I hope I don't get my ass kicked by a mean female Lion's fan...

Week Eleven Picks

I feel so bad about my crappy picks of late. Wow, I suck! Terrible! Awful! Even the obvious wins are not happening!

MIA @ CAR - I picked CAR, William picked the Fins. William was correct. Ergo I suck.

WAS @ DAL - Washington won last week in an upset last week against the Broncos. I thought the Broncos were good? That's what everyone was saying! I'll take Dallas in this game.

CLE @ DET - I know, I know, I know. Even 60% of Cleveland fans don't expect a win against the most brutal of the brutal... I don't care! I have faith! GO BROWNS!

SF @ GB - Tough one... at GB? I'll take GB

PIT @ KC - Apparently PITS is play with Cinci coming in their house, eating their dinner, kicking their dog and screwing their wife. Not a single guy on FOX pregame picked Cinci to win. 2 of the guys predicted PIT to be in the SuperBowl again this year... Maybe they will reconsider now that Cinci is for real... I still can't believe it... anyways, I'll take PITS.

SEA @ MIN - MIN

NO @ TB - NO.

ATL @ NYG - Tough one here sports fans. Um, I'll take NYG, with no confidence. ATL is all over the place and NYG doesn't have the Power of Manning! this year... could be ugly.   

BUF @ JAC - JAC

IND @ BAL - Indy. I hate Baltimore.

ARI @ STL - ARI

SD @ DEN - Ugh, I don't know. I'll take Denver.

CIN @ OAK - Cinci.

NYJ @ NE - NE. Although I'm certain the Jets are out to screw me.

PHI @ CHI - PHI. I hate them though.

TEN @ HOU - TEN. They are on a winning steak and won't easily let it go. Could be ugly, but oh well.

2009 has proven to be a very difficult year for me pool-wise. I'm stinking up the place. The place at the back. Ah well, it's all in fun. No it's not! It competition! It's bragging rights.

CHI @ SF - I picked San Fran and they won. Whew. Love Thursday games, but didn't see much of this one.

BUF @ TEN - Ha! My TEN theory proved correct! Hopefully the bye-week helps out the BROWNS as it did the Titans. I'll take TEN this week.

NO @ STL - NO.

TB @ MIA - Fins.

DET @ MIN - Please. Vikings.

JAC @ NYJ - Mr. Picklez says: The Jets.  They suck so much.  JAC.  They suck so much.  Homefield advantage.  Picklez Pick:  NYJ I agree.

CIN @ PIT - Mr. Picklez says: There's no way PIT is going to let CIN come into their house, kick their dog, screw their wife, and win a football game.  I hope.  Picklez Pick:  PIT I agree again! That one made me laugh!

DEN @ WAS - Denver.

ATL @ CAR - Tough one, as Delhomme recently concluded that throwing interceptions is not the way to win football games. I'll take ATL, but I wish they were at home.

KC @ OAK - Who cares? Oak.

DAL @ GB - Hmmm.... Dallas I guess, but I foresee a good effort from GB.

SEA @ ARI - ARI.

PHI @ SD - Crap, I don't know. Uh... I'll take PHI although I hate them.  

NE @ IND - Ah, crap again! I don't know! Ugh - INDY!

BAL @ CLE - Oh to be a BROWNS fan. Oh the pain! The agony! ARG! Last year the BROWNS had great coverage - lots of afternoon, Thursday night, Sunday and Monday night games. That's because in 07 they won 10 games (and didn't make the play-offs, thank you very much Tony Dungee), well last year they won a measly 4 games, BALT wasn't much better, and here they are on Monday night. Oh, right, nobody watches Monday night anymore because it's on ESPN (I will this week!) .... but they do have experience in 'big' games... maybe Cleveland will have the same success after their bye-week as TEN. Of course I should take Balt, but what the hell? My pools are in terrible shape right now! I'll take the BROWNS! Go BROWNS!

I have been procrastinating about making picks for week 9. Why you may ask? Well, I'm just feeling like the suckiest suck who ever sucked suck when it comes to my picks of late. I'm so terrible it's just depressing! I have no football pick confidence! I lost my mojo!

One good thing about this week is that Cleveland will most assuredly NOT lose. Ahh... That feels almost as good as a win! Is that an old joke when it comes to the bye-week? Because I totally just made that up completely independent of any outside source. Yeah, that's me.

Oh Yeah - 2 weeks until I see that BROWNS at Detroit, and 4 weeks until we venture to Cleveland to see SD at Cleveland! Yeah!

WAS @ ATL - I'll take ATL - I hope this game is not televised.

ARI @ CHI - I don't like this pick. Inconsistent versus Unpredictable. Hm. No confidence in this pick... ARI.

BAL @ CIN - Mr. Picklez says: This was hard to pick.  I hate both teams equally.  Ouchostinko can suck it. I couldn't agree more! Can both teams lose? I'll take Baltimore.

HOU @ IND - I'll take Indy.

MIA @ NE - My heart wants the Fins to win, but my head is telling me to of course take NE. Head wins. (No comment from William!)

GB @ TB - GB

JAC @ KC - JAC

CAR @ NO - NO

DET @ SEA - Lions, you suck even more than you think you do. You just don't see it. But you do. You suck. SEA.

SD @ NYG - NYG. WTF.

TEN @ SF - Okay, okay... here's my reasoning. TEN was humiliated and spanked by the Pats. Then they had a bye week, and maybe some pep talks and massage or something and actually beat Jacksonville - which is no huge feat I realize, HOWEVER - they had a fairly tough schedule... @ PITS - loss by 3. VS. HOU @ home lost by 3. @ Jets. lost by 7.. then their confidence drops like a rock... only to get spanked by the Jags, INDY and NE... (two of 3 are good teams...) then the bye week. So, is this the new and improved Titans? Probably not, but what the hell... I'll take TN.  

DAL @ PHI - I hate both teams, PHI more than Dallas. I think PHI will win this one at home - please don't be televised.

DEN @ PIT - Wow, I realize that I have a lot of hate in my heart... Cinci, Balt, Dallas, PHI, DEN and Pits... I have issues. I'll take Pits, but it pains the BROWNS fan in me, but what doesn't?

I have no ambition to really get into defending my picks... here they are...

HOU @ BUF - Screwston, and they better not stick it to me again.

CLE @ CHI - Oh the pain! The agony! I'm taking CHI but of course cheering for the BROWNS. That team is such a hot mess right now! They are playing DET in week 11 (I'm going to the game) and the sports radio guys seem to think that that game won't be blacked out... A sell out against Cleveland? Well, there are a lot of Cleveland die hards (me included) who will trek the 3 hours for the away game plus - it's a game Lion fans are convinced is already won... Ugh.

SEA @ DAL - I don't trust Dallas. This is my upset pick as long as Hasselcrack can move the ball. I'll take the Seattle.

STL @ DET - Mr. Picklez says: Another game honoring Stirquilius, Roman god of Feces.  Oh Mr. Picklez how you make me laugh! The fact of the matter is STL (Such Total Losers) can't manage to score. Wow, even their NFL website sucks. They have only scored 51 points this year! I don't think I've taken DET since week one last year against ATL... Well, it'll make sports radio buzz this week if they do win, so I'll take the Lions.  

SF @ IND - Picklez... you took SF... I think you meant IND. I'm taking IND. Hope you didn't screw yourself on Yahoo.

MIA @ NYJ - Jets. Although I hope MIA wins, I don't see it happening in NY.

NYG @ PHI - Tough pick. NYG.

DEN @ BAL - I hate both these teams equally. I'll take BAL...

JAC @ TEN - I'm taking TEN. They need a win bad and are home against inconsistant Jags.

OAK @ SD - SD.

MIN @ GB - This should be a decent game. I think MIN will win on the road.

CAR @ ARI - ARI. Delhomme can't stop throwing interceptions.

ATL @ NO - Woo wee! I'll take NO at home. Could be an upset, but I think NO will squeak a win.

Couch here I come!

The NFL is in week six already... I wouldn't have thought that the Browns would have a better standing than the Titans.... I never considered that Cincinasty would be leading the AFC North, Brett Favre would be positive addition anywhere, and TB would suck beyond all expectations of sucking.

Surprise, surprise, surprise... perhaps that is my excuse of my poor pick performance... too unpredictable!

Thanks to Mr. Picklez for the format now and forever, 'cause I'm a lazy LG.

Quite a few tricky picks... which I will call 'DD' - dilemma dilemma

HOU @ CIN - (DD) Screwston versus Those Who Bother LG To No End... I think Houston has what it takes to beat them... I actually think most teams do - but the Bengals are at home... This one hurts... CIN.

DET @ GB - In GB? Detroit? I'll take the Packers.

BAL @ MIN - Min? At home? Baltimore angry after a loss to Cinci? (DD) - I'll take MIN.

NYG @ NO - (DD) This will be a good game... Geez! I'm leaning towards NYG, but NO is at home... NYG has played WASH, DAL, TB, KC - possibly the easiest schedule... NO has beat DET, PHI, BUF and NYJ... a little more challenging... I'll take NO.  

CLE @ PIT - Ugh, this one hurts. Oh the pain. Oh the agony! Did anybody see/hear how bad Anderson sucked last week? He brought sucking to an entire new level of suck. His passer rating was 15. That isn't too good. William thinks that that is possibly the worst passer rating a team has ever had and still won. Wow - not something to be proud of... Despite highly contagious but non life threatening sticky STD's I've willed to the entire Steeler's team (with some good results btw), I still think they are going to beat my BROWNS. I still shall don my BROWNS gear (possibly my Santa hat - I will be golfing, and it's a balmy 35*F right now...) and cheer loud and proud for the BROWNS!

CAR @ TB - I'll go with Carolina, but if TB is going to win one in the first half it'll have to be this game - they have a tough schedule and I don't see them beating NE (for instance) any time soon...

KC @ WAS - Mr. Picklez says: It's the battle of the racist mascots!  I'll change their names temporarily to the WAS Rednecks and the KC - Land Grabbers.  Both teams are sort of sucky, but only one team is Kansas Shitty.  Picklez Pick:  WAS - I agree.  

STL @ JAC - Jacksonville is super inconsistent, but STL sucks, so I'll take JAC.  

PHI @ OAK - PHI.

ARI @ SEA - (DD) - This one is TOUGH! ARG! I JUST DON'T KNOW! HELP! I'll come back to this one... I'm back and still stuck! Seattle is so all over the place, and didn't ARI play in the SB last year? I'll take SEA only because they are at home.

TEN @ NE - Hm.. last year this would have been a good game. This year this is just a game. I hope it's not televised. I'll take NE.

BUF @ NYJ - I'll take the Jets. Never bet against the Jets... unless they're playing Miami on the road...

CHI @ ATL - (DD) I'm going with the home team... I really thought CHI was going to be great this year... shows how much I know! 

DEN @ SD - Oh, I just don't know! (DD) I have Denver issues I hope that they lose. SD is a really nice city and I like their zoo. ARG! Based only on wishful thinking, hoping, wishing... I'll take SD.

TOUGH week - could be ugly... maybe I should change my banner and pics as I did last week... I think it helped the BROWNS win...  

Mellow - that was our week-end in a word.

We finally watched all the Heroes episodes we had on the DVR, a movie and some other shows. We lounged about and watched football, went to MomG's for Thanksgiving dinner (it was awesome), I read a book, started another and took the pooch for a nice walk at the 'secret park' in Cottam (about 2 minutes away from our house).

I have been to the 'secret park' (aka: Cottam Rotary Tot Park) a couple dozen times, and I've only seen other people there 4 times. It's such a gem, although the best part (aside from the lack of people) is not the park itself, it's the attached field and woods nearby - especially in the fall... it's quite pretty.

Here's the park...

So if you go there, don't get mad if you see my dog off leash...

Now football: We went to MomG's early as Billy noted that Global (Canadian channel, which we don't get with our US satellite) tends to show all Buffalo games... and oh yes! The BROWNS were on! Cleveland won. Wow - I'm so happy about that. Whew! I would hate to see them winless playing the Lions at Ford Field. Their schedule is pretty tough (save Lion's - we'll see in week 11) for the rest of the season...

There were a couple of victories that I did not see coming: The Benglas beating Baltimore - huh? I don't like Baltimore, but I really don't like Cincinasty, so that one hurt. The Suckhawks decimated Jacksonville and Denver beat the Patriots. 'Oh, Denver is so awesome, Denver is the best' WHATEVER! I don't see it! They beat Cinci (who I thought sucked btw), Oakland (who does suck), Cleveland (no comment), Dallas (apparently suck despite Romo and fancy stadium), and Arizona (that was the first week, and hardly counts), and on Sunday they beat the Pats (now I understand the 'Boston' thing), in overtime I should mention - hardly a blowout. Anyways - the point is, I don't like them, and they bother me.

I saw the first half of the Jets - Fins game, and I'm so happy that Miami won. Gruden was creepy (as per usual), and they couldn't get enough of talking about Braylon Edwards. UGH! Well good for you Braylon, you actually caught a ball... maybe if you did that in Cleveland you wouldn't have felt 'on the outs'. Remember 2007? When you were able to catch a ball? and the fine fans of the Browns loved you? Well, good luck in NYJ... if you drop for them, there will be no forgiveness, and you will be run out of the city and the sport, so put that under your pillow.

Wow, it's early for LG to get so riled...

Anyways, this week should be, well, mellow. Not too much going on - life is good.