Dizzying, delightful day on the bayou (Pluto)

[OconRecon]

Just a fun read...

It's a dizzying, delightful day on the bayou as Cleveland Browns stun New Orleans: Terry Pluto

Published: Sunday, October 24, 2010, 4:17 PM
Updated: Sunday, October 24, 2010, 4:23 PM

Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer




Scott Fujita heads upfield after picking off a Drew Brees pass deep in Browns territory in the second quarter Sunday in New Orleans. The defense was the star in the Browns' 30-17 victory.


NEW ORLEANS -- Can you believe what the Browns just did in New Orleans?

The 30-17 victory was pretty much the working definition of "stunning."

We are talking about the 1-5 Browns beating the defending Super Bowl champions in their Superdome, where fans scream and screech as if they are trying to blow off the roof and rock the Browns' rookie quarterback.

The Browns won with Colt McCoy making his second pro start. They won it on defense and special teams, but the key was that McCoy didn't lose it. He stayed away from fumbles, interceptions and disorganization on offense.

He also caught a 14-yard pass -- McCoy the receiver grabbing a pass from running back Peyton Hillis for a key first down in the fourth quarter.

I can't believe I am writing any of this.

I can't believe how the Browns dominated on defense. I can't believe how they faked a punt and Reggie Hodges ran for 66 yards. Or how Joshua Cribbs began to run back a punt, stopped, threw about a 20-yard lateral to Eric Wright -- who ran 61 yards.

I can't believe how the Browns tried so much that can go so wrong, yet nearly all of it went right.

For one day, the Browns made football fun. They combined gimmicks with grit. They were creative, but under control. They played exactly the kind of game they had to pull off this upset.

Watching the game, I'd imagine some Browns fans felt like David Bowens. The veteran linebacker had a pass bang off his shoulder pads, then bounce off a Saints player and the ball landed right back in Bowens' hands. He lumbered 30 yards into the end zone, leaping for joy and in a state of utter shock by his good fortune as he crossed the goal line.

That set up the Browns' 20-3 lead at the half.

Then I really can't believe this -- late in the game, Bowens picked off another pass... for another touchdown! In 159 pro games, Bowens had only two interceptions. None for a touchdown.

Until this day...when he had two!

What a wonderful day for Rob Ryan's defense. Before the snap, they often looked like 11 guys wandering around, waiting for a bus that isn't due for an hour. They sort of talked, sh.rugged and only right before the snap did they run to their proper spots.

The idea was to confuse Drew Brees, a quarterback the Browns consider one of the smartest in the NFL. The Browns believed if they simply lined up long before the ball was delivered into Brees' hands, the star quarterback would find gaps in the defense and his receivers wide open.

The Browns had formations with two linemen, five linebackers and four defensive backs. No linemen, six linebackers and five defensive backs. One lineman, five linebackers ... OK, you get the idea.

This team is a 3-4 defense, but they played everything but that.

I can't explain much of what they were doing...but then again, neither could the Saints.

It worked, as Brees threw four interceptions -- and it could have been six had Abe Elam and T.J. Ward hung on to balls delivered into their hands.

In addition to the interceptions, they harassed him much of the day. Scott Fujita and Matt Roth were lions at linebacker, Ahtyba Rubin strong in the middle.

The Browns walked away with perhaps their most amazing victory in the two years of Eric Mangini's career here.

[hiwaygal]

What a wonderful day for Rob Ryan's defense. Before the snap, they often looked like 11 guys wandering around, waiting for a bus that isn't due for an hour. They sort of talked and ged and only right before the snap did they run to their proper spots.
The idea was to confuse Drew Brees, a quarterback the Browns consider one of the smartest in the NFL. The Browns believed if they simply lined up long before the ball was delivered into Brees' hands, the star quarterback would find gaps in the defense and his receivers wide open.

That was a great idea!

We need to do that more often!

[Sez.EJ]

I think we were all as delightfully stunned as Pluto today.. what a great win.