So Carolina is a fraud because they relaxed up 35-7 and lost yesterday after winning 14 straight?

C'mon, man.

And I don't recall saying Pittsburgh was rolling anyone. My exact words were that they were playing well for a month before yesterday. Which they had. 5-1 in their last 6 with the loss being on the road against a very good Seattle team.

Two wins against playoff teams in that stretch, which I'm sure will be discounted because of McCarron and Osweiler.

The steelers were/are the exact same team the chiefs are save they have the offense carrying the weight.

Thru the whole stretch, no one was saying "well, they're winning but their defense hasn't stopped anyone, they've just been outscoring people".

So why does it make them any different than the chiefs?

We sat right across from you almost behind the Browns bench. It wasn't bad. My daughter sat in the upper level and said it was miserable. That being said, I still think the turnout for a then 9-5 team was sad. We need to support our team. These guys have played their butts off for us this season. I was embarrassed by the turnout yesterday. Faider fans are gonna pack that place next weekend.

What side was she on? We were in section 344, row 25, and it wasn't bad at all. I had toe warmers in the boots (that F'n leaked so my socks were wet!!!), and even had my gloves off more much of the first half.. Given the winds the south side looked a bit chilly, but the north side wasn't a killer IMO.

But I'll say this, the winds looked really odd when seeing the kicking game, so there had to be something going on in that regard. But IMO that's like a Doctor saying "there's something going around." that's true about 50 weeks of the year.

The past few weeks our offense has started to play like they did at the start of the season. They look good at times then go conservative and play not to lose instead of putting the game away.

The 1st drive of the 2nd half was alright Alex over threw Maclin for a TD. But the last 2 drives They took the game out of Alex's hands and it almost cost us the game. We didn't need much just a few 1st downs and the game wouldn't have come down to the wire. If Manziel was a decent passer we would have lost.

I can't stand that screen play it's basically conceding the down and putting the game in the hands of the defense who were worn down in the 2nd half. Everything has to be perfect for that play and probably still has to break a tackle. Let Alex drop back if he can't find an open receiver he still has a chance to get a 1st with his legs.

Thanks George. Hi-Boy sure sounds good.

Get to feeling better...we need you at full strength for the playoff write up.

All true, but I am interested in the Chiefs, and I'm just hoping that they don't come up flat come the playoffs. I'm not saying they will, or even that I'm sure that the past few weeks are indicative of the team being smoke and mirrors.
They are a completely different team when Houston and Hali are on the field.

Yesterday's 2nd half on offense was just as much about fluke circumstances of how long Cleveland had the ball. What has been clear is the offense has been 2 faced for a while now.
They seem to be showing up and putting points on the board, but then simply looking to chew clock, play for field position, and keep it really conservative to avoid turnovers. Thus, you have watched them eek out to hang on and win when I believe that they have left points on the field by effectively going into a prevent offense once they have a at least a 2 score lead.

The danger in doing that is the offense seems to get out of rhythm and then have trouble moving the ball and picking up 1st downs when needed. As good as the defense is - it doesn't sit well with me to continue to put them in with their backs against the wall game after game to hold the line at the end of the game. Better teams, playoff teams, will do better even against this defense if constantly put in that position.

Of course, Andy and the offense may very well be saving plays for elimination games, because in the playoffs against Indy they certainly came out aggressive on offense and the circumstances of that loss had little to do with the offense not scoring enough for a win.

Sure, it's just one game, but it's what we have to go off of in how they came out and played on offense in a playoff game. This team certainly has a better overall offense than that playoff team.

Now, the special teams play needs to definitely get back on track and quickly!

Totally this... After a holiday season of good eats, the Vitamix is doing its job but making me long for a burger like that...

I'll double check, but I think they are 11th in points allowed - so you're "hasn't stopped anyone" comment doesn't fly.

See what the chiefs are in points scored.

And the steelers defense has been bad. I'm not sure that's been questioned anywhere

Denver can sign him so he can be closer to a legal source of his one true love.

Usually I go for the Italian Steak. But the food at Hi-Boy is all top notch for burgers and shakes.

Agreed on all counts. Coming out flat is my biggest concern. That terrifies the hell out of me.

Meanwhile in Cleveland, Ray Farmer may be paying a visit to Ray Farmer... don't forget to bring your playbook!

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/inde...rt_river_index

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns expect to keep coach Mike Pettine and fire general manager Ray Farmer, a source within the organization told Jason Cole of bleacherreport.com.

The Browns slipped to 3-12 after their 17-13 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, giving Pettine his 17th loss in the last 20 games.

But Cole reports that Farmer -- whose player acquisitions have been suspect and who was suspended for the first four games of this season for impermissible texting -- will take the fall for the abysmal record.

"Sources within the Browns' organization say they expect that coach Mike Pettine will survive this season despite the failure of the team,'' he said in a video on the site. "Those sources indicate that the bigger problem within the Browns' organization is not Pettine but is actually General Manager Ray Farmer and the selections that Farmer has made throughout his tenure, and even before that when he was under [former CEO] Joe Banner.''

Cole says that the sources have told him the Browns owner Jimmy Haslam believes that it's Farmer's poor drafting and free-agent pickups that are hurting the team. His 2014 first-round picks, cornerback Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel, haven't lived up to their draft status; and 2015 No. 19 overall pick Cam Erving has struggled as a rookie on the offensive line.

Farmer has also come under heavy fire for signing receiver Dwayne Bowe to a two-year deal worth $12.5 million in the offseason, including $9 million guaranteed. Bowe has been a healthy scratch seven times this season and has five catches for 53 yards.

"The problem here is more of a personnel issue, and that is what is going to have to be fixed by Haslam,'' Cole said.

A league source told cleveland.com that Haslam has not made up his mind yet and that he's taking his time and considering all four of his options: keeping Pettine and Farmer, firing both, or keeping one or the other.

Cole said Haslam's top three candidates to replace Farmer would be Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin; Vikings assistant general manager George Paton; and Chiefs Director of Football Operations Chris Ballard.
"Those three gentlemen are considered the top three candidates by the NFL for possible general manager positions around the league,'' stated Cole.

"This is the course that Haslam may take as he tries to fix a continual problem with the Browns since he has taken over the ownership of that team."
*
Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports reports that he's heard a strong buzz that Packers Director of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf, the son of longtime Packers personnel executive Ron Wolf, would be a Browns GM candidate if Farmer is fired.

He reported "many believe Wolf's father, Ron, will end up consulting for Haslam on the Browns' forthcoming overhaul.''

Wolf has not yet been hired by the Browns and there are no immediate plans to do so, a source said.

LaCanfora also reported that Haslam likes Jacksonville assistant head coach/offensive line coach Doug Marrone, who interviewed for the Browns job but accepted the Buffalo head coach job instead before the 2013 season. The Browns hired Rob Chudzinski instead, and Marrone hired Pettine as his defensive coordinator in Buffalo that year.

He also reported that Haslam would've "moved heaven and earth'' to hire former Broncos and current Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase two years ago. Gase pulled himself out of the running even before interviewing to focus on the Broncos' Super Bowl run. They lost to the Seahawks that year.

Regardless of what Haslam decides, he's likely to announce it as soon as the day after the Browns' finale next week at home against the Steelers.