Rookie Terrance West has gone from being benched last month to playing a pivotal role in Browns' win over Tampa Bay. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Terrance West’s season has resembled so many of his runs – two steps forward, one step back and a couple strangely sideways.

For someone named after a specific direction, the rookie can be -- as coaches have learned -- all over the place. West can run for 100 yards against the Steelers or practice so poorly he doesn't even merit a jersey on game day.

But heading into Thursday night’s showdown against the Bengals, the third-round draft pick might be the Browns’ top option at halfback. West resurrected a dormant running attack in the second half of Sunday’s 22-17 win over the Buccaneers at FirstEnergy Field.

He not only rushed for 48 yards on 15 carries, but caught his first touchdown pass and threw perhaps the game's most crucial block, allowing Brian Hoyer time to hit Taylor Gabriel for the winning TD.

“He played well,” coach Mike Pettine said. “That was a point of emphasis this week – to ramp him up a little bit. He had a very good week of practice, and I thought he responded. He ran tough. There were some plays that were blocked for one or two (yards) where he gained five or six.”

The Bengals don’t need great advanced scouting to know the Browns’ once-potent ground game went down with center Alex Mack's broken leg. In the past three games, they have rushed for 69, 39 and 50 yards. The club’s featured back, Ben Tate, has struggled behind a makeshift line, combining for 65 yards on 41 attempts in those games.

He managed three yards on 10 carries against the Bucs, while catching four passes for 29 yards.

Meanwhile, rookie Isaiah Crowell appears to have fallen out of favor and the rotation. He did not get a carry against the Buccaneers as the Browns entered the game planning to use just Tate and West.

“We thought those two had really earned it, Terrance especially during the week,” Pettine said. “I thought he had his best week of practice, and that merited the number of plays he was in there.”

West opened the season with a 100-yard game against the Steelers and was among the league’s leading rushers for the first few weeks. But West’s attitude and practice habits put him on the sidelines in a sweatsuit during the Steelers rematch.

The Towson product is often candid and unfiltered. West admitted Sunday he wasn’t taking some practices “serious.” That changed, he said, after his benching.

“Me being inactive, it brought me back to where I needed to be,” he said. “Everything's going to take care of itself from now on.”

West’s most humbling moment, however, came after Pettine returned him to the lineup against Jacksonville. On a critical second-quarter series -- with a chance to break the game open -- West earned consecutive carries needing only a yard for a first down. He was guilty twice of dancing, looking to break a big run instead of taking the short gain. The drive fizzled and produced no points.

The rookie was heavily criticized for the failure and some thought West should be dropped from the rotation. It wasn’t the first instance of swinging for the fence when a sacrifice bunt would have sufficed.

“I learned from the third-and-1 against the Jaguars,” he said. “I learned from that, it made me go straight downhill. Every yard counts.”

The Browns don’t win Sunday against the Bucs (1-7) without West’s contributions. With the Browns trailing by a point early in the third quarter, coaches showed their faith in the rookie, giving him the ball on a fourth-and-1 from Bucs’ 4. He gained two yards before catching a pass for two more and a TD to make it 16-10.

His biggest play, however, might have been the blitz pickup on Hoyer’s 34-yard TD pass to Gabriel with 8:89 remaining as he chopped down hard-charging linebacker Lavonte David. Hoyer wasn’t sure what happens if West whiffs, but he knows it wouldn’t have ended in a TD celebration. West said he baited David, pretending not to see him, before finishing his block.

The colorful halfback, whose sound bites are right now the most consistent element in his game, believes his performance: “showed I can play on this level. ... I always knew that, but I just had to prove myself.”

What can the Browns expect from West and this rushing attack Thursday night in the season’s biggest game? Who knows? It’s a very unnerving time for an offense that started so brightly before Mack’s campaign ended prematurely.

The Browns (5-3) are scraping by against bad teams such as the Titans, Raiders and Bucs. The defense and special teams propped up the offense Sunday before Hoyer got them home with the TD pass to Gabriel.

They aren’t going to the playoffs unless the Browns can resuscitate the running game, which suddenly is reliant on a rookie again. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said a few weeks ago he’s waiting for one of the three runners to step forward and emerge as the feature back.

West has taken steps in every which direction, but when the Browns desperately needed him against the Bucs, he kept tacking north.

See headlines involving area football teams that qualified on Sunday for the 2014 Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs.

See headlines involving area football teams that qualified on Sunday for the 2014 Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs.

Brian Hoyer threw for 300 yards, but he admitted after the game that the Browns' victory over Tampa Bay was made possible by big plays on defense and special teams. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With all three of his Pro Bowlers out of commission and his running game just a rumor, Brian Hoyer needs all the help he can get from his friends on defense and special teams right now.

They gave him more than he could ask for in a 22-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Bucs that lifted the Browns to 5-3 heading into Thursday night's big showdown in Cincinnati against the 5-2-1 Bengals.

It's the Browns' best record at the midpoint since 2007 -- and they've won four of their last five. They also exceeded their win total from last season. The Bucs, meanwhile, slipped to 1-7.

"It wasn't always pretty with the way our offense was playing, but we're 5-3,'' said Hoyer. "It doesn't say in the box score tomorrow, 'Well, the offense didn't play so great and it was close but they won.' It says 5-3. ...Obviously, the defense played great and the special teams came up huge with those two plays."

On a day when Hoyer's running game averaged 1.8 yards per carry and his new center Nick McDonald struggled against the great Gerald McCoy, he got interceptions from Donte Whitner and Tashaun Gipson, a blocked field goal by Billy Winn, a deflected punt by Craig Robertson to set up the gamewinning touchdown and a great defensive stand at the end to close out the game. 

"With every win and with every moment where a guy steps up to make a play, you believe in each other more and it really pulls us together,'' said Hoyer (21-of-34, 300 yards, two TDs, two picks, 85.4 rating). "You never feel like you're down. The biggest thing for us is, whether it is special teams making plays, our offense or defense, we stick together.  For a team whose culture has been losing, I don't know if a few years ago - and I can only speak for my time here – I don't know if a Browns team wins that game.''

For the second straight week, Hoyer got a huge play from another unit to set up the winning points. Last week, it was Whitner's forced fumble that led to the victory over Oakland. This time, it was Robertson's deflected punt and K'Waun Williams' recovery at the Tampa 35. Those plays set up Hoyer's 34-yard touchdown pass two plays later to a wide-open Taylor Gabriel in the end zone with 8:59 remaining.

"We had to find a way to give the team a spark and we did it today,'' said Robertson, who credited Tank Carder for making the deflection possible. "(We felt the momentum shift) right away. The fans got back into it. Hoyer did a great job of capitalizing on it.'' 

The game-winning TD pass to Gabriel -- aided by Terrance West's huge blitz pickup of All-Pro linebacker Lavonte David -- came not long after Hoyer was booed by the home crowd after going 3-and-out twice in the third quarter and throwing his second interception early in the fourth on a pass deflected by Gary Barnidge with the Browns trailing 17-16.

"Obviously, we need to play better,'' said Hoyer. "Our fans expect more out of us, and I think we expect more than our fans do. We want to play better and you never want to hear (the crowd booing).  When it's all said and done, we're 5-3 and we are moving on. It is a quick week.''

Hoyer went into the game without his three Pro Bowlers in Josh Gordon, who will come off suspension in three weeks; center Alex Mack, who's out for the year with a broken leg; and Jordan Cameron, who sat this one out with his concussion and will likely miss the Cincinnati game. Still, they've managed to win four of their last five, and Hoyer has improved to 6-1 at home, 8-3 as a Browns starter.

"(It's) just the will to win I think, really,'' said Hoyer. "We just never get down on ourselves. We just never get down on ourselves. You always know that there's time to play in the game and move on. The biggest thing that we can do is move on to the next play. If you let things linger, it can affect the way you play. The biggest thing with our offense right now is we're inconsistent. We have to work on that consistency and if we do that and we put it all together, we're going to be a hard team to beat.'' 

Hoyer and the offense managed just three field goals in the first half despite Billy Winn's block -- on which he leapfrogged over Logan Mankins -- and the two interceptions by Whitner and Gipson, who recorded his league-leading sixth of the season. Gipson's pick in the end zone on a pass intended for Mike Evans bailed Hoyer out of his own first interception of the day on an overthrown pass to diminutive Andrew Hawkins. The Bucs started at the Browns' 10, and Gipson took care of matters just two plays later.

"We just want to do everything we can to get the ball back for our offense,'' said Gipson, who's had nine picks in his last 11 games.

Unfortunately for the Browns, the offense managed just a field goal off Whitner's pick and 54-yard return, and failed to convert Gipson's interception, in part because of McDonald's struggles with McCoy.

"It's frustrating, trust me, sitting on the sideline and the defense is playing well and we can't get anything going,'' said Hoyer. "That's the mental toughness part that plays in. Move on to the next drive or next play and keep battling. There's a reason it's 60 minutes."

In the midst of the booing, the picks, the three sacks (two by McCoy) and the three-and-outs, Hoyer had time to hear from McCoy, who praised him midweek -- unsolicited.

"He came up to me during the game and he's like, 'Hey, I meant everything I said,' '' said Hoyer. "To know you're earning the respect around the league and he's willing to say that not only to you but also to the media, it means a lot.'' 

McDonald, who made only his second start at center, acknowledged it was a rough outing. He gave up a sack to McCoy on the opening drive and was pushed back in the run game.

"I've got to play better,'' said McDonald. "He's an amazing football player. He's one of the best in the league, and you're going to face a guy like that every single week. (But) my expectations are high for myself. I want to play better.''

Hoyer overcame the line woes enough to hit Miles Austin with a 16-yard strike on third down to set up a field goal at the end of the half that cut the deficit to 10-9. He also stormed out of the break and hit Jim Dray with a 26-yard strike on third down that led to a 2-yard TD pass to a wide open Terrance West that put the Browns up 16-10 in the third.

"He made the plays when he had to,'' said Pettine.

Left tackle Joe Thomas, who was a rookie the last time the Browns were 5-3 at the halfway point, credits Hoyer with pulling out games in the end.

"The thing that he does a great job of, if nothing's there, he just gets rid of the ball and throws it to nobody or throws it where nobody can catch it and lives to play another down,'' said Thomas. "He doesn't try to make something where something's not there, doesn't force it. When you can do that, you're going to have some stretches where it's a three-and-out, but he's going to make the big play and he's not going to make the bad, game-killing turnover or  sack-fumble.

"The biggest thing is having a quarterback that makes the clutch throw and having a receiver that's making the clutch catch and having a defense that's finding a way to be stout at the end when they need to.''

 

Tashun Gipson and several teammates on the defense are "playing like a Brown," and this year that is a good thing. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Scribbles in my notebook after the Browns' 22-17 victory over Tampa Bay:

1. Tashaun Gipson is turning into Ed Reed -- at least this season. Reed was the star safety with Baltimore for years, known for his interceptions. Reed also terrified opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators, who worried about him intercepting passes. Gipson picked off yet another pass on Sunday. That gives him six this season, the most in the NFL.

2. Gipson said that Mike Pettine's defense gives him the freedom to roam in the secondary, reading the quarterback's eyes and putting himself in position to break up passes. The Browns have 10 interceptions already this season, compared to only 14 a year ago. Gipson is having a Pro Bowl season. He's a remarkable story, an undrafted free agent from Wyoming who has emerged as a key to the defense.
 

3. Along with eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries in the last four games, the defense is allowing only 14 points a game in that span. Granted, three of the teams are big losers -- Oakland, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville. But they also held Pittsburgh to 10 points.

4. Pettine and defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil have revived the career of Paul Kruger. He had another sack Sunday, giving him six this season. He had only 4.5 a year ago. The defense is starting to "play like a Brown," something that the coaches have been demanding since they arrived in the spring. They mean their version of "a Brown," an aggressive player who makes big plays.

5. It's fun that O'Neil is giving out dog bones and dog collars to players for big plays. He is reaching back into history, when Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon created the Dawg Pound and a tenacious defense in the 1980s. It's a nice way for the new coaches to blend their approach with how the Browns once were when they could proudly say, "I play like a Brown."

6. ESPN reports that Brian Hoyer was 7-of-10 on throws of at least 15 yards. That covered 168 yards. Hoyer has had a lot of success throwing long this season, even though the passes tend to flutter.

7. According to profootballfocus.com, Hoyer entered 17-of-30 on passes of at least 20 yards. He was the only starting QB (besides Andrew Luck, 21-of-40) who was above 50 percent in that category. While it's obvious Hoyer lacks elite arm strength, the stats show he is getting the ball downfield.

8. It's also worth noting that he doesn't have Josh Gordon as a deep threat. Tight end Jordan Cameron is out with a concussion and has battled injuries most of the year. His deep target is 5-foot-7 Taylor Gabriel, who is averaging a very healthy 19.2 yards per catch.

9. Gabriel returned his first kickoff of the season -- 30 yards. Wonder if he can return punts. All the Browns do now on punts is make fair catches. At Abliene Christian, Gabriel averaged 17 yards per punt return -- and he had 33, three for touchdowns. Special teams coach Chris Tabor should think about Gabriel.

10. Every week, you can see why the Browns were glad to match Jacksonville's offer sheet for Alex Mack and make him the NFL's highest-paid center. He really was an anchor in the middle of line. You also can tell that new center Nick McDonald is paying some major dues. He's played center only four games in his pro career.

11. Justin Gilbert made a good play early, knocking down a pass. But later, he was flagged for two illegal contact penalties. The rookie is very up and down so far.

12. Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner both bring toughness to the middle of the defense. That's part of the reason so many passes are thrown toward the sidelines when teams face the Browns.

13. Billy Cundiff was 3-of-3 on field goals and is 15-of-17 this season. In his two seasons, he's doing a good job kicking on the lakefront -- no easy assignment.

14. How hard is it to block a field goal? Before Billy Winn did it Sunday, the last Brown to do so was Shaun Rogers in 2010.

15. Travis Benjamin made two important catches ... one for 31 yards, the other for 21. He has done a solid job as a receiver this season.

16. I love how Craig Robertson credited Tank Carder for his punt block. He said Carder "took out two blockers" so Robertson had a wide-open lane to the punter.

17. To see the team winning through injuries and generally having an excellent attitude is a credit to Pettine and his coaches. As a rookie head coach, Pettine clearly has earned the respect of his players.

18. The running game remains stalled, 50 yards in 28 carries. But it's important that offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan keeps running the ball. That sets up Hoyer's play-action game. They have only 158 yards in 83 carries over the last three games, so it can be difficult to stay with the run. But the Browns can't return to the team of 2013 when they led the NFL in passes attempted.

Listen to the archive of Sunday Browns Insider in which we discuss the win over Tampa Bay.

• The play of the defense.
• Brian Hoyer's performance.
• Terrance West and the running game.
• Can the Browns win in Cincinnati?

Browns QB Brian Hoyer notched his first 300-yard game of the season Sunday in a victory over Tampa Bay.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quarterback Brian Hoyer made all of the dropbacks for the Browns in a 22-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium. He went 21-of-34 for 300 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted twice and sacked three times.

Bottom lines, up front: Just because a quarterback is booed periodically at home does not mean he played poorly. On balance, Hoyer delivered a quality performance.

Hoyer made some bad throws, no question. He and his offense struggled early; despite having secured a first down in Tampa Bay territory in each of the first three possessions, the Browns managed two field goals. By halftime, Hoyer was a nondescript 9-of-15 for 132 yards and one (bad) interception and the Browns  trailed, 10-9, against a bad team/defense.

Given a second half to fix what ails, Hoyer capitalized. He authored two hot stretches that helped produce two touchdowns and push the Browns to victory. How he finished is what mattered most.  

Result-oriented business: The Browns are 5-3, all with Hoyer as the starting quarterback. Those who predicted in August that the Browns would reach the halfway mark at 5-3 -- all with Hoyer as the starter -- might want to consider visiting Las Vegas.

The Browns are above .500 at the halfway mark for the first time since 2007. Hoyer is one of the reasons for the success.

Overcoming obstacles: Hoyer's offense factored in a victory despite missing three top-notch talents: receiver Josh Gordon (NFL suspension); tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion); and center Alex Mack (broken left leg). And Hoyer threw for 300 yards despite a ground game that produced 51 yards on 25 carries from the running backs.

Locked in: The Browns needed a solid drive to begin the second half, as much to calm nerves as to score points. Hoyer -- with an assist from Tampa Bay -- made sure it happened. Hoyer was 6-for-6 for 63 yards and one touchdown.

Two passes stood out:

*On first-and-10 from the Cleveland 32, Hoyer play-faked to tailback Terrance West, turned and fired a no-hesitation strike to Taylor Gabriel over the middle at the Cleveland 47. Gabriel advanced to the Tampa Bay 48. The pass, into a populated area, was not as easy as Hoyer made it seem.

The next two plays were runs by West (3, 6).

* The Browns did not huddle as they came to the line for the third-and-1 at the Tampa Bay 39. Hoyer appeared to audible; as he barked out his call, he ordered receiver Miles Austin to move from the left slot to an H-back position. Hoyer play-faked to West moving right and bootlegged.

The Buccaneers initially bought run, enabling Hoyer to set up outside the left hash at the Tampa Bay 45. But outside linebacker Danny Lansanah recovered quickly, prompting Hoyer to throw while fading away. Hoyer's pass sailed across the field and dropped over the extended arm of safety Major Wright and into the gloves of tight end Jim Dray at the Tampa Bay 18. Dray, who had been lined up on the right, advanced to the 13.

The Browns surprised Tampa Bay with a pass in a running situation. The boot action accomplished its objective. Dray ran a good route and made a terrific catch. But the star of the play was Hoyer. On a subjective rating scale of 1 (brutal) to 5 (superior), Hoyer's throw was a 5. He had virtually no margin for error.

The next three plays gained a total of 6 yards. With the Browns lined up to attempt the field goal, Tampa Bay jumped offside. (Yes, the Buccaneers are to blame, but Browns holder Spencer Lanning deserves props for a convincing hard count. Lanning's was one of multiple plus-plays by Cleveland special teams.)

The half-the-distance penalty gave the Browns fourth-and-1 at the 4. West blasted up the middle for 2, thanks in part to a crushing block from fullback Kiero Small.

West rushed for no gain on first-and-goal. On second-and-goal, Hoyer play-faked to West moving right and rolled back and to the right. The Buccaneers forgot about West as he sprinted into the flat; Hoyer executed a basic flip for the touchdown and the lead.

The TD pass to West gave Hoyer 11 straight completions, a streak that was broken on his next attempt.

Locked in, part II: Late in the third quarter, the Buccaneers scored a TD to take a 17-16 lead.

In their first possession of the fourth quarter, the Browns faced third-and-16 from the Cleveland 3. The game wasn't on the line, but the Browns desperately needed something positive. Hoyer answered the challenge, zipping a pass to Austin at the 11. Austin, who beat corner Alterraun Verner on the slant, advanced to the Cleveland 28.

Later in the drive, Hoyer was intercepted on a first-and-10 pass from the Tampa Bay 34. Hoyer deserved the blame for his first pick, but not for this one. He rolled right and, under pressure, threw to tight end Gary Barnidge at the 33. The ball landed in Barnidge's gloves for a split-second before being popped out by safety Bradley McDougald. Defensive tackle Clinton McDonald dived to snag the carom.

Sometimes, the opponent needs to get its due for causing a miscue. The Buccaneers earned the takeaway with a good play that began with the rush and ended with McDonald's athletic catch.

The Browns' defense made sure the turnover did not hurt. It held Tampa Bay to minus-5 yards in three plays plus one penalty. Then Craig Robertson used his right hand to deflect a punt that went for 1 yard.

On first-and-10 from the Tampa Bay 35, West rushed for 1 yard.

On second-and-9, Small motioned wide left, leaving West as the single setback. After a three-step drop, Hoyer looked right and had Gabriel open at the 29 but opted not to throw. It appeared to give linebacker Lavonte David, coming from Cleveland's left edge, an opportunity to smash Hoyer -- except that West lowered the boom on David with the block of the game.

Hoyer backpedaled to his left and scanned the field, then unloaded toward the right side of the end zone. Gabriel caught the pass in-stride for the decisive TD.

Gabriel did a terrific job of reading his quarterback and bolting to space. After running his initial curl route, Gabriel re-started and raced past Verner at the 24.

Gabriel did not perform like a rookie, let alone an undrafted one, against the Buccaneers. He led the Browns in receptions (five) and yards (87).

Summary: Hoyer was not always aesthetically pleasing Sunday, but in the end, he was one of the reasons the Browns won. If Hoyer had been mediocre-to-bad, the Browns would have lost.

Hoyer's overall grade: B+

(Previous grades: B, A, B, A, A, F, C+)   

Analyze it yourself! Here is a database of all the Browns passes Dennis Manoloff and a squad of assistants are tracking for a third season. You can select criteria in the form below and get all the matching throws.

How to use the database

• First, choose a year.
• After that, choose one or more of the other options for comparisons, such as Quarterback, Receiver, or Pressure, or Direction of throw. (Tip: Don't choose too many.)
• Click search. You will need to scroll right and left to see all the matched results.
  You can sort the results and look for more patterns by clicking on the heading of any. Click on "Throw #" at far right to put the throws back into their original order.
• You can see the pass results as a graph, too.

Here is all our homework as a spreadsheet

Watch Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed as they analyze the Cleveland Browns 22-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also watch videos of Mike Pettine ,Brian Hoyer and Taylor Gabriel as they talked after the game. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio --  The Cleveland Browns improved their record to 5-3 for only the second time since they returned in 1999 when they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 22-17 at First Energy Stadium.  It was their fourth win in their last five games. 

The only other time the Browns had five wins in the first half of the season was in 2007 when they won 10 games on the season, just barely missing the playoffs.

Rookie wide receiver Taylor Gabriel recorded his first NFL touchdown in the fourth quarter when he caught the game-winning 34-yard pass from quarterback Brian Hoyer. 

Hoyer improved to 6-1 as a starter at home.  He completed 21 of 34 passes for 300 yards, two touchdowns with two interceptions with a 87.9 rating.

The offense was helped out by both the defense and special teams. 

Billy Winn blocked a Patrick Murray 31-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter when he leaped over two linemen.  Craig Robertson deflected a Michael Koenen punt in the fourth quarter which led to Gabriel's game winning touchdown.

Safeties Donte Whitner and Tashaun Gipson each intercepted Mike Glennon once.  Gipson continues to lead the NFL with six interceptions on the season.

The Browns next play the Bengals in an AFC North showdown in front of a national television audience Thursday night in Cincinnati.

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Taylor Gabriel produced one of the biggest plays of the day as the Cleveland Browns came back in the second half to knock off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Taylor Gabriel looks so young and diminutive it seems the only thing he should be taking to bed is a teddy bear.

But after catching a game-winning, 34-yard touchdown pass from Brian Hoyer in a 22-17 victory over the Buccaneers, the undrafted Browns receiver had other plans.

"I just want to keep that ball and just go to sleep with it tonight," Gabriel said.

His dream season continued Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium with a career-high five receptions for 87 yards and his first touchdown. He also returned a kickoff for 30 yards.

Gabriel arrived in Berea six months ago as a tryout player for rookie minicamp. He's now averaging 19.2 yards per catch and entered play Sunday ranked second among NFL receivers in that statistic. The 5-foot-8, 167-pounder has been a pleasant surprise in a season filled with them for the Browns (5-3).

"It feels good to be in this locker room," said Gabriel, who's registered 21 receptions for 404 yards. "I'm enjoying every minute of it. I'm a rookie and I'm enjoying the ride. I'm just trying to keep my nose in the playbook and follow guys like Hawk (Andrew Hawkins) and Miles Austin."

When the Browns lost All-Pro Josh Gordon to a 10-game drug ban, many assumed the receiving corps was bereft of big-play makers. The Abilene (Texas) Christian product, however, has produced his share.

Sunday, he ignited a second-quarter, field-goal drive with an 18-yard catch and carry on a bubble screen. It's a play that's worked several times this season.

"I wouldn't say it was me, it's really just the offense," Gabriel said. "The blocking of the (offensive) line and the wide receivers. It's really not me, I just run, which is easy to do."

The 23-year-old looked like a 10-year veteran at winning time.

On a second-and-9 from the Bucs' 34, Gabriel ran a simple seven-yard curl route, but noticed Hoyer had escaped pressure and saw the quarterback drifting left. (Halfback Terrance West had supplied a critical blitz pickup to extend the play.) The receiver darted up field, surprising flat-footed corner Alterraun Verner, and ran wide open to the end zone.

Hoyer spotted Gabriel and lofted the ball toward the right corner as 67,431 fans released a collective "ohhhhh" in anticipation. The rookie picks up the story from here:

"I felt like that ball was in the air for a good hour and a half," he said. "I just wanted to make sure I secured the catch and it just felt good to get my first touchdown."

Gabriel could have scored his first TD in Week 3 against the Ravens on a 70-yard reception. But he momentarily lost the ball in the sun and chose to fall down to ensure he didn't drop it instead of risking a catch in stride. The big play went for naught as the Browns had a short field-goal attempt blocked in the 23-21 loss.

This time, Gabriel stayed on his feet and brought the fans to theirs.

"That's the toughest catch," he said about being wide open and waiting for a ball. "It's not the one where the dude is on you. It's when you're by yourself."

After finishing his media obligation, Gabriel left the stadium -- presumably with his cherished football in tow.

 

The Browns have a short week and have some key players injured as they head into Thursday night's key divisional game at Cincinnati.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer had barely stepped out of the cold tub after Sunday's 22-17 victory over the Bucs and all he could think of was getting home to study the Bengals.

"Hopefully, knock on wood – Thursday night games haven't been good for me, but I'm looking forward to it,'' said Hoyer, in reference to tearing his ACL last year in the Thursday night game against Buffalo. "This is definitely one you keep your eye on.

"Before this three-game stretch, we knew in the back of our minds that if we do well in these three, it was going to be a meaningful game down in Cincinnati. I'm anxious to get home – thank goodness we have iPads - and I'm going to start watching those guys.''

With the victory -- their fourth in five games -- the Browns improved to 5-3 heading into their AFC North showdown Thursday night in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Jaguars to improve to 5-2-1, a half-game ahead of the Browns. In each of the past two seasons, the teams have split the series, with the home team emerging victorious each time.

"It's going to be exciting,'' said safety Tashaun Gipson, who swiped his league-leading sixth interception off Tampa Bay's Mike Glennon. "I told my mom that I finally get to be on primetime TV.

"It's going to be really exciting to be playing on Thursday night, showing everyone what the new Cleveland Browns look like. I think it's going to be interesting to see how it turns out. We know that the Cincinnati Bengals are a good team. They have a lot of weapons on offense, but we have a lot of weapons on defense so it's going to be a good game. If we continue to play like this, we might be 6-3."

In his second start as a Brown last year, Hoyer led the Browns to a 17-6 win over the Bengals in Cleveland. He threw for 269 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 103.9 rating. Of course, he had all three of his Pro Bowl players that game in center Alex Mack, receiver Josh Gordon and tight end Jordan Cameron, who's likely to sit this one out with his concussion.

Gordon caught four passes for 71 yards and Cameron caught 10 for 91 and a touchdown.

"This isn't a team that I'm unfamiliar with,'' said Hoyer. "Obviously a division opponent, but at least I've actually been out on the field and played against these guys. (Former defensive coordinator) Mike Zimmer went to Minnesota (as head coach), so we'll see if there is any variation in how their defense plays. We know it's a week of another tough front – (DL) Geno Atkins – you can't say enough about a guy like that. I can't wait to get home and start studying these guys."

Like Hoyer, coach Mike Pettine was set to get back to work on the Bengals as soon as his postgame press conference was over. The players will have only one full day of practice -- on Tuesday -- before one of their biggest games in seven years.

"The challenge for us now is the short week – got to go turn around, got to grind in the office for a little bit,'' he said. "We've got to get the players off their feet for a little bit and bring them in a little bit later tomorrow. It is a tight schedule.''

Pettine acknowledged the enormity of the Browns being 5-3, their best record at the midpoint since 2007. They also improved to 4-1 at home and exceeded their win total from last season.

"It's big, and we'll celebrate a little bit tonight, but with the emphasis on 'a little,' '' said Pettine. "It is a short week. Then, after Thursday it's like having a mini-bye. That'll be good for our guys. We'll be all in on this one – whatever it takes to find a way to go down there and get the 'W' then get that long weekend off. I think we're in a good spot and our guys are confident, but this is one here where we know we've got to be all in this week. It's a very compressed time frame."

Linebacker Paul Kruger, who had a crucial late-game sack that led to Craig Robertson's deflected punt and the subsequent game-winning touchdown, has been part of huge AFC North games like this before with playoff implications.

"It's huge,'' he said. "We have everything in front of us and we're extremely excited to be in this position, so we control our destiny at this point and that's really what we want.''

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas was a rookie in 2007 when the Browns last had a winning record at the midpoint. They went 10-6 that year and narrowly missed the playoffs.

"It feels pretty good,'' said Thomas. "It's been a long time since the Browns have been 5-3 and I like where we are. I'm sure as a rookie I thought it'd be like that every year.''

Thomas has made it to seven straight Pro Bowls, but never the playoffs.

"It makes the games fun,'' said Thomas. "It's not fun when the season's over and you're just playing to keep your job. We're actually playing for the division race and that's what it's all about. There's a lot of confidence in this locker room right now, because the defense is clicking pretty good, offense we're not taking the ball and driving for a touchdown every time, but we're making the right plays and the big plays, and that's kind of what our offense is.

"We're a big, chunk-play offense. We'll have a couple three-and-outs here and there, but Brian does a great job of minimizing the big negative play, making a great play when it's needed. I think there's a lot of confidence in our abilities right now in this locker room.''

The Browns have won four out of five in large part because of takeaways by the defense. They have eight in the past three games.

"Things have changed quite a bit, and to be 5-3 is just amazing,'' said cornerback Joe Haden, who tipped the ball against Tampa Bay that was picked off by Donte Whitner. Haden also recovered the pivotal fumble last week against the Raiders. "I think five games is the most I've won since I've been here, and for it to be only halfway into the season, it is really exciting for me and for this team. Just to know we are half way through, we have five wins, and we can do so much better, it's just looking good going forward.''

Robertson, who credited Tank Carder with making his punt deflection possible, summed up the mood of the locker room.

"Words can't even express it,'' he said. "I could sit here and rant and rave all day about how happy it is to be 5-3. But it's a short week. We're on to Cincinnati.''

 

See all the OHSAA football playoff coverage from Sunday in one place

See all the OHSAA football playoff coverage from Sunday in one place

David Blatt is uneasy about road trip while Tristan Thompson can't wait to lay some wood on his opponents.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – As the Cleveland Cavaliers get set to embark on their first extended road trip of the young season, head coach David Blatt doesn't appear too excited about it.

"Right in your face. Right away," Blatt said after Sunday's practice. "I think most people will tell you it is good. I'm not sure. Talk to me in another five days and I'll tell you."

Cleveland will play three road games in four nights starting with the surging Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Utah Jazz getting a look the following night and the trip concluding in Denver on Friday.

Blatt would prefer to have some more home games under his belt in order to correct some issues before venturing off on the road. There are a ton of new faces on this team and they won't have the luxury of easing into the season before facing the Trail Blazers.

Life on the road for the Cavaliers is expected to be intense and hostile. Ready or not, here come the miles logged.

"We are a veteran team in terms of the players' experience, but we're not a veteran team in terms of being together," Blatt said. "And those are very demanding, challenging and difficult trips. So we're going to have to see how well we respond to that.

"If we were another group with great continuity, I would tell you, 'yeah, it's better to get (the road trip) done and out of the way early.' But the most important thing Chris is we don't have a choice in the matter so we just better step up and face it. That's it."

Power forward Tristan Thompson is a little more upbeat about the upcoming trip. He knows it's going to be an experience like no other, but is ready for the challenge.

"I think it's going to be a great test for us," Thompson said. "The crowd and the environment are definitely going to be a hostile one. Sold out, especially when you go to Portland. Their fans are amazing. They're tops in the league. Even though Cleveland is number one, Portland is up there too. You got to be ready to play. They're a team that has big goals and they think real high of themselves this year so we got to be ready to play."

Thompson is in an aggressive mindset; fresh off of a game in which he pulled down 13 rebounds, 12 offensive. Four came in overtime, helping the Cavaliers secure their first win of the season against Chicago on Friday.

It doesn't matter if it's Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge, Utah's Derrick Favors or Denver's Kenneth Faried, Thompson is going to lay a body on somebody in hopes of making life as difficult as possible for the opponent.

"Being that guy that when I check in guys on the other team are like, 'Damn, he's here tonight.' That's my mentality," he said.

LeBron James' return has propelled Cleveland to the top of the NBA landscape. Wherever he goes, attention follows.

During his time with the Miami Heat, they were the team everybody loved to hate. Will James receive the same road treatment as a member of the Cavaliers?

"I wouldn't know because even when he got a dunk in Chicago, people were screaming so I don't know how they feel about him," Thompson said. "They want us to lose but for us, we have to come out everyday and put ourselves in position to win."

Cleveland will play the most national TV games of any NBA team. Every game will be sold out. The only thing left to do is to produce.

This three-game road trip will test cohesion and accountability. Portland is expected to put up the toughest fight of the three road opponents, but the Cavaliers are making certain it's understood no team can be taken for granted.

"Every night is going to be a night where we have to come out ready to play," said Thompson. "Before we were the hunters. We were the young guys trying to take good teams down. Now, we're at the top of the mountain and teams are going to try to take us down or prove we're not really that good. ... We can't take nights off."

Browns backup quarterback to appear on cover of GolfDigest.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel will appear on the cover of the December 2014 issue of GolfDigest. Manziel tweeted out a photo of the cover earlier this afternoon. He is appearing as part of a Golfers Who Give Back feature.

S/o @GolfDigest for the cover! http://t.co/ZXW28Z4GH2 for some BTS shots #GolfSZN pic.twitter.com/fBkxBm1cwC

— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) November 3, 2014

Manziel also tweeted a link to a slideshow on the GolfDigest website. Manziel tells about how he got started in golf and the lessons he learned from his dad. Among the highlights:

"My dad's a really good golfer, and he'd always tell me: 'If you can't hit the green from 100 yards, you suck. You don't need to play anymore.' I remember going out there with the biggest bag of balls I could find in the garage."

"It'd always be me and my mom versus my dad and my sister. Of the 40 or 50 times we played through the years, my mom and I never beat them. Not once!"

The Explorers received five first-place votes and St. Edward received the other two.

The Explorers received five first-place votes and St. Edward received the other two.

Watch Dennis Manoloff talk about his weekly quarterback report card.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns beat the Buccaneers on Sunday, 22-17. Dennis Manoloff says Brian Hoyer did his job on Sunday.

Watch the video above as The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff talks with CineSport's Noah Coslov about the Browns quarterback situation.

"Does that make them a rival?" Urban Meyer asked of Michigan State. "It makes them in the way of something that we all want, and that's Big Ten Championship. I think this is a credit to their university, their coaching staff and most importantly their players."

COLUMBUS, Ohio –- Can you wear green in the Ohio State football building this week? Can you say the name of the opponent?

"I don't know," Urban Meyer, a staunch anti-blueite during Michigan week, said of a proposed green ban. "Great idea, though. Great idea."

"I'm not sure what the rules are about that," junior linebacker Joshua Perry said. "I'll just call them "The Team Up North State" right now."

So the team that's 49-13 the last five years, ranked in the top 10 and that ended Ohio State's national titles hopes last year? That is ...

"Michigan State?" defensive tackle Michael Bennett said of the name protocol. "Yeah, it's Michigan State."

Yes, the Spartans (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten), the team the Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0) play Saturday in their game of the season. It can be mentioned. And the team that's 37-24 the last five years, on the verge of firing its coach and has one win over the Buckeyes in 10 years?

"When we're just talking about The Team Up North, you can't use the state's name," left tackle Taylor Decker said.

Only in the phrase "Michigan State," is the M word apparently allowed. Meyer even said Michigan State once during his 19-question news conference Monday, though just once.

Given the state of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, a lack of true competition leads to a search for other contenders, last season's unexpected barnburner in Ann Arbor not withstanding. The search doesn't take you far. Just over to East Lansing.

The modern Meyer Era of Ohio State (2-0 against Michigan) knows these two first-hand experiences with the Spartans – a one-point, program-changing win in East Lansing in 2012, and a 10-point loss in the Big Ten title game last year. The Michigan game is what the Buckeyes are told is their rivalry week, and what the signs around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center reinforce. It's real, but in the moment, one-sided.

What has happened, and may keep happening against Michigan State, they have lived. It's personal.

"I view them both as rivals, personally," Decker said. "There's a lot of history behind the Ohio State-Team Up North rivalry. So I don't think you can necessarily say it's on the same level. But for me, personally, the experience I've had here as a player, I've got a bitter feeling toward them, because they beat us. And lucky for me, I haven't lost to The Team Up North yet, and I hope never to. But I feel like they took something from us. I think that's driving me and a lot of other guys."

Because while Michigan holds the historical piece of a rivalry that no Ohio State opponent could ever match, the Spartans are providing the onfield aspect the Wolverines have failed to offer.

Going into the game, you don't know what's going to happen. A few years ago, it was Wisconsin, then a division opponent, that filled that gap. Now it's clearly the Spartans. And the Buckeyes seem up for it.

"Where it might not be a rivalry as much for Ohio State," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said at the Big Ten meetings this summer, "there's a lot of our players that want to play that game and look at it as a rivalry."

Meyer grew up watching Woody Hayes vs. Bo Schembechler, but he mentioned that the old adage that you can lose every game as long as you beat Michigan is outdated. Basically, in the new world, the Buckeyes must beat the Wolverines and win games like the one Saturday that keep them in the national title hunt.

"I'd love to have our players have a very clear understanding of rivalry games, the pageantry of it and when you come back to understand the rivalry," Meyer said. "We have one rival here.

"What's happened in this situation is you have an excellent team. After watching them on film, they're a great team. And they stand in the way of Big Ten championship. They stood in the way last year and we failed.

"And so does that make them a rival?  It makes them in the way of something that we all want, and that's Big Ten Championship. I think it happened a little bit with Wisconsin. I remember our first year it was big because they went to three straight Rose Bowls. I think this is a credit to their university, their coaching staff and most importantly their players.

"And our guys know that. So to say this is a rivalry game, that would diminish the rivalry that's been here for 100 years. This is a great game because it's two teams battling for first place."

Hmm. That sounds pretty good. Pretty intense. Bennett, who made clear this isn't like Michigan in his mind, said he didn't have any green clothes anyway. But Perry wore camouflage shoes to speak with reporters Monday.

"Maybe that's a faux pas this week," Perry said.

You never know. Things with "The Team Up North State" could get serious.

Hiram College women's basketball team inspired and drained after playing special opener against Mount St. Joseph and terminally ill Lauren Hill.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Terminally ill Mount St. Joseph freshman Lauren Hill's layups on Sunday began the college basketball season in a way that emotionally drained Hiram College players and coaches won't soon forget.

Hiram played a vital, supporting role in one of the most heartwarming sports moments in recent memory. The Terriers were both introspective and inspired Monday after a long, hectic weekend in the national spotlight alongside Hill.

"I cried my eyes out all the way home,'' said Hiram senior Kelsey Koskinen of Madison. "The sad reality is sinking in for me that her life really is coming to an end.''

Hill, 19, has Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), an inoperable form of brain cancer, and she received a terminal diagnosis in September. She was given months to live and feared she would not achieve her goal of playing in a college basketball game.

View full sizeHiram College senior Kelsey KoskinenHiram College 

The season opener originally was to be Nov. 15 at Hiram. When approached by Mount St. Joseph this fall, Hiram coaches and officials agreed to move the game, with NCAA approval, so it could be played soon enough for Hill before her deteriorating condition prevented her from playing at all.

By tipoff Sunday afternoon, that seemingly small gesture between two Division III schools set the stage for a national story that continues to grow exponentially.

In front of 10,250 standing and cheering fans at Xavier University's sold-out Cintas Center, Hill took a bounce pass and scored a lightly contested layup with her non-dominant left hand on the game's first possession. Hill beamed after making the hoop on a pre-arranged "layup for Lauren" play, a shot she missed several times during practice last week.

"The look on her face was priceless,'' Hiram coach Emily Hays said Monday. "She had that big smile. I'm like, 'That's why we're here.' It's more emotional now than it was even at the game. It kind of hits you even more when you're looking back at it.''

Koskinen guarded Hill on the play and was nervous she might knock Hill down. After the basket, Koskinen had tears in her eyes, as did sophomore Brianne Goodrich, who could barely see to inbound the ball. Fearing she would break down, Koskinen felt relieved the game was stopped to honor Hill, who was mobbed by teammates at midcourt and given the game ball. Fans, many in tears, shouted her name and held up supporting signs.

Hill returned to the bench until the game's final minute.

Hays, meanwhile, worried Hiram was overwhelmed as it fell behind, 8-0. Hiram games normally are played in front of about 200 fans in a gym that seats 2,000.

The Terriers rallied to tie it, 13-13. A 3-pointer by Koskinen with 12:19 left in the second half gave Hiram its first lead, 39-37. She scored a team-high 23 points.

Hiram coach Emily Hays made her coaching debut Sunday in the national spotlight, and in front of Pat Summitt.Hiram College 

"We were there for Lauren, and every time they made a shot, everyone went nuts,'' Hays said. "It did take our girls a little while to get the seal off the rim. We just needed one to fall to get in the groove. I kind of expected that.''

The lead was traded several times before Mount St. Joseph launched an 11-0 run to take a 62-50 lead. The margin allowed Hill to re-enter the game with 26 seconds left for one more layup, which she made right-handed to finish with four points, capping a 66-55 victory.

"The game couldn't have ended more perfectly,'' Hays said. "It was a loss for us, but it didn't feel like it was. The whole thing was draining, and it was such a moving experience.''

After nearly a year of chemotherapy and radiation, Hill learned of her terminal diagnosis in September and was given months to live. Her right side has lost some coordination and at times Sunday, she leaned heavily on the arm of a teammate or doctor when walking around the arena. She also wore pink sunglasses and ear protection because her growing sensitivity to light and sound can make her nauseous.

But throughout the game, televised live by FoxSports Ohio, she never seemed to stop smiling. She had a noticeable glow and bounce in her step while on the court.

During an in-game interview on FoxSports, she quickly corrected a broadcaster who referred to the game as her last, saying it was her first college game. Hill told reporters after the game she hoped to be well enough to try to play again.

Hays and Koskinen said they found Hill genuinely inspiring and not a subject of pity. 

"She is just the most upbeat person despite what she's going through,'' Koskinen said. "Her smile lights up a room. She wants to hug you every chance she gets. You can't help but want to hug her back and smile. She's someone I will truly admire the rest of my life.''

The teams dined together Saturday night at the Firehouse Grill in Cincinnati, and the Terriers were nervous about meeting Hill.

"What do we say to her?'' Hiram players asked their coach.

Before long, the teams were laughing together, crying, and laughing some more.

"She is an amazing person. She makes you feel so comfortable,'' Hays said. "She was easiest person to talk to and gave us the tightest hugs. Once you get to be around her, you can see how this blew up because of what an inspiring person she is.''

At halftime, legendary former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt gave Hill the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award. The award normally is presented at the end of the season during the women's NCAA Final Four, but in an unprecedented move, it was presented early to Hill. Summitt, who is suffering from early onset Altzheimer's disease, was making a rare public appearance.

View full sizeMount St. Joseph's Lauren Hill reaches out to former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt after receiving the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award during halftime of Sunday's game against Hiram College in Cincinnati.Tom Uhlman, AP 

Hays, in her first game as a college head coach, was taken aback by the sight of Summitt, the eight-time NCAA champion and career victories leader.

"Having Pat Summitt at my first game, I was like, 'Wow,'" said Hays, a Boardman native. "It shows the kind of person she is. Despite what she's going through, she was willing to get up there and do that for Lauren. That's a big reason why so many people look up to her.''

Koskinen said she has seen first hand the toll of cancer because an aunt, Meghan Arlequeeuw, has battled several forms of cancer for years.

"She manages it every day and this story truly touched me because of what my aunt is going through,'' Koskinen said.

Reaction and support for Hill has been widespread. The NCAA announced at the game that future women's season openers will heretofore be known as the Lauren Hill Gray Game. Gray is for the color of ribbons that raise awareness of brain cancer.

CBS News is to visit Hiram this week as part of a Hill feature. Hiram athletic director Ellen Dempsey said thank you notes have poured in from across the country for the Terriers' role Sunday.

Athletes, teams, celebrities and others from around the world have begun posting "Layup for Lauren" videos, taking up her challenge of spinning several times before making a layup.

LeBron James offered a Twitter/Instagram tribute after Cavs practice Sunday.

You are simply and truly "AMAZING" Lauren Hill!!! Thank you for inspiring me and I'll try my best to… http://t.co/9pJyDjAiwH

— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 3, 2014

"You are simply and truly 'AMAZING' Lauren Hill!!! Thank you for inspiring me and I'll try my best to match you! Congrats on your game. Also be looking out for a package from I to You! You're Awesome!!!''

There was no immediate word what James was sending Hill.

Hill's first basket was shown on the stadium video board during a timeout at the Cincinnati Bengals game Sunday. Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still wore her name on his eye black strips, and left tackle Andrew Whitworth inscribed her No. 22 on his gloves.

In addition to Summitt, other sports celebrities at the Hiram-Mount St. Joseph game included WNBA players Elena Delle Donne, Delisha Milton-Jones, Tamika Catchings and Skylar Diggins. Milton-Jones brought her Olympic gold medals for Hill to wear. Catchings said in a Tweet she had "tears of joy pouring down my cheeks'' watching Hill play.

Delisha Milton Jones shared her Olympic medals for women's basketball with Lauren. #PlayFor22 #LaurenHill pic.twitter.com/rgrBCnHRpd

— Mount St. Joseph (@_theMount) November 2, 2014

Five-star shooting guard Tyus Battle from Edison, N.J. trimmed his college list to 11 on Monday, and included Ohio State.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State men's basketball team is still officially in the running for one of the top talents in the 2016 recruiting class.

Five-star shooting guard Tyus Battle of Gill St. Bernard's School in New Jersey announced his top 11 on Monday, including the Buckeyes on the list. Andrew Slater of 247Sports.com first reported the news.

Battle's top 11 also includes UConn, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Syracuse, Villanova and Virginia.

Battle, 6-6, 190 pound junior, is rated a five-star prospect by 247Sports, and the No. 4 shooting guard in the country. The No. 11 overall prospect in the Class of 2016 trimmed his list down from 24 offers.

247Sports' crystal ball prediction has Duke as the favorite to land Battle, who received a visit from Kentucky coach John Calipari on Halloween.

Tyus Battle @kidmamba23 Finalists: UConn Duke Florida Kentucky Louisville Miami Michigan OSU Syracuse Villanova UVA pic.twitter.com/rH9Ww49iww

— Andrew Slater (@ASlater247) November 3, 2014

This appears to be an uphill battle for the Buckeyes, who have their eye on a number of players in the 2016 recruiting class. Ohio State offered Columbus Northland wing Seth Towns over the weekend.

They've also been pursuing St. Edward center Derek Funderburk as someone who could transition to a wing spot, and Tennessee small forward Braxton Blackwell.

The Buckeyes added five-star shooting guard D'Angelo Russell in the 2014 recruiting class, the first five-star they've landed since getting Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas in the 2010 recruiting class.

"It's just us 15 guys and the coaching staff going out there and we have to have a mentality with that in mind," James said.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Cavaliers have played two games this season. In the highly-anticipated opener, the team looked very much like a group of players competing in a regular-season game for the first time.

With immense pressure and plenty of buzz, Cleveland suffered its first loss on Thursday, prompting coach David Blatt to call them out one day later. The team responded, going on the road and beating the Chicago Bulls. It's easy for Blatt to identify what changed on Friday night.

"We played the game, not the moment," Blatt said following Monday's practice. 

The opener, dotted with turnovers, was an early and important lesson. It helped prepare the Cavaliers for the season. Regardless of time or place, the spotlight will be shining on them. 

Kyrie Irving asked Mike Miller during the Chicago game whether it felt like a playoff atmosphere. People chuckled at Irving's inquiry, but he doesn't know any better following three years of losing. The same goes for key players Kevin Love, Dion Waiters, Matthew Dellavedova and Tristan Thompson.

"It's different for our team because a lot of guys haven't been in this moment," LeBron James said. "I think this is a good thing for our team to understand to play the game, not the team we are playing against or if it's a big game or a nationally televised appearance or whatever the case may be."

There's a new reality facing the Cavaliers: They are the hunted. Each night, the Cavs should expect to get the opponent's best shot. 

"We're not in a situation right now where we can walk right in the gym and have any particular advantage," Blatt said. "We have to play good basketball and be ready for each game, mentally and physically. We'll leave the vacationing to the summertime."

This week they head out on their first multi-game road trip. So much for easing into things. Three games in four nights starts Tuesday in Portland, then on to Utah and Denver.

If the game against Chicago is any indication, the road crowds will not be kind.

"It's just us 15 guys and the coaching staff going out there and we have to have a mentality with that in mind," James said. "We can't get caught up with the crowd or anything that goes on besides us and what we are there to do and that is to win."

It's the same message coming from Blatt.

"We want to win games. I think we have a pretty good feel for what we need to do and where we are," he said. "We want to get out there and be as competitive and as sharp as we can be. We've got good teams to play and tough teams to beat."

Doug, Ari and Bill give their take on how Ohio State is feeling heading into Saturday night's matchup against Michigan State.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — We think this is a big deal. That much is evident by the fact that we have a Michigan winged helmet presented in the colors of Michigan State.

Tradition is hard to trump. But when it comes to Ohio State's biggest rival right now, the game that means the most, it has to be Michigan State.

The No. 16 Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) travel to East Lansing for a showdown with the No. 8 Spartans (7-1, 4-0) on Saturday night at 8 p.m.

The Big Ten East Division title is one the line. A berth in the Big Ten championship game is on the line. The small hope of still cracking the College Football Playoff is on the line.

Lee Corso's gonna be there.

This is huge. But how is it being viewed in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as the Buckeyes prepare for the biggest game of their season? It's been a mix.

Most of the talk centered on getting revenge on the Spartans for last year's loss in the Big Ten championship game.

"They stand in the way of a Big Ten championship," Urban Meyer said during his Monday news conference. "They stood in the way last year and we failed."

Meyer also said he thinks this is a game where the Buckeyes can earn back some of the national respect he feels the program deserves. It's the only marquee matchup against a ranked opponent the Buckeyes will have during the regular season.

Others talked about being in the unfamiliar underdog role. Some embraced it. Others, like offensive tackle Taylor Decker, said they never feel like an underdog.

Nobody seemed to want to go as far as to say this game carries the same meaning as the game against Michigan. And that's true.

It carries more.

cleveland.com's Dan Labbe and Chris Fedor talk all things Browns on our weekly show.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns beat the Buccaneers on Sunday. On Monday's Morning After show, cleveland.com's Chris Fedor and Dan Labbe talked about the win. Among the topics discussed:

• Are the Browns actually good?
• Is Brian Hoyer doing enough?
• Who gets game balls?
• Where is Fedor on the "Hoyer Train" now?

You can watch the show every Monday morning following Browns games at 10 a.m. and get involved by calling in or by weighing in in the comments.