Photo: Peggy Turbett/Cleveland.com

On Sunday afternoon, the Cleveland Browns played host to the Minnesota Vikings to open up the 2009 regular season. Eric Mangini's first half as the Cleveland Browns' head coach was promising, but in the end, the result was all too familiar for Browns fans. Cleveland carried a 13-10 lead over the Vikings into the locker room at halftime, but the running game of the Vikings was much too fierce for the Browns in the second half. The Vikings scored 24 straight points and defeated the Browns 34-20. Cleveland now falls to 1-10 in season openers since returning in 1999.

Starting Points - After not playing in the preseason, Shaun Rogers started at NT. Also, rookie Alex Mack got the start at center over veteran Hank Fraley. With backup running back Jerome Harrison out due to injury, rookie RB James Davis also got a good amount of playing time.

The Good -When you give up 24 straight points in the second half, it's hard to give praise to your defense, but that is just what I am going to do. I thought the first half we saw glimpses of just how good this defense can be. The Browns defense forced the Vikings into 4 three-and-outs in their first 6 possessions. Cleveland only gave up 45 yards rushing in the first half to one of the top rushing teams in the league, and Adrian Peterson was held to one yard rushing in the second quarter (granted that was a 1-yard TD). I also feel that it is tough to blame the defense for the 24 straight points scored by the Vikings in the second half; when your offense can only stay on the field for six and a half minutes in a 27 minute span, your defense is going to get tired, and that's just what happened to the Browns' D. I also liked the pressure the Browns' pass rush got on Brett Favre. Cleveland had 4 sacks and 6 QB hits. Those stats are what we would see in a 3 game span under Romeo Cernnel.

The other thing I would like to focus on in the positive column is something very easy to see: Josh Cribbs. Cribbs broke off a 67-yard punt return TD in the second quarter that allowed the Browns to take a 13 to 10 lead. With his 7th career return TD, Cribbs is now tied with Eric Metcalf for most in Browns history. The offense also showed Cribbs early in the wildcat formation. Cribbs converted a 3rd down with a 5-yard run via direct snap.

The Bad - I feel like I need to mention the Browns play-calling under this category. I realize the Browns were just trying to make sure they put points on the board on that first drive, but on 3rd and 9 from the 21 yard line, why not take a shot at the endzone instead of a 1-yard shovel pass?  The runs on 2nd and 16 and 3rd and 14 during the second drive were also questionable if you ask me.

After what had appeared to be a Quinn to Edwards touchdown pass, the Browns settled for a field goal after having the ball 1st and goal on the 6 yard line. Cleveland went with three straight runs from the 6 yard line and two came from Cribbs in the wildcat formation. I think you've got to give Cribbs or Quinn a chance to throw one of those.

The Browns also had some some costly penalties, and I know the new head coach is not going to be happy about that in film sessions. Braylon Edwards had two drive killers himself. On the second drive, Edwards was flaged for an illegal block and turned a 2nd and 8 into a 2nd and 16. Edwards was also flaged for a false start in the 2nd quarter that put the Browns in 2nd down and long. Brandon McDonald had a costly penalty to start the 3rd quarter as well; McDonald failed to turn around to make a play on the ball and was flagged for pass interference, and that penalty setup a 1-yard touchdown run for the Vikings. Those are penalties you have to eliminate if you are going to beat a team that is better than you in the talent department and the Browns failed to do that.

The Ugly - I am sorry to have to do this, but Brady Quinn's performance belongs in the ugly category. Quinn was 21 for 35 for 205 yards passing which is not awful if you look at raw stats, but the interception and fumble were a couple black eyes Quinn could have done without. Both turnovers for Quinn were head scratchers. The interception may not have been all his fault; it looked as if Edwards and Quinn were not on the same page as Edwards took his route to the inside and Quinn threw a deep ball towards the sideline that was intercepted. I do not know if Edwards was supposed to take his route to the sideline, but he was wide open when he cut to the middle. If Quinn had given the play a chance to develop he could have had an easy big gain.

The most disturbing turnover was Quinn's fumble; Quinn was scrambling out of the pocket and in an attempt to make something out of nothing, Quinn tried to throw across his body on the run. The only problem was, he forgot to throw the ball. Before Brady could start his throwing motion, the ball slipped out of his hands and the Vikings recovered a fumble that led to a field goal and a 14 point lead for the Vikings.

The Somewhat Moronic - After Brett Favre delivered a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie Percy Harvin, Favre tackled Harvin to the ground in celebration. I could not help it, but something in the back of my mind wanted one of them to get up limping. Not only was it just a 6-yard TD, but it was against the Browns. I know most admire Brett Favre's love of the game, but I am pretty sure no one would have anything good to say about that celebration if Harvin could not get up because of a knee injury. Favre better keep those celebrations strictly for his pickup games with his buddies in the Wrangler commercial.

The Streak Ends - The Browns got at least one giant monkey off their back in regards to the ammo that the national media uses against them. With the 26-yard Brady Quinn to Robert Royal strike with less than 30 seconds remaining, the Browns recorded their first offensive touchdown since the Denver game last season... in Week 11! Much of that had to do with Kendra Dorsey and Brittany Gradkowski being under center, but it was embarassing nevertheless. Royal had a pretty strong showing Sunday, and perhaps there won't be QUITE as much of a dropoff from Kellen Winslow as many envision.

Gameball: Abe Elam, Kamerion Wimbley and Josh Cribbs. Everyone knows why Josh Cribbs gets the gameball; he's obviously our best player and made a big play with that 67-yard punt return TD. Abram Elam was everywhere on the field today. I had not seen much good from Elam in the preseason and training camp, but he appears to be a gamer. Elam had 9 tackles with 1 sack, and I can tell Elam is going to be fun to watch. Kamerion Wimbley appears to have risen from the land of the forgotten. After a couple disappointing seasons, Wimbley showed up in the opener and displayed his ability to pressure the QB. Wimbley logged three tackles, one of which was a sack, and Wimbley also had three hits on Favre.

Team Grade: C-

Going into this game, I did not expect the Browns to really compete, but the first half showed that we are a team capable of competing. For the first half, I would have given us an A-. The only thing that we could have done better in the first half was score an offensive TD. The second half snowballed into something pretty disgusting for Cleveland fans, and I would give Cleveland an F in the second half. The tiring Browns' defense gave up 180 rushing yards in the 2nd half, and besides a last series touchdown when it was all said and done, the offense looked lost. The offense is going to have to improve vastly if the Browns plan on surprising anyone this season. The only bright spot for the offense was that fact that Jamal Lewis actually looked like he can still be effective; Lewis logged 57 yards on 11 carries and caught 3 passes for 47 yards.

The Browns take on the Denver Broncos next Sunday in the Mile High city. Kickoff is at 4:15.

Burn On!

J.V.

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