Josh McCown silences critics with performance in Baltimore

Oct 11, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) calls out the play at the line during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns never have been great at winning games easily. But as long as a win is the result, fans usually seem to maintain some sort of happiness throughout that winning week.

Browns fans have more than just a win to be happy about after the 33-30 win over the Ravens. They can be happy about having a competent quarterback leading the offense.

I use the word competent because it is far too early to use any superlatives, but that may change if the quarterback play of Josh McCown keeps going at its current pace.

McCown has been dominant the past three weeks from a statistical perspective, with yesterday being his best performance yet.

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His 457 passing yards against Baltimore set a new franchise record for passing yards in a game, and it also made him the first Browns quarterback to throw for 300+ yards in three consecutive games.

But most importantly, he won. In a season where the defense is better at talking than actually defending, McCown led three touchdown drives in the second half that gave the Browns a chance to win the game in overtime.

After a performance like this it will be tough for even the loudest McCown detractors to clamor for Johnny Manziel to take the starting spot.

Last week I asked readers if they believed Manziel should start against the Ravens, and the results were an overwhelming “yes.”

I was expecting fans to side with McCown, but apparently it two 300+ performances were not enough. So I’ll pose the question once again, just for fun.

There is not even a logical argument to promote Manziel over McCown at this point in time. Even writing about it seems silly, but I saw countless people on that beautiful invention known as Twitter saying how McCown was terrible after one half of football in Baltimore.

Sure, these people may not understand the game of football, but I will give them the fact that the Browns were unable to score touchdowns in the first half.

But instead of panicking and resorting to negativity, which induces stress, those “fans” need to understand that judgment should be reserved until the game is over.

Josh McCown silences critics with historic performance in Baltimore

By Steven Kubitza | Oct 12, 2015

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