Photo: Joshua Gunter/Cleveland.com

Curse Of Cleveland's Cody and I were on location for Monday's lopsided loss at the hands of the Ravens, and after driving over 275 miles, riding the RTA for 20 minutes both ways, and getting home at nearly 4 'o clock in the morning, I can proudly say that it only looked worse in person. Thousands of fans (including us) arrived late, and tens of thousands more had left by the start of the fourth quarter, as the frustration mounts against this horrific offense, the entire organization, and its inept head coach. A spirited chess match for the first 30 minutes devolved into an insurmountable two-score lead thanks in large part to two Quinnterceptions.

Coming and Going: The Browns were without Pro Bowl punter Dave Zastudil, who has since been put on injured-reserve, as they signed former Mangini disciple Reggie Hodges, who got plenty of work. They were also without WR Chansi Stuckey, who still hasn't unpacked from New York. The Ravens were without DT Haloti Ngata.

Defensive Showcase: Defense ruled the first 30 minutes as the two teams pitched shutouts on one another. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan really does deserve credit for his unit's performance, considering they are without two of their leaders in LBs D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton. David Bowens made the move to ILB and had two sacks in the first quarter. Kaluka Maiava continues to perform well in a starting role for a fourth rounder who was expected to contribute only on special teams. Eric Wright, Shaun Rogers, Robaire Smith, and Kamerion Wimbley all had solid games. While the offense is clearly devoid of playmaking ability, talent, and an overall pulse, the defense has a few playmakers and several young, solid contributors who they can build around. Give Ryan credit also for switching up the schemes, making adjustments on the field, and playing aggressively early. The defense gave up only 140 yards in the first half and 274 for the game. Baltimore signal-caller Joe Flacco threw for just 155 yards, and 41 of that came on one play.

Offensive Wrinkles: The Browns came out with a few different looks with two weeks to gameplan for the Ravens. Quinn and company employed a no-huddle for a decent amount of the game, and we saw a bit more of Cribbs taking snaps. Still, it wasn't enough as you can dress up a bag of crap with a pretty bow and perfume, but it's still a bag of crap. Likewise, you can disguise a dink-and-dump offense all you want, but at the end of the day, that's all it is. Watching the replay of the game the next day, I wish I had a dollar for everytime Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski went back and forth at each other in increasingly louder volume, screaming "Why don't they throw it down field?", "they've got to take a shot downfield", "this dink and dunk offense won't get it done, they need to take a chance!" and the like. It's so freaking obvious to everyone but the one guy who matters, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Daboll could've and should've been fired weeks ago, because he is a large part of one of the worst stretches of offensive football in the modern era. The team is getting outscored by other team's defenses and individual players. The only thing that happened as the game progressed was that the Raven corners played the underneath routes and screens tighter and the deep ball was wide open, begging to be thrown.

Stonehand Receivers: Quinn threw two interceptions in the third quarter, and just like that, the tides had turned for good. Both passes were deflections off the receivers' hands that were returned by a Baltimore DB. Landry returned his for a touchdown on a pass that was tipped by Robert Royal. Granted, not an incredibly well-thrown pass, but Royal tipping it made the INT possible. The second one was picked off by Chris Carr, intended for Mike Furrey. This one was catchable, and there's no excuse for Furrey. Sure, it could have been thrown better, but this is getting ridiculous. The QBs don't deserve all the blame. Quinn may be having a rough go of it, but he's got a play-caller who calls plays where he cannot succeed, he's got receivers who consistently drop balls, and he's got a line that doesn't want to protect him. God, Peyton Manning would look downright below-average on this team.

Quinn gettin' low: On one of the interception returns, Brady Quinn moved toward the play and laid a block on Ravens LB Terrell Suggs that took him out of the game with an MCL sprain. Quinn said he was trying to make a play on the ball carrier, which I honestly believe, because he was moving toward the play. However, that doesn't take away from the fact that he was rightly flagged and fined for the hit. Ray Lewis calling it a dirty play, however, is nothing short of comical. Really, Ray? And exactly what was that earth-shattering blow on Ochocinco? That's what I thought. The problem was, it wasn't the most disturbing hit of the night, at least for Browns' fans.

Broken Cribbs: On the final play of the game, after two Quinn deep heaves that were 20 yards out of bounds, Quinn threw a slant to Cribbs, who kept the ball alive by lateraling it to TE Robert Royal. Immediately, Cribbs was drilled by DE Dwan Edwards under the chin. Cribbs lay on the ground for several minutes while the 10,000 Browns fans who remained, Cody and I, included looked on concerned. Some, most in fact, didn't realize it was even Cribbs for a couple of minutes. What a shame for a guy who lays it out on the line for his team every single play of every single game he's out there to get leveled like that. It was a worthless playcall, but it appears that Quinn was at fault for telling Cribbs to "keep the ball alive". I know the Browns were trying to give the fans something to cheer about, but this is the kind of stuff that happens on plays like that. Now, we'll have to see how long the main reason to watch a Browns game will be out of commission.

Four plays make the difference: Looking back, take four plays out of the game, and this game is a scoreless stalemate. Removing the Landry pick six, the 41-yard Mason reception that was a result of Brandon McDonald blowing coverage, Ray Rice's touchdown that came with just 10 men on the field for Cleveland, and Carr's interception make things quite different.

Team Grade: C-

They've played far worse this season, and the defense put forth it's second best effort all year long (the best being the Buffalo win). Quinn was a victim of two tipped passes and non-aggressive, timid, yellow-bellied playcalling, completing just 13-of-31 passes for 99 yards. Three yards per pass attempt won't get it done anywhere, especially not in the NFL.

Game ball: Kaluka Maiava. The young USC linebacker was flying around most of the game making plays. His six tackles were second on the team, and he continues to show he should be in the future plans.

The Browns face off with the Detroit Lions next Sunday in Detroit. It will feature the two worst teams of the decade, and it should be a thriller to watch.

Kirk

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