Your real-time companion to today's game gives you insights from the stadium and around the NFL as the Browns take on the Falcons in Atlanta.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Watching the Cleveland Browns in a legitimate fight for the playoffs is a new experience for most fans. It's a whirlwind of conflicting emotions -- surprise at the winning record, skepticism that it can continue, wariness of which shoe will inevitably drop.
And the emotions were swinging wildly for the last 10 minutes Sunday in Atlanta. Browns build a lead. Browns lose Tashaun Gipson. Browns about to seal a win, except Brian Hoyer throws an end zone interception. Browns still about to seal a win, except Hoyer throws a midfield interception.
Falcons to win, except Hoyer moves the Browns 61 yards in the final 44 seconds for a 37-yard Billy Cundiff field goal to win, 26-24.
Wow. As always, we have every twist and turn right here in our real-time blog, with observations from the reporters and columnists of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, along with pundits around the NFL.
Just keep refreshing to get the latest!
4:45 p.m.: Brian Hoyer in the post-game interview room.
"I'm really disappointed in myself even though the team won. It's great to get a win and be 7-4, but I have to do a better job."
"If we really want to do something, I can't play like that. I can't believe that we still won. ... But I'll be disappointed the entire week."
Said he tried to throw high to Gordon in the end zone or have the ball go out of bounds. "In that circumstance you have to be smarter. Live again for the next play."
He praised Gordon for his performance "a great contribution" especially on the last drive.
Said he thought the game was lost after the last interception. But the defense gave him 44 seconds to do something at the end. "I had already played the worst game of my career ... I have always done a good job of blocking it out and doing my best on the next drive.
"It's a crazy game ... I'm happy we won, but I ... don't throw dumb interceptions."
Said the offense gathered before the final drive and said "we're going to win on a field goal." Admitted the chances of doing that "were probably slim to none."
4:39 p.m.: From Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper on today's game:
"Brian Hoyer appeared to open the door to calls for a quarterback change in the fourth quarter on Sunday, but he wound up slamming it shut before the final seconds could tick off the clock.
"Hoyer threw a pair of terrible interceptions in the final quarter, costing his team a chance for at least three points and setting the Falcons up with a chance to take the lead in the final minutes. The Falcons did take the lead on a 53-yard Matt Bryant field goal after the second interception, but some curious clock management by Mike Smith left Hoyer 44 seconds to come back down the field.
"Hoyer did just that. He completed passes to Miles Austin, Gordon, Gary Barnidge and Austin again to move the Browns into position for a 37-yard field goal. Billy Cundiff hit the kick and the Browns got a 26-24 win that they needed to stay in the thick of the race for playoff spots in the AFC."
4:35 p.m.: Gordon suggests he was held "a little bit" on the Hoyer end zone interception. On the botched reverse, "I saw the defensive end coming ... I played quarterback before and saw Brian and threw it toward Brian (out of bounds, avoiding a big loss in the third quarter."
Says "it's a matter of time" before fans see someone "better than the old Josh Gordon."
4:31 p.m.: Josh Gordon post-game said he was good shape after the game "adrenaline helps." Praises the team victory. "Moreso I'm happy for the team to be where we are right now. Collectively we're thinking the same way more than ever before."
Gordon takes the blame for a bad route on the last interception, saying he went to Hoyer and said "don't give up for me."
"We're supporting (Hoyer), regardless."
4:29 p.m.: More from Pettine.
Praised the performance of Isaiah Crowell -- his 26-yard TD run was "our best run of the year."
Says Hoyer was upset with himself after the final interception. "Obviously it didn't affect him at the end. If it had affected him, we wouldn't have had the result that we had."
Explained that Cundiff said the 60-yard attempt at the end of the first half was "risk/reward and in hindsight wasn't probably our best move at the time." Says they were thankful to escape Devin Hester's return.
Tashaun Gipson has a knee injury and will have an MRI on Monday.
4:25 p.m.: Mike Pettine's post-game press conference.
"That's a heckuva group of guys that we're working with, I'll tell you that. That was as big of a team win as we've had. ... Tried to give it away, but still won.
Said the Hoyer end zone interception was an attempted throwaway, but that Terrance West was probably open in the flat for a score. Praises Hoyer for being able to "compartmentalize" and making the plays in the final drive to win.
Said the team has worked a lot on game situations like the Hawkins reception and spike to stop the clock -- called it a "May Day spike." Downplayed pregame reports of limited Josh Gordon, saying that he was in excellent shape in cardio. "He kept telling us, 'I'm good to go, I'm good to go.'"
4:15 p.m.: Jim Donovan: "Brian Hoyer has had better days ... but to be a great quarterback you to have to have a short memory."
Not that fans have to feel that way. So the next few days of sportstalk radio should be fun.
Final: Browns 26, Falcons 24
4:08 p.m.: Browns take touchback. Ball on 20.
Browns have three timeouts, but need to be more efficient than in the same situation before halftime.
Hoyer on first down is hit and ball flutters to ground. 0:39 left.
On second down, hits Austin for 12 yards under a safety blitz. Browns timeout at 0:31.
At the 32, Hoyer steps up and hits Gordon for 24 yards to the Atlanta 45. Browns second timeout at 0:24. Browns can keep using the middle of the field.
At the 45, Browns need another 10-12 yards. Hoyer against a five-man rush hits Barnidge at the 32, getting to the 30. Browns call timeout with 0:16 left. None left.
On first down, Hoyer hits Austin for 11 yards and then spikes the ball with five seconds left.
From 37 yards, Billy Cundiff is good as the clock hits 0:00.
Falcons 24, Browns 23, 0:44 left in fourth quarter
4:01 p.m.: On third-and-1 at the Browns 46, Jackson gets three yards for the first down.
Falcons still have three timeouts. On first down, dumpoff to Rodgers gets a yard. No timeouts by either team. On second-and-9, Ryan to Douglass at the 35 -- just past the red line CBS places to mark where the Falcons need to get for Matt Bryant.
Falcons timeout with 55 seconds left.
On third down, Ryan in shotgun looks for Hester at the 10, but Gilbert turns just in time and the ball hits him on the shoulder.
Bryant from 53 yards is good with 0:44 left.
Browns 23, Falcons 21, 2:00 left in fourth quarter
3:56 p.m.: Ball at 16. Crowell in backfield. Crowell gets a nice hole over left guard (Joel Bitonio) for eight yards with clock running. On second-and-2, Hoyer taking time -- and Bitonio jumps offside with 2:55 left.
Now second-and-7 with clock stopped. Hoyer throw for Barnidge is tipped and nearly picked by S Dwight Lowery. Browns won't stay with run despite their success. On third-and-7, Hoyer throws five yards away from Gordon, intercepted by S Dezmen Southward at the Atlanta 44.
Falcons try Stephen Jackson for no gain, then Ryan to Jones for nine yards as the two-minute warning arrives.
3:50 p.m.: Falcons with a gift turnover and the momentum. First down pressure forces a throwaway. On second-and-10 at the 20, Ryan in shotgun hits Hester for 12 at the Browns sideline with Justin Gilbert giving LOTS of room.
At the 32, Ryan tests Haden with Julio Jones at the 45, but Haden sticks up his hand and knocks the ball away. On second-and-10, K'Waun Williams clobbers Ryan, and the floating duck is caught by White for five yards. Ryan down on field needing air. On third-and-5, Ryan hit again on the blitz, and the floater is dropped by Buster Skrine on a desperate strip by Jones.
Falcons punting with 3:46 left (and three timeouts). Leonhard makes fair catch at the 15 with 3:37 remaining.
Can Browns run the clock out?
3:44 p.m.: Jim Donovan: "Doug, you get the feeling that whoever has the ball last will win this."
Browns touchback. First down at the 20, Hoyer on play action hits Crowell for two yards, but CB Desmond Trufant called for holding on Gordon. First down at 25.
Pitch to Crowell gets seven, but TE Jim Dray called for holding. On first-and-20, Hoyer to Austin gets 10 back to the 25. On second-and-10, Crowell pitch left gets 12 yards, with DT Malliciah Goodman called for hands to face -- first down at the Browns 48.
Gordon's seventh catch is a squareout on Trufant good for 12 yards and a hard hit on Trufant by Gordon.
West on first down at the 40 good for a yard. On second-and-9, Hoyer hits Taylor Gabriel at the 30, who gets up off his knee and scrambles to the 26. First down.
At the 26, West breaks out out of pile and finds lots of room around the left side, eventually getting to the Atlanta 6.
Clock approaching 5:00 on first and goal. Hoyer rolls right and throws off his back foot -- perhaps trying to throw out of the end zone with Gordon there -- and Trufant intercepts against the back line.
Absolutely deadly turnover.
Browns 23, Falcons 21, 9:31 left in fourth quarter
3:32 p.m.: Ball on the 16, Falcons don't test the secondary, but try shovel pass to Rodgers for two yards. Haden returns. On second-and-8, Ryan to Jones for a first down inside the 6.
Falcons bring in a fullback. On first-and-goal, Ryan hits White who is stopped at the 1 by Skrine. On second down, extra lineman in for Falcons. Jackson powers up the middle for the touchdown.
3:29 p.m.: Haden eventually trots off the field, but Gipson takes longer. He is having problems on the right leg and can't get off the field. Replay shows Gipson's right knee was whiplashed around Haden's leg on the collision.
3:25 p.m.: At the 40, Falcons add another offensive lineman (again). Jacquizz Rodgers gets two yards up the middle. On second-and-8, Ryan hits White and Justin Gilbert reacts quickly and pushes him out of bounds three yards short of the sticks. On third-and-3, Ryan in shotgun eludes Mingo and hits Harry Douglass for seven yards and a first down at the Browns 46.
On first down, Freeman toss sweep is broken up by Billy Winn penetration and Haden/Whitner tackle for no gain. On second-and-10, Ryan to White for 11 yards at the 35 -- Buster Skrine gave a lot of room at the snap.
On first down, Freeman runs up the middle for six as clock clicks under 12 minutes. On second-and-4, Ryan to Toiolo for a first down at the 20 -- Whitner misses a tackle at the 26.
Inside the 21, Ryan looks for Jones at the goalline. Haden and Gipson collide and the ball falls incomplete -- but Haden is called for holding and both defensive backs are down on the field, needing an official timeout.
Browns 23, Falcons 14, end of third quarter
3:17 p.m.: Cundiff to Hester -- it's a touchback and all Browns fans exhale.
At the 20, can Falcons block well enough to let Ryan throw? Don't try on first down, with Jackson running right for four yards. On second-and-6, Ryan incomplete for Toiolo with Browns in the backfield exerting pressure. On third-and-6 with 14 second left in the quarter, Ryan hits Hester for a first down at the 40 as the quarter ends.
Browns 23, Falcons 14, 0:46 left in third quarter
3:13 p.m.: Browns could take control with a touchdown drive -- but that's been the case all day.
At the 30, West toss sweep right gets two. On second-and-8, West up the middle for three. On third-and-5, Hoyer hits Austin for 13 yards up the middle. Nice catch and absorbing a hard hit by the receiver.
On first down at the Browns 48, Hoyer scrambles left for three yards. On second-and-7, West on a toss right gets a nice block by TE Gary Barnidge and sprints to the 40 for a first down.
Hoyer to Gordon on the left sideline good for nearly nine yards. On second-and-1ish, Browns line up in I formation and West blasts ahead for three and a first down at the 28.
West again on first down on over right guard for three. In comes Crowell. On second-and-7, toss to Crowell, who starts left, cuts back to the middle at the 15 and then breaks free to the right side for the rest of the distance for a 25-yard TD run -- covered about 45.
Before Cundiff's PAT, timeout needed for injured Atlanta CB Robert McClain.
PAT is good.
3:02 p.m.: Hester returns to the 17 a bouncing semi-squib kickoff by Cundiff.
After TV timeout, Falcons open with Ryan goes play action for Jones, incomplete by a yard or so -- Haden on his hip. On second-and-10, Stephen Jackson gets six with Falcons running an extra lineman. On third-and-4, Ryan in shotgun hits Devin Hester at the 32 for a first down. Falcons blocking the rush a little better now.
Jackson's first down run gets nothing with good Mingo penetration and Robertson makes the tackle. On second-and-10, Ryan has lots of time but eventually dumps off to Jackson for seven. Julio Jones returns after sitting out since the first play of series. On third-and-3, Kruger misses one sack, but Ryan runs right back into Kruger for a sack of 12 yards.
After false start penalty, Falcons snap to punter Bosher from the 20. Travis Benjamin back, and Bosher's knuckleball punt goes OB at Browns 30.
Browns 16, Falcons 14, 9:46 left in third quarter
2:52 p.m.: Robert McClain misses sack of Hoyer on first down, and Hoyer hits Gordon for five yards. On second down, Crowell gets six yards and the first down.
At the 31, Terrance West runs out of the I formation for four yards. Very old-fashioned look on first down. On second-and-6, Browns completely botch a reverse pitch from West to Gordon, who recovers it at the 15 and fires the ball out of bounds at the 30 -- Hoyer was in the area and no grounding.
On third-and-6, a skinny post to Hawkins is wide open for 41 yards to the Atlanta 25.
On first down, Hoyer to Barnidge on a bootleg is good for seven. On second-and-3, Crowell on power up the middle -- no trap this time -- gets eight for a first-and-goal at the 9.
First-down run by Crowell -- again a power blocking scheme -- gets four yards to the 5. On second-and-goal, Hoyer in shotgun finds Austin up the middle, ball dropped. Tight fit, but catchable.
On third-and-goal, Hoyer sacked at the 15 by DT Kroy Bierman.
Another field goal attempt by Cundiff, from 32 yards, is good.
Plenty of scoring drives -- just not enough touchdowns so far.
2:45 p.m.: Browns start on offense after touchback.
2:43 p.m.: Terry Pluto on the first half:
"The Browns had two timeouts left with three second remaining in the half as they marched down field. They could have used at least one at some point, and perhaps not been forced to try a desperation 60-yard field goal at the half. Billy Cundiff kick was short, and nearly run back for a touchdown.
"Hoyer has been too often off-target. He was 11-of-22 passing in the first half for 151 yards, a 53.4 rating. Gordon caught four passes for 70 yards. Andrew Hawkins had four catches for 53 yards."
2:38 p.m.: From Bud Shaw on the first half:
"The defense gave Hoyer two turnovers in Atlanta territory, one at the 29 and one at the 40. The result – two Billy Cundiff field goals – felt like something that always seems to come back to haunt Browns' teams. This one is no different."
Halftime: Falcons 14, Browns 13
2:32 p.m.: Browns take a touchback and have three timeouts and 55 seconds to get the lead back. On first down at the 20, Hoyer badly misses Gordon on the left sideline -- threw outside with Gordon running three yards inside the Atlanta sideline.
On second down, Gordon bubble screen good for 19 yards and a first down. Browns choose not to call timeout -- rush to the line of scrimmage and Hoyer misses Austin at the 48 with 23 seconds left.
On second down, Hoyer to Hawkins, who spins twice for 14 yards and a first down at the Atlanta 47. No timeout, with the clock stopped. With 14 seconds, Hawkins gets five yards to the 42. Timeout with 0:08. Browns need another 10 yards or so on this play. On second-and-5, Hoyer looks deep for Gordon, but misfires badly at the 20 -- Gordon was comfortably open but the ball was behind him.
Browns attempt 60-yard field goal by Cundiff, a career-long. Falcons call timeout as Cundiff is short and right -- with Devin Hester waiting for the kick. Be careful -- be very careful.
Second attempt is quite short, caught by Hester and returned 76 yards before Spencer Lanning and Joel Bitonio combine to prevent a killer TD.
Neither Hoyer or the Browns' coaching staff covered themselves with glory on that series.
Falcons 14, Browns 13, 0:55 left in second quarter
2:24 p.m.: Can Browns hang on to a lead at halftime? Their recent history in late first-half turnovers hasn't been very good (see Texans, Jaguars).
On second-and-2 at the 21, Stephen Jackson gets a first down inside the 19. On first down, Ryan has to redirect his players before the snap, then hits White who gets six before going OB against Skrine with 1:15 left. On second-and-4, Ryan in shotgun overthrows Freeman on a wheel route against Kruger on the left side.
On third-and-4, Ryan to Jones for first down at the 8. Falcons call timeout with 57 seconds left.
Ryan shovel pass to Rodgers, who drags Craig Robertson into the end zone. Falcons take the lead on Matt Bryant's PAT with 55 seconds left.
Brian Hoyer's first-half inconsistency -- on the turnover opportunities and the pick -- have really hurt the Browns so far.
Browns 13, Falcons 7, 2:00 left in second quarter
2:17 p.m.: Ryan immediately hits Jones for 21 on first down. Next play is a dumpoff to TE Levine Toiolo for eight as the two-minute warning arrives.
2:14 p.m.: Browns have dominated the last 15 minutes, but need another good drive to get multiple scores ahead of the Falcons.
On first down, Browns flagged for false start (TE Jim Dray). On first-and-15, West over left guard for three yards. On second-and-12, Hoyer dumpoff to West gets nine at the Browns sideline. On third-and-3, Hoyer to Hawkins at the 32, spinning away for 12 more to the 44.
West gets three up the middle, but Falcons flagged for 12 men on the field, play erased. On first-and-5 at midfield, Crowell gets a yard on the pitch trap. That play hasn't worked today. On second-and-4, Crowell finds room over the right side for six and a first down at the Atlanta 44.
Hoyer play action and his throw for Dray is too low, intercepted by Kemal Ishmael at the Atlanta 35, returned 15 yards to midfield.
2:08 p.m.: Cundiff hits crossbar on kickoff -- Hester can't return that. Touchback.
Ryan and Falcons still just a drive from the lead thanks to defensive stops. On first down, toss to Freeman gets 11, but WR Roddy White flagged for holding. Now it's first-and-18, Ryan looks long for Jones but pass is on the sidelines at the 45, incomplete. On second-and-18, Freeman gets seven on a draw. On third-and-11, Browns have six DBs on field. Ryan with time picks out White for 31, with K'Waun Williams late on coverage.
At the Browns' 49, Freeman loses four with Desmond Bryant getting good penetration. On second-and-14, Ryan dumps to Stephen Jackson, who gets 10 with Kirksey making the tackle. On third-and-4, Ryan badly overthrows Harry Douglas at the 39.
Bosher punt bounces into the end zone for a touchback with 5:47 left in the half.
Browns 13, Falcons 7, 9:20 left in second quarter
1:57 p.m.: With another short field, Hoyer hits Gordon on play action for 17 yards to the 23 on quick square-in. Hoyer too tall for Gordon at the 10, tipped and falls incomplete. On second-and-10, Gordon off field. Hoyer mishandles snap in pistol and loses four yards.
On third-and-14 at the 27, Hoyer hits Miles Austin at the 20, falls at the 19. Still five yards short of the sticks and Hoyer has been a little wobbly so far.
Cundff's 37-yard field goal is good, but Falcons have limited to minus field position to just six Cleveland points.
1:54 p.m.: Hester doesn't like touchbacks, returns kickoff to the 23. No hesitation this time.
Falcons add another lineman (as a "receiver") for about the fifth time already today. Jackson gets a foot off left tackle on first down. On second-and-10, Ryan pass tipped but caught by Hester at the 36 for a first down. Gipson covering.
On first down, Jackson gets seven up the middle -- best run of the half. On second-and-3, Barkevious Mingo knocks down Ryan's pass to the left side. On third-and-3, Ryan scrambles, fumbles on hit by Paul Kruger and it's recovered by Desmond Bryant at the Atlanta 40.
Browns 10, Falcons 7: 13:17 left in second quarter
1:48 p.m.: Short field for the Browns -- official stop play to reset the play clock on first down. Gordon out, Hawkins in. On first down, bootleg left Hoyer runs to the 20 for nine yards -- right leg caught a bit awkwardly on the turf, but Hoyer shakes it off. West up the middle for the first down at the 19.
First down pass to Gabriel bounces at the receiver's feet. A little took quick for Hoyer. On second-and-10, West pitch up the middle gets five on a cutback to the right. Good tackle by S Ismael. On third-and-5, Hoyer misses a well-covered Gordon by Desmond Truffant. Doug Dieken would like a flag, but no deal.
Billy Cundiff's field goal from 33 yards is down the middle.
1:44 p.m.: On third-and-9 at the Atlanta 10, Ryan is intercepted by Joe Haden at the 29 -- he stepped in front of Julio Jones. Ninth pick of a Ryan pass this season.
Browns 7, Falcons 7, end of first quarter
1:41 p.m.: Cundiff to Hester, who comes out eight yards deep goes left and his dragged down at the Atlanta 9. Great coverage.
On first down, Ryan hesitates and is eventually sacked by Ahtyba Rubin up the middle at the 3. Pocket collapsing quickly and Ryan is already sensitive to it. Jacquizz Rodgers get seven on second down. Clock runs out on first quarter.
Browns 7, Falcons 7, 1:33 left in first quarter
1:36 p.m.: After a touchback (Taylor Gabriel returning kicks for injured Marlon Moore), Browns start on their 20.
Terrance West in backfield on second series. Botched play fake and a pressured Hoyer throws first-down pass away. On second down, West fumbles on toss cutback trap, but Agnew recovers, four-yard gain. On third-and-6, first catch for Josh Gordon is good for 12 yards on crossing route to the left.
Browns go quickly to line. Bootleg pass caught by Andrew Hawkins for 17 yards along Atlanta sideline. First down at the Atlanta 47, West gets three over left tackle. On second-and-7, sweep right with West gets three. On third-and-4 at the 41, draw to Crowell is a yard short at the 38. Browns go for it, needing a full yard.
Agnew in as fullback. Hoyer runs play action and misses Agnew, but Falcons S Kemal Ishmael is flagged for holding Gary Barnidge. First down.
Bubble screen to Josh Gordon has lots of blocking, good for 22 yards to the 11 along left sideline. Agnew and Thomas with sustained blocks.
On first down, Benjamin drops bubble screen left, with Gordon blocking. On second down, Crowell cuts left over the center and scores easily.
Falcons 7, Browns 0, 5:53 left in first quarter
1:23 p.m.: With good position at the Falcons 43, Jackson's first-down carry gets three with Tashaun Gipson on safety blitz. On second-and-7, Ryan's pass to Roddy White on short crossing route good for first down at the Browns 45.
Jackson up the middle for two. On second-and-8, Ryan is nearly pick-6'd by Donte Whitner, who jumps route for Douglas. On third down, Ryan scrambles and throws ball away -- but Jabaal Sheard is offside. Give a second chance on third-and-3, Ryan runs for first down at the Browns 34 -- linemen were all caught up inside and Ryan had an easy run.
On first down, Ryan scrambles for two with good coverage in Browns secondary. On second-and-8, Ryan hits White for four -- Whitner again nearly had an interception but was an inch late. On third-and-4, Devonta Freeman takes a pitch left and gets the first down by the hair of his chinny chin chin.
First down at the 24, Ryan goes deep for Julio Jones, but was wide left -- Joe Haden was beaten. On second-and-10, Ryan bootlegs right and finds Jones three yards ahead of Haden at the 2 and it's an easy touchdown.
1:14 p.m.: Isaiah Crowell loses one yard on first down on a safety blitz on first down. On second-and-11, Hoyer hits Miles Austin, who stretches for first down at the 26. Ray Agnew in fullback, and Crowell slips on first down play for loss of three. On second-and-13, Gordon out. Falcons DT Jonathan Babineaux jumps offside. On second-and-8, Falcons blitz again and Hoyer's throw to Travis Benjamin is a little long and leads him out of bounds. No catch.
On third-and-8, Gordon in slot and the first attempt for him is just off his fingertips deep along the right sideline at the Atlanta 40.
Spencer Lanning's punt to Devin Hester caught at the 31 and returned 12 yards around the right side to the 43 with 10:19 left in the quarter.
1:08 p.m.: Matt Ryan to Roddy White on first down is spiked away by Buster Skrine. On second-and-10, Stephen Jackson over left tackle gets three. On third-and-7, Ryan finds White against a safety blitz for 20 yards to the 41.
Jackson on first down dragged down by Billy Winn for gain of three. On second-and-7, Falcons go double tight ends and Ryan's throw to Julio Jones on the Atlanta sideline is dropped, Skrine covering. On third-and-7, Justin Gilbert makes a nice read and knocks the ball away from Harry Douglas.
Matt Bosher's punt is fair caught by Leonhard (no Travis Benjamin inside the 20?) at the 15.
1:03 p.m.: Billy Cundiff's kickoff to Devin Hester returned to the 18, Jim Leonhard tackling and we're underway.
1:01 p.m.: Browns call heads, lose the coin toss. Browns will start on defense. Isaiah Crowell was a captain at midfield for the Browns -- then again, Ben Tate was a captain last week.
12:55 p.m.: According to Donovan on Browns radio, the Georgia Dome is protecting these two teams -- and the fans -- from two or three inches of rain this afternoon.
12:53 p.m.: On Fox, Michael Strahan's upset pick of the day? It's the Browns (-4) over the Falcons.
12:45 p.m.: How do our intrepid columnists see today's game?
From Bud Shaw:
"All four Falcons wins came against division opponents. Two of them vanquished the mighty two-win Tampa Bay Bucs. Not often in the past 15 years have we labeled the Browns a step up in competition, but they are a step up in competition. The problem, of course, is the Browns have played some of their worst football against losing teams. That needs to change today if the playoffs are a realistic possibility."
Meanwhile, Terry Pluto is simply happy for meaningful games and the team's determination to focus on now instead of rookies and "the future.":
"At 6-4, the Browns have reached the point of not worrying about rookies getting playing time. They need to play the best guys possible to win games. If that means staying with Brian Hoyer over Manziel ... or playing K'Waun Williams and Buster Skrine instead of Justin Gilbert ... so be it."
12:35 p.m.: Pregame line of the day comes from Jim Donovan, when asked about seeing Josh Gordon on the field along with the Browns' diminutive Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel:
"Remember when those Punt, Pass and Kick kids would come on the field with the regular players?"
12:30 p.m.: Here are today's inactives:
Browns: TE Jordan Cameron, WR Marlon Moore, LB Karlos Dansby, WR Rodney Smith, CB Pierre Desir, DB Robert Nelson, OL Vinston Painter
Falcons: CB Robert Alford, T Jonathan Scott, QB Sean Renfree, LB Tyler Starr, T Cameron Bradfield, LB James Anderson, DT Cliff Matthews
Notable that Jabaal Sheard is not inactive, which helps a thin defensive line that was already playing just two down linemen on several occasions last week. Sheard is technically a linebacker, but he provides a fair amount of help on the run defense as well as rushing the quarterback.
That said, Barkevious Mingo will be counted upon to increase his snaps by making some plays today against the Falcons.
