The Browns' Week 15 game against the Buffalo Bills will be critical. Unlike two weeks ago when Arizona fans had no faith that they could beat us, after reading the Bills' message board now, I can't believe how cocky the fans are right now. I guess winning and losing controls the tone in a major way. I shouldn't let these comments bother me, but read on and just see how ignorant some of the statements are (note: I have fixed everyone's grammar so it's not that bad to digest):
"They have the worst-ranked defense in the NFL. As long as we can contain Braylon, we should be fine."
"I think you will be surprised. There is a ton of talk in Cleveland that they need to make the switch to Brady [Quinn], because now that teams have film on Anderson they are exploiting his weaknesses. Kind of like everyone was saying about Romo at the end of last year."
"Their offense has slowed down a lot lately. I think teams have figured out how to play them."
"Well I unfortunately have to watch all the Browns games being in Columbus, and outside of Edwards and Winslow they have no real threat. Jurevicius is nice but a No. 2 and if we keep everything in front of us Anderson doesn't have much. He doesn't throw very accurate, but he puts it in a place that allows his players to make a play. So if we rattle him early, then those passes start finding the hands of our cornerbacks."
0 recs | 30 comments
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Chris:The lack of respect for your team that these Bills fans displayed is, quite simply, alarming. You won't be getting that kind of behavior from my crew, trust me. But I dare you to feel confident about playing the Bills. Seriously. I dare you. :)
-- Brian Galliford
www.buffalorumblings.com
Brian Galliford - December 10, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Very true, Brian, very true.To assume that the Browns' are going to win this one is ignorant; to assume that the Bills' are going to win this one is ignorant. Both teams have shown promise and weaknesses. Both teams are fighting for playoff hopes. Both teams want this. It's gonna be a great game.
Looking forward to your clinching scenario, Chris. Should be entertaining at least. ;)
Browns fan in Packer country,
daroga - December 10, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
I feel confident going into this Sunday's game. Why shouldn't we? The Browns are 5-0 at home under DA.It should be a good one!
dawginphilly - December 10, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
I'm a Bills fan and member of the Buffalo Rumblings community - let me second Brian's comment. Heck! I wasn't even confident against the 'Phins! Now the Browns! Are you kidding me? You're absolutely right - the Bills have yet to get a quality win; so Buffalo has a lot to prove before we start getting cocky.The only issue I have with your comments is about the blow-outs...losing by one point in the final second to Dallas was not a blowout. Neither was the one point loss to Denver in the final seconds. You take those 10 seconds away and the Browns are in our rear-view mirror. And the other 4 losses: Patriots (x2), Steelers, and Jags; Bills had a brutal schedule this season.
By I agree with your main point - that the Bills have yet to get a quality win. And realistically the Bills will have to run the table to make the playoffs - beating not just the Browns, but the Giants and Philly as well. Even if we upset the Browns, we could lose one or both of the next 2 and still miss the playoffs.
As far as next week's game, sure the Bills can win, but you have be pretty ignorant not to give the Browns the edge esp. playing at home. At this point the Bills are a 6 point underdog; sounds about right.
Zumone - December 10, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Thanks for the response. When I said "basically been blown out by every team with a winning record this season," I intended for the word 'basically' to represent the lone loss to the Cowboys. Otherwise, I wouldn't have included that word at all. And, in regards to Denver, they don't have a winning record, so I didn't factor them in either.I'm amazed by what Buffalo has done, and I've always had a reserved fondness for them each year, hoping they could sneak into the playoffs (not this year though, because the Browns need it ;)). Besides against the Dolphins, Trent Edwards' touchdown to interception ratio wasn't good, but his win to loss ratio was fabulous. I hope the Browns can pull another home win out, but it should be a battle.
Chris Pokorny - December 10, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Ah, my apologies. When I first gathered the comments, I had all of the intentions to also link to Buffalo Rumblings and state that the viewpoints there would be much more reasonable/respectful than the ones I listed. I can't believe I forgot to include that portion :(Chris Pokorny - December 10, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Sorry to hurt your feelings Brian, but I'm confifent of a Browns win and I'll take your dare. Here's why-rickyfeacher - December 10, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
I'll be willing to concede all your other points, and say that browns fans should be confident. But as A Bills fan let me say that if you think you want this game more than the Bills and their fans, You're crazy. Do some research and you will see that not being in the playoffs since '02 is nothing. The Bills haven't been in the playoffs sine 2000 and that was the ever memorable "Music City Miracle" game. So don't tell a Bills fan that you want it more, cause you're just plain wrong.sireric @ Dawgs By Nature - December 11, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
OK, I stand corrected about the play-off's.Here's what I should have said-
Given the Browns futility since the '99 resurrection (40 wins vs the Bills 57 wins) the Browns want this game more.
rickyfeacher - December 11, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
That more like it, I will say that while I naturally want my Bills in the playoffs, I wouldn't be heart broken to see the Browns get in and do some damage. To bad it looks like they can't both make it.sireric @ Dawgs By Nature - December 11, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Browns may "want" this game more, but the Bills absolutely "need" this game to have any chance at the post-season. Not sure if this will translate to anything on the field, but it is elimination time for the Bills. Browns on the other hand can lose this game and still have a decent shot at the playoffs. Then again the Bills, Browns, and Titans could all finish 10-6 and the Titans would earn the last spot based on strength of schedule. Wouldn't that be a kick in the 'nads?Zumone - December 11, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
With the way VY is playing I don't think you have to worry about that. You bring up a good point, Yes if the Bills win, The teams will be tied but, the Bills will have the tie breaker. but in order to keep that spot The Bills still need to beat both Philly and the Giants because the Browns get the Bungles and 49ers. So hoping for an upset is tough.By the why; what is a Brown anyway?
sireric @ Dawgs By Nature - December 11, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
After the war, despite still being Ohio State's head coach in absentia, Brown chose instead to go to Cleveland as part-owner, vice president, general manager and head coach for Arthur B "Mickey" McBride's entry in the upstart All-America Football Conference. He signed his contract February 8, 1945, while still in the Navy. A name-the-team poll taken in the Cleveland Plain Dealer initially yielded the nickname "Panthers." However, Brown found out that the "Panthers" name had previously belonged to a semipro team in Cleveland with a long history of losing. At his suggestion, the team sponsored another name-the-team contest which resulted in the name "Brown Bombers," after heavyweight champion Joe Louis. The name was quickly shortened to "Browns," which led to speculation that the team was named after Paul Brown himself--a myth which persists to this day.What the above Wikipedia article above doesn't mention is Paul Brown refused to accept that the new team be named for him even though that is what all the fans wanted. Instead, Brown OK'ed it as long as Mickey McBride told the media the new team was really named after Joe Louis.
rickyfeacher - December 11, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Ok, so only two things in that series of comments actually bothered me:- The notion that the Bills have an advantage in special teams. While they certainly have a good squad looking at their stats, I wouldn't call it an advantage over what the Browns special team unit has been able to put together this year.
- The "ton of talk" about replacing DA with Brady must be in some other city. While I'm sure there are some people that request Brady after every DA interception, "ton of talk" would net some sort of journalistic response, I would guess. I haven't seen that yet (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).
Everything else, though, seems pretty reasonable, to me. We DO have one of the worst ranked defenses in the league. The offense has slowed a bit recently (although it would have been hard to go at the pace they were going).Anderson's throws are STILL not very accurate. If our receiving core was not as good at catching passes behind them as they are, DA's stats would look quite different. Jamal Lewis isn't mentioned as a weapon in the comments which might anger some of you, but he's really been an afterthought in this offense (internally and externally).
In no way am I saying that the Bills will win easy. Just saying that other then the above examples, I don't see how these are wild outlandish claims showing fans getting excited over "false pretenses". Then again, it got me to post this, so good job Chris! :)
painaxl - December 10, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Bills are ranked 5th in special teams DVOA, and the Browns are ranked 2nd in special teams DVOA, with the best kick return unit in the game. If they don't kick to Cribbs, the special teams should be about even, no advantage for Buffalo there.raber - December 10, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
How many winning teams have you guys beaten? Congrats on the big Seahawks win! There are six good teams in the NFL and neither Buffalo nor Cleveland is one of them. You guys are confident about winning this game because the Browns are 6-2 against bad teams and Buffalo is mediocre at best. We're confident about this game because the Bills are 7-1 against bad teams and Cleveland is mediocre at best. You're favored because you're at home. Our confidence is no more false than yours.Arthur Modell - December 13, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Hey Art, do that little dance again, you know the one you did on stage with Ray Lewis after the Ravens won the super bowl.sireric @ Dawgs By Nature - December 13, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Partially true; though I think almost anyone can go 4-0 against the Dolphins and Jets.Chris Pokorny - December 13, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
...or 3-0 against the Ravens and Bengals.Arthur Modell - December 13, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Combined wins for Dolphins/Jets: 3Combined wins for Bengals/Ravens: 9
My comparison outweighs your's significantly.
Chris Pokorny - December 14, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Fine. We beat the Bengals and Ravens too. And you beat the Dolphins and Jets. The point is neither Buffalo nor Cleveland has built their winning records by beating good teams and the author of the original post is incorrect in dismissing Buffalo's winning record due to who they beat when at the same time he's elevating Cleveland's resume. You can't have it both ways. And by the way, the 4 Super Bowl argument is really strange coming from Browns fans who watched their team go 0-3 in a four year span of AFC championship games (You know, the game you have to win to get the opportunity to play in a Super Bowl). Ernest Byner is my new hero (and Jose Mesa, and Red Right 88, etc.).Arthur Modell - December 14, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
That post is mediocre at best.Brad D - December 13, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Can anyone really take a jaggoff with "art modell" as a sig name seriously?All I gotta say is- BUF doesn't ever to be in the play-offs after that 0-4 crapola in the past Super Bowls!
The Bills and the Vikings define complete abject failure in the play-offs/SB!
Fortunately, after this Sunday, we won't be hearing Bills and play-offs in the same sentence!
Capeche!
rickyfeacher - December 13, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
hey I forget, how many super bowls have the Browns been in? Thats right ZERO. while the Bills were dominating the AFC and going to 4 straight super bowls, (a feat that has never been repeated) The Browns were sucking hind tit. Maybe next time before you shoot your mouth off, you should pause and check to see if anything ignorant or stupid is going to come out. But then you might not say anything at all.sireric @ Dawgs By Nature - December 14, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
The author of "how to win friends and influence people"It would probably be best if Bills fans, of all teams, bring up Art Modell. I've got a lot of respect for the Bills as a team, franchise and fan base. One of the few sports cities to go through almost as much as Cleveland.
So, don't make me loose any sympathy if your team is the next one to have an owner betray it and carry it away somewhere else. Unless you really want to root for the Toronot/LA Bills, I'd not tempt fate by bringing up Modell on a Browns board.
Estonianzulu - December 14, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Wheres TORONOT?sireric @ Dawgs By Nature - December 14, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Obviously just a few miles away from Buflalo, and not too far from Montareal :)Estonianzulu - December 14, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
Well played.Brad D - December 14, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
From another Buffalo Blog:"Does anyone have a time machine so we can go back to week one, so we can head to Vegas and bet the mortgage on the odds of the Bills and Browns having a game with playoff implications in December? Here's the thing that bugs me the most, though. Why does it have to be Bills/Browns? I don't know about you guys, but I feel a kinship with Clevelanders. Similar type of cities, similar type of frustrated fan bases, and I generally root for Cleveland teams to do well. I hate 30 other NFL franchises (well, maybe not the Texans - they still have a team, right?) So why does a game to decide what is likely to be the final wild card spot have to be between these two teams? The NFL, like life, can be a cruel mistress."
Zumone - December 14, 2007
Re: Bills Fans Confident Under False Pretenses
It's nice to read a Bills fan with some common sense and manners. Brian from Buffalo Ramblings was reasonable too. I guess every city has their trolls.NickFantana - December 16, 2007
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