The Browns as a team didn’t put up much of a fight in the 37-3 loss December 6 to the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. And the Bengals moved closer to a playoff berth with a 37-3 rout of the Browns.
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Manziel was subsequently dropped to third-string and has now spent the last two games watching from the sidelines despite the season-ending injury to McCown and the abysmal play of Austin Davis this past weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals. Following the game, Pettine had the balls to say that he was satisfied with the effort given by his team and that he gave the Bengals credit for being a good (read: better) football team. We are evaluated every day, whether we are evaluating ourselves or whether it is coming from him. “It was great to take care of business”. They weren’t holding back on how they really felt about their opponent. “It was a big win for us”.
They will be without three key starters however in tight end Tyler Eifert (neck), safety George Iloka (groin) and nickel back Leon Hall (back).
Another impressive statistical accomplishment that occurred in the game was quarterback Andy Dalton joining Peyton Manning as the only two quarterbacks to throw for 3,000 yards in their first five seasons.
“Very (frustrated)”, Kirksey said. “It’s always a hard-fought game”. But he said he’s not sure he should get sole credit for a few of those kicks. It’s all about us controlling our opportunities, capitalizing on opportunities when we have them and establishing a running game. It’s always about us first.
Other than Green’s 128 yard day, Marvin Jones recorded five receptions on five targets for 55 yards and a touchdown. The team is too bad for one player, especially Manziel, to make any type of difference.
Cleveland came out in the second half hoping to score early but they failed, as Coons missed a field goal wide to the right. Whatever we have to do to get healthy and get prepared, we have to do. I was kind of upset when they got that field goal going into halftime. How can a team have so little success? That’s how many are left for them.
Now the Bengals are one of the keys to the AFC playoff picture. We wanted to put pressure on their young quarterback. “I felt that we did that”.
Even if the Bengals haven’t held a team scoreless this season, they still have to like the way they have limited scoring chances on defense.
After the shellacking by the Bengals, Thomas was asked how the Browns would stay focused and motivated after slipping to 2-10 with their seventh straight loss. “I just think that the circumstances provided themselves that we thought Austin earned this”. “We have been able to do that since I’ve been here and we need to keep that going”.
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Ogbuehi, who came off the Non-Football Injury list four weeks ago, made his debut midway through the third quarter as part of a jumbo package that paved the way for Jeremy Hill’s 1-yard touchdown run. “But it never got to that point for us”.
