"No moral victories" is a mantra for daydreamers, and an abstraction. Everybody thinks they're Vince Lombardi.
Vince was a great Head Coach (and person), but the majority of his most famous quotes were unrealistic and impractical.
In reality, relative experience, team talent, referees, injuries, and plain old luck all influence games.
If you're not first, you're last? Nice motivation, but incorrect. Even way back then, when there were what---twelve teams in the NFL? Vince's players all knew that was bullshit, but at least inspirational bullshit, and they went all-out pretending it was true.
The Cleveland Browns just got beat by the Chiefs.
The KC Chiefs are right there with the Rams and Patriots as one of the best teams in the NFL. They're better than the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals.
They're a veteran team. Pat Mahomes is obviously the "real deal" and a Browns "miss", but he is surrounded by the most talented veteran skill-players in the NFL, and coached by Andy Reid.
The Chiefs are aiming for the Superbowl. The Browns are aiming at credibility.
In reality, the fact that the Browns put up a fight was encouraging.
I was irked by the Browns' very talented offense not scoring more points on the Chiefs' so-so defense, but encouraged as well:
New OC Kitchens actually had Baker Mayfield rolling out a few times, and even had recievers running short timing routes occasionally.
When in the pocket, his protection was (overall) significantly better than it has been, and he had time, more often than not!
Baker himself could have done better. He apparently overthrew guys (or threw it away) a lot (I'm not sure which).
It's okay. He is a rookie. Context, remember? Get real.
I was also encouraged by fewer DROPS by his receivers. While there were still too many (three that I'm sure of), it wasn't the usual SEVEN-PLUS #:!$@×+￦#!??
Suddenly, Duke Johnson showed up again! What did Todd Haley have against this guy?
Smashmouth with Chubb worked out, kinda, until the score and time eliminated it. This offensive line should have blocked better. Chubb was hit in the backfield more often than not.
Dan Labbe wonders if the Browns can emulate the Chiefs in 2019 and beyond.
As he points out, it was John Dorsey--and nobody else--who drafted Mahomes, Hill, Hunt--and signed Mitchell Schwartze and--(maybe) drafted Kelce too...
But Dan is wondering if Dorsey can find a great Head Coach.
Dan is assuming that Gregg Williams is a "hold the fort" guy. While I am a huge Lincoln Riley (et al) fan, I don't like his casual dismissal of this former Head Coach given his second chance.
We'll see how the season plays out, but I'm not as ready to just dismiss Gregg Williams as Dan and everybody else is just yet.
For now, the 2018 Browns are looking pretty good.
Didn't you feel it, my fellow fans? Fewer penalties, drops, and screwups? Letting Mayfield run around? The TIME he had to throw (usually)?
I texted my peeps before this game started that anybody who dropped a pass should be benched.
I'm not sure if Kitchens (or Williams) actually did that, but I know that Ratley seemed to disappear after his drop, then showed up again after Callaway's drop.
The receivers in general were much more reliable in this game, for sure. This time, it was Baker Mayfield who screwed up.
I'm not worried about it. Mahomes' and Mayfield's situations are not comparable.
Mahomes spent all but the tail end of 2017 on the bench behind Alex Smith, and got some late experience as a rookie.
Mayfield is a rookie.
Mahomes inheritted Andy Reid, Hunt, Hill, Kelce, a veteran offensive line, etc.
Mayfield has talented rookies mostly, including an undrafted rookie left tackle, a rookie bellcow running back, two rookie wide receivers, a second-year tight end---nevermind, but the fact that the Browns did as well as they did vs a Superbowl contender is encouraging.
Don't say "no moral victories", okay? I'm embarrassed for you when I hear it, and it's awkward.
The KC Chiefs were the best team the 2018 Browns will play, and it's all downhill from here. They're rounding into shape--can't you see it?
I want Denzel Ward and EJ Gaines back, along with Joe Schobert...
Damn Ward's injury "uncorked" Tyreek Hill in this game, and Schobert's absence might have helped Kelce and Hunt out. And Gaines is more than an afterthought.
Gregg Williams had to "back off" and play zone and soft man a lot...long story, but the defense did about as well as any other defense the Chiefs offense has steamrolled.
We can give up on the playoffs, sorta, but not on screwing other teams out of the playoffs.
The Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals are NOT like the Chiefs.
Quit with the Vince Lombardi crap. The 2018 Browns shrugged off the latest "chaotic upheaval" and looked better than they have looked (to the educated eye); all systems go!
While my inner-analyst kinda roots for all losses (for higher draft picks), it also expects 3-4 more wins.
We have to be patient. Again.
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