GIANT UPSET, OR PATRIOT PERFECTION?

By Tom Misson

On Sunday, the nexus of the football world meets in Phoenix (actually Glendale), Arizona. Another Super Bowl is upon us. This is XLII, or for those of you who don’t speak Roman Numerals, 42. And we have another dynasty on our hands. The New England Patriots can not only win the team’s 4th Lombardi Trophy in 7 years, but can go unbeaten with a 19-0 record. That would, of course, be the best record ever, and the first undefeated season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins who went 17-0. The Pats are already firmly carved in stone as the team of this decade. Now they can become legend.

The statistics of this Patriots team are simply staggering. More points scored than any other team in NFL season history. Arguably the best single season ever for a quarterback. Possibly the best single season for a wide reciever (Moss or Rice?). The defense is one of the league’s best, and on, and on, and on. Oh, did I mention yet that with a win, Brady and Belichick become just the 2nd QB-Coach combo in NFL history to win 4 Super Bowls? (Bradshaw and Noll).

But is this Patriots team truly a team of destiny? A team so good that no one can beat them this season? Or will we see a Giant upset on Super Sunday? The New York Giants are a 12 point dog, making them one of the biggest underdogs, no-gonna-happen-don’t-have-a-chance-at-all-teams since possibly Broadway Joe Namath’s Jets in Super Bowl III (That’s 3, again the Roman Numeral thing).

The key, and perhaps the only way the Giants can win this game, is if they get to Tom Brady. Sack him, pressure him, knock him down. If the G-men give Brady more than 3 seconds to find his receivers, this one will be over by half time. But I see the same Giants defense which beat Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay, showing up for the Super Bowl. That maks this a close game. By the way, the Patriots have not covered the spread in the playoffs, or for the last six games.

A close game, a good game to watch. But the Patriots will go 19-0.

My prediction: Patriots 27, NY Giants 22

Sports fans, log go to the Sports Page of newsnet5.com, and vote for what you think is the biggest upset in sports history. We’ll reveal the answers on The Toyota Sports Sunday, after the Super Bowl.

SPECIAL "K" CATCHES ON

By Tom Misson

When you think of the great tight ends over the years in the NFL, who comes to mind? Dave Casper? Charlie Sanders? Ozzie Newsome? Perhaps Kellen Winslow, SR.? Those 4 are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There’s also at least two tight ends playing in the NFL right now who will one day get a Hall Pass to Canton. Might one of them be Kellen Winslow, JR? Okay, okay. I know, K2’s just in the first few years of his career, but the signs are there. He’s a passing weapon on ANY down. He’s got the speed and hands of a receiver at the tight end position, and he’s willing to play hurt.

Is it fair to compare K2 to his father, the legendary Winslow, SR. who played perhaps one of the best playoff games in history (Dolphins-Chargers, 1981)? After all, it was K2 himself who said he was going to be BETTER than his father after just his rookie season in the NFL.

When asked by the media today in Berea, Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel tried divide brush aside the comparison.

“Kellen is his own person. That’s what makes him K2, and not K1.” Said Crennel. “We want Kellen to go out and make a name for himself on the field.”

And he’s doing just that. Lasy year, K2 set the franchise record for most catches in a season with 89. This year, he’s on pace to crush the Browns single season record for receiving yards (1,236 yards). With 5 games remaining, K2 already has 874 receiving yards. He’d have to average just 73 yards per game the rest of the season to break the record. Hardly out of the question.

So the ONLY question remaining, is K2 catching on around the NFL with fans as far as being recognized for the Pro Bowl? We’ll know December 18th when the AFC & NFC Pro Bowl teams are announced.

My prediction? Kellen Winslow, JR. will be on that AFC Pro Bowl team.

Browns fans, what do you think of the season K2 is having? E-mail me your thoughts at misson@wews.com

HOUSTON, WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS

By Tom Misson

Tomorrow the Browns are back at home. Back on the shores of Lake Erie where they are a very good 4-1 on the season. They welcome in a team used to playing indoors. The Houston Texans. After Thanksgiving was always the time when the Browns used to REALLY own home field advantage. The bone-chilling wind off the lake. The horizontal rain. The snow squals. Visiting teams were more concerned with trying to stay warm than trying to beat the Browns.

Now, I’m not saying the Texans will roll over and play dead for the Browns. Quite the opposite. The Texans are no longer an automatic win. But neither are the Browns. With a win, the Browns have a chance to possibly move into a tie for the last wild card spot in the AFC Playoff Picture. Playoffs? Did someone say playoffs? Yes. And only the Browns control the own destiny better than any other team chasing down a wild card spot.

If the Browns play the same way they have been for the last 3 weeks, they should beat Houston. Only problem, the that means the defense will also be playing the same. The last 3 games have been decided by 3 points each. But not this week.

My prediction: Browns 31, Texans 20

BUCKEYES ROSY IN THE BIG HOUSE

By Tom Misson

Woody did it. Now so has Tressel. Win 4 straight against Michigan. It hadn’t been done by Ohio State since the early 1960’s. But in just 7 years, the sweater-vest wearing Northeast Ohio native has permanantly etched his name in stone in Buckeye lore.

Tressel can thank his top-ranked defense for a job well done. Vernon Gholston’s 3 sacks led the way. The Silver Bullets gave-up an eye-popping 91 yards to Michigan’s offense and harrassed Michigan QB Chad Henne all day. Mike Hart? Forget about it. just 44 yards. And to think, he decided to return for his senior year just so he could beat OSU. Opps. Sorry, Mike. On the offensive side, Akron’s Chris Wells had a career personal best 222 yards rushing. That’s also the most yards ever for an Ohio State running back against a Michigan team.

Today’s 14-3 win over Michigan again means the Buckeyes will play in a BCS Bowl game. More than likely, it’s the Rose Bowl, which, strangely enough, Tressel’s Buckeyes have never play in before. What was once the jewel of the Big Ten Crown, now is considered a “consolation prize”. But Coach Tressel won’t allow his kids to think like that. He’ll have them prepared to whatever team the BCS computers throw at them. He now has 6 weeks to prepare.

Back to Tressel’s surreal-like ownership of Michigan. 6 wins over the Maize and Blue in 7 seasons. Talk about dominance. Now Lloyd Carr knows what John Cooper must have felt like. Tressel has NEVER lost to Michigan in Columbus, and is now 3-1 at the Big House. Not even Vegas would touch those odds. And now it appears as though Carr is screaming “uncle”. He’s had enough. Calling a press conference on Monday, the entire sports world expects Carr to call it quits as Michigan’s head coach of 13 years. What a shame. Pity the next guy to put on that block “M” hat. Think he’ll solve Tressel’s Buckeyes? Don’t bet on it.

THE STEEL CITY SHOWDOWN

By Tom Misson

Browns nation are you ready? Heinz field is about to witness a Cleveland-Pittsburgh game Sunday that by the final gun, might be worthy of front page news on Monday. I said “might.” The Browns have a chance to prove the rivalry is back. The Steelers don’t think so. Heck, why should they? Pittsburgh’s won the last 8 games in this “rivalry.”

So what’s the difference between Sunday’s game and week 1 when the Steelers throttled the Browns 34-7? A lot. A quarterback who can get the ball to his receivers, an offensive line that has jelled, a better than average running game, and an overall offensive unit that can light up the score board. 29 points per game in fact. But the Steelers defense is best in the NFL at only giving up 12 points per game. Something’s got to give. I think both will.

The way I see it, the Browns offense will move the ball at will against the Steelers defense, between the 20’s. But the new Steel Curtain will stiffen once the Browns get into the Red Zone, allowing field goals and not so many touchdowns.

Meanwhile… the Browns defense must pressure Ben Roethlisberger or the entire burden of winning this game will be on the offense, forcing them to score nearly every possession.

The Browns have come a long way since week 1, but not far enough to beat the Steelers on their home turf yet.

My prediction: Steelers 31, Browns 19

WHERE’S ALL THE TALK?

By Tom Misson

I like a good argument, probably as much as I do a good cup of coffee. It gets the blood pumping, and the nerves wired.

So where then is all the chatter this week? After all, it is Steelers week, right? Where’s the made-for-bulletin board material?

Steelers all-pro linebacker James Farrior fired the first salvo yesterday, saying the Browns-Steelers game really isn’t a rivalry anymore until the Browns actually win one. His words Browns nation, not mine.

So far, all is quiet from the Browns locker room. QB Derek Anderson, who made his first ever NFL start last year in Pittsburgh, appeared to down-play the rivalry as just another game on the schedule.

“Everybody is excited about the things that we’ve been doing and we’re just going to keep working. I don’t think we’re over anxious and we’re just going to keep preparing the way we have,” Anderson said calmly.

Atleast the network has finally realized the significance of Sunday’s game. CBS tapped the Browns-Steelers as the number one game on the schedule.

“Well, I didn’t know we had the number one broadcasting crew, ” said a surprised Romeo Crennel.

“It’s no different. We still have to go down and play and we have to play good football. I think, as I mentioned before, that because of where we are – and we haven’t been here in several years here in Cleveland – that people are excited about the possibilities.”

Possibilities indeed. A win would move the Browns into a first place tie with the Steelers. That’s a possibility which has not been realized in C-Town since the 2001 season.

Coming later this week: my prediction on the game.

Browns fans, e-mail me your predictions for the Browns-Steelers game at misson@wews.com

SEAHAWK IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD

By Tom Misson

The Browns are hungry. Hungry for another win. It would be their 3rd straight. That’s something we haven’t seen here in C-Town in 6 years.

This Sunday’s game is another one against an NFC team: The Seattle Seahawks. Both the Browns and ‘Hawks have identical 4-3 records. Seattle is also very comparable to the Rams team the Browns just beat last week. Seattle has a Pro Bowl QB in Matt Hasselbeck, NFL MVP from a few seasons ago with RB Shaun Alexander, and a good corps of veteran receivers. Seattle’s offense is in the middle of the NFL rankings, so too is their defense.

What the Browns have to avoid, and they haven’t done it yet this year, are the big plays. Alexander has the potential to bust-out for well over 100 yards on the ground. The Browns defense gives-up 139 yards of real estate by way of the ground game, each game. Throught the air, the Browns are averaging 270 yards allowed by an opponent.

The Browns offense is 6th best in the NFL, scoring 28 points per game. Playing at home in front of 63 thousand faithful fans… Romeo’s crew should have no problem matching their average. But this one has the potential to again be an offensive shoot-out because of the offensive weapons Seattle brings.

So what does it all mean? Probably not much. The game is night game. With the switch to Daylight Saving Time, it will be dark before halftime. And cold. The hope here is that the Seahawks offense and defense turns just as cold as the weather in the 2nd half, serving-up another win for the Browns. That would be worthy of a feast, enough to make a hungry Browns fan satisfied, at least for another week.

My prediction: Browns 33, Seahawks 26

Browns fans… e-mail me your comments on the Browns season so far, at: misson@wews.com

GOOD-BYE, BYE WEEK, HELLO RAMS

By Tom Misson

The rest was nice. So too was not having to play a game, for some. Now it’s time to stap on the pads and that bright orange lid and play football again. The Browns bye week is over. On Sunday, the Browns go to St. Louis to face the winless Rams. 0-7. It doesn’t get much worse than that. Actually, for the Browns sake, it does. 0-8 would look better come 4pm Sunday.

And so lies the task most teams in the NFL would rather not tackle. Try and beat a winless team, on their home field. Sounds easier said than done. I believe the cliche “Any Given Sunday” applies in this case. Plus, the Browns have yet to win a road game this season in two tries.

“We have to get that first pickle out of the jar, ” Head Coach Romeo Crennel said. “Once we get that first pickle out, it will be easier to get out the other pickles.”

That first pickle, um, road win, might be one of the most difficult games the Browns have played all year. Consider this: The Browns are SUPPOSED to win this game. They’re favored by three points. Rams all-pro running back Steven Jackson says he’ll play on Sunday, after getting splinters from the bench for the last three weeks while resting a partially torn groin. If Jackson plays, that will reduce the pass rush from the linebackers on Rams QB Marc Bulger. The Browns “D” will be forced to respect Jackson’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield… and to run through the defensive line. Less pass rush means Bulger gets that extra second or two to find the likes of Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and Randy McMichael downfield.

But this game will be won when the Browns offense has the ball. Cleveland’s offense is ranked 7th overall in the NFL. They’re scoring 28 points per game. Only New England and Dallas score more. The Rams defense is decent, but the Browns have the fire power to keep them on their heels. If the same Browns offense which scored 41 points against Miami and 51 points against the Bengals shows-up Sunday, The Browns will find themselves over .500 for the first time in several years. If not, Romeo and company will find themselves in a real pickle.

My prediction: Browns 37, Rams 24

BRADY WILL HAVE TO WAIT

By Tom Misson

The Brady Quinn era in Cleveland appears to be on hold. For how long? Hard to say. With 0-5 Miami coming to town this Sunday, then the BYE week, then the hapless Rams come to Cleveland, Derek Anderson’s job as the starting QB is safe for at least 3 more weeks.

Consider this, though. If The Dolphins HAD drafted Quinn with the number 9 overall pick in last April’s draft, Quinn just might be making his first NFL start in Browns Stadium for the Dolphins this weekend. Trent Green is on the shelf, after another brutal concussion last week, an injury that will most likely force Green to retire.

But all that’s in the past. The Dolphins did not call Quinn’s name, insted they drafted Ted Ginn, JR., the speedster from Ohio State and former Glenville star. Ginn will make his return home, no doubt looking for something to show the “hometown” fans. Ginn’s not much to worry about at the receiver position (just 2 catches all year), but he is averaging 25 yards per kick-return, and has the potential to take one the distance. Would the Dawg Pound cheer or jeer the hometown kid for such a play? Probably the latter, after all, he is the enemy this weekend.

Truly this game should not even be close. The Browns offense can score points, and the Miami defense is pathetic. Who knows, maybe we WILL see Brady Quinn in the 2nd half of this one?

My prediction: Browns 31, Dolphins 10

Browns fans, log onto newsnet5.com for all your sports coverage.

By Tom Misson

Browns try to shut up the Ravens

So the Baltimore Ravens come to town Sunday. The HATED Ravens, that is. Earlier this week the mouth of the Ravens defense, All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis said for the Browns to beat the Ravens, Jamal Lewis will have to go through Baltimore’s defense. Ray-Ray also said his former team mate knows where to find him on the field, and better be ready to get hit, and hit hard.

To beat the Ravens, that’s exactly what Jamal Lewis and the rest of the Browns will have to do — take it right to the core of the Purple and Black. It looks like Kellen Winslow, JR. won’t play, or if he does, he definately won’t be at full strength. K2 is still trying to heal a partially separated shoulder. So, no K2 means double teams all day long on Braylon, and more pressure for Steve Heiden to come up big with a few clutch 3rd down catches. What’s more likely to happen is the Browns will give the Ravens exactly what they want: a full dose of Jamal Lewis. Is Jamal up for the challenge? I think so. He didn’t do all that bad against the Raiders last week. Problem was he didn’t get the ball enough. 15 carries in a game that was decided by 2 points is not enough. After Jamal’s 200+ yard performance against the Bengals… he needed used like the workhorse he’s supposed to be. Look for offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski to give Jamal the rock 25 times against the Ravens. If the Browns can pick up first downs and sustain drives, they have a good shot at sending Baltimore home with a loss. Only one problem: The Ravens have the number one rushing defense in the NFL right now.

My prediction: Ravens 20, Browns 13