Mangini’s Browns Embarrass Belichick’s Patriots
Monday, November 08, 2010
From the White House to the Out House. That’s where the New England Patriots have gone over the past week.
This team was being hailed as the best team in the NFL following their win over the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday which gave them a league-best 6-1 record. One week later, they looked hapless in a 34-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Ohio. What a difference a week makes!
Rookie TE Rob Gronkowski will officially wear the goat horns as the single biggest contributor to New England’s loss yesterday. But there is enough blame to go around the entire organization.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTLet’s start with the coaching. The “best coach in football history” according to Randy Moss got completely outcoached by the man he hired to be his lackey in Cleveland 20 years ago. Browns coach Eric Mangini and his staff had a better game plan from start to finish and it showed. Mangini deserved a hearty handshake from Belichick when it was over because the pupil took his mentor to school.
It didn’t help that Mangini’s players completely out-executed and out-played Belichick’s players. Peyton Hillis look like John Riggins pounding his way through the Patriots defense.
Brown’s QB Colt McCoy (14-19, 174 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT) didn’t remind anyone of Peyton Manning, but he was rock-solid in managing the Cleveland offense and made plays when called upon which is all you can ask of a rookie. McCoy did make a nice 16-yard run for a touchdown in the third to put the Browns up 24-7.
For the Patriots, Tom Brady’s numbers weren’t horrible (19-36, 224 yards, 2 TD) but he was off early in the game which allowed Cleveland to build a lead putting New England in a hole they could never climb out of.
Gronkowski’s special teams miscue where he called for a fair catch of a kick off and then let it sail over his head for Cleveland to recover at the New England 19 led to a quick 7 points and an early 10-0 Browns lead. While there was still plenty of time left after that mistake, the tone had been set for the day.
Gronkowski’s second blunder may have been more costly. Down 10 in the closing minute of the first half, New England was in position to cut the deficit to 3 heading into the locker room. But, on 1st and goal from the Cleveland 9, Brady connected with Gronkowski at the 3. As the Patriots TE tried to fight his way toward the goal line, he failed to secure the football turning it over to the Browns at the 2.
At the end of the day, the Patriots fell to 6-2 while the Browns improved to 3-5. However, you would have thought that those records were reversed based upon the three hours of football that was played.
New England now has the unenviable task of visiting Pittsburgh Sunday night. The Steelers are considered by many to be the strongest all around team in the league. A performance like yesterday’s would make for an embarrassing night on national television for the Pats.
NOTES:
-Patriots PK Stephen Gostkowski injured his thigh and did not return in the second half of Sunday’s game. That left Wes Welker to handle the kicking duties. Welker, kicking with his left foot, nailed an extra point. His kickoff was high and short but did allow the Patriots cover team to tackle Josh Cribbs after a return of 15 yards to the 40.
-Peyton Hillis isn’t just talented and strong, he’s smart! With just over 4 minutes to play, Hillis ran for a first down and had the presence of mind to slide down in bounds to keep the clock running with the Browns up by 13. Hillis would score later in the drive capping off his spectacular day. (184 yards rushing, 36 yards receiving, 2 TD’s)
-While the trimmed down Eric Mangini chose the stoic approach of his mentor Belichick all afternoon, Mangini’s assistants did not hide their enthusiasm for sticking it to Belichick and the Patriots. Browns offensive coordinator Brian Dabol and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, both of whom coached under Belichick in New England, were seen chest-bumping their players and pumping their fists after big plays. Dabol was actually knocked on his backside while celebrating with one of his players. Don’t think that those images won’t stick with Belichick for some time.
-How strange was it to see the Browns stadium nearly empty with 2 minutes to play because Cleveland was leading? Normally the Dawg Pound empties early because the Browns are on the wrong end of blowouts like yesterday’s.
-Maybe the only two bright spots for the Patriots were Danny Woodhead and Aaron Hernandez. Woodhead had 54 yards rushing (6.0 average per carry) and 38 yards receiving. Hernandez had 5 catches for 48 yards and both of New England’s touchdowns.
