News Flash - Browns Fans Were Ready Yesterday...

Uh oh, we better get our shit together...it's Steelers week in Ohio for the 2nd time in 3 weeks. And for the record, Browns bloggers were ready on Monday...ok? So like Mel Blount, I better get on my horse and ride.

Apparently, this is the "game of the year" for Browns fans. And who could blame them? Not like they'll have much else to look forward to, since their remaining schedule features such NFL powerhouses as the Texans, Jets, 49ers and Cardinals (Pitt West) who combined, boast a rather dubious record of 9-24. Not to mention 2-6 Cincy, and the 4-4 Bills. Still, it's the Browns. So can you ever really say their games are "winnable"?

All joking aside, and I can't believe I'm about to say this, this actually is a pretty big game for both teams. The Browns are 5-3 right now and given the aforementioned schedule, have a pretty good chance to contend for the division. Maybe.

The flipside of this coin is that the Steelers aren't exactly facing the league's elite either. Although we've still got New England and Jacksonville to contend with, we've got some otherwise pretty soft competition - Miami, St. Louis, and the Jets. Now, that's not to say we can't lose games we're expected to win (see Week 4 and Week 7). Just that we COULD be playing teams like Indy, San Diego (although I'm not so sure I'd be scared of them at this point), Dallas or Detroit(I dare you to challenge Jon Kitna...), which would certainly weigh more heavily on my optimism.

Fact is though, over the last 7 games since taking over for the useless Charlie Frye, Browns QB Derek Anderson has thrown for more than 2100 yards and 17 TDs. And let's be honest, Derek Anderson IS the story here. Without him right now, the Browns would be assuming their usual role as the dregs of the AFC North. And don't give me any of that Brady Quinn non-sense. He's where he should be. On the sidelines watching, learning, clipboard in hand, getting a pedicure and thinking about his next glamor shot.

With Anderson at the helm, the Browns have transformed themselves into an all out passing attack. Over the last 7 games since we met in Week 1, Jamal Lewis has only broken 100 yards once (a 216 romp of the Bungles), though he did manage to find the end zone 4 times on Sunday, ruining many a Braylon Edwards/Kellen Winslow fantasy owners day. Which is just a testament to the Browns new found reliance on the aerial pursuit. So this is largely the Derek Anderson show.

But the good news is, the Browns still don't know the meaning of defense. As you may have seen me comment on a number of my esteemed colleagues blogs already this week - in the Browns 5 wins, they've only won by an average margin of 8 points, while in the Steelers 6 wins, they've won by an average of 22.3 points. How bad is the Browns D? Glad you asked - they allow the most passing TDs of any team in the league, and they're 2nd to last in total yards allowed. Their sieve-like unit gives up an average of 135 yards on the ground and 282 yards through the air. Not what I'd call impressive.

So yeah, this will be a game, but just like, a game against Cleveland. Sack Derek Anderson approximately 9 times, call Kellen Winslow a 3 letter derogatory term for men who prefer the company of other men, and send any and all Browns fans packing for Cleveland with their tails between their legs.

What do you all say? Browns - contenders or pretenders? [Question removed due to sensitivities]

Browns Stats [Pro-football-reference]