Daily Dawg Tags: Browns one game closer to the end
By Thomas Moore
Spanning the virtual globe to bring you the latest news about the Cleveland Browns and the NFL – these are your Daily Dawg Tags for Monday, Dec. 28.
Cleveland Browns:
3 takeaways from the Browns loss to the Chiefs:
"In one of the best efforts we’ve seen from this team in weeks, the Browns battled their way back against a Chiefs team that was fighting for a playoff spot, while the Browns are just fighting to make it to the end of another disappointing season. We don’t want to turn this into a Jason Campbell “moral victory,” but after what we’ve all witnessed the past few weeks, at least today’s game was enjoyable. Here are three takeaways from the game, one for each of the only three offensive drives the Browns allowed the Chiefs to have in the second half."
Browns lose to Chiefs in final seconds:
"The Cleveland Browns have a 3-12 record, but effort has not been the problem as of late. The Browns lost to the Kansas City Chiefs this afternoon in a game that went down to the final seconds, providing a visual example of the Browns’ season so far."
Cleveland Browns offseason change must start with power structure
"The Cleveland Browns season has once again been a huge disappointment and is sliding down the drain. Two games remain on the schedule and change is expected once the season comes to a close. The breadth of change is yet to be determined and continues to be argued over, but some change is essential. Whilst the focus has been on who should go, who should stay and who should be brought in as a replacement, it is change at a more elemental level that is required. Before any personnel change can occur, the Browns must repair their power structure."
Red zone remains dead zone for Browns (cleveland.com)
"If there’s been one offensive constant in the Browns’ dreadful season it’s their inability to turn promising drives into enough touchdowns. You can say it’s been an issue since 1999, but Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium they took it to an absurd level in a 17-13 loss to the Chiefs."
Johnny Manziel takes blame for loss (ESPN)
"Johnny Manziel pointed only at himself on Sunday. Manziel took responsibility for the Cleveland Browns’ 17-13 loss to Kansas City and assessed his play in pointedly critical terms."
NFL News:
Vikings-Packers game flexed to Sunday night for Week 17 (NFL.com)
"The Minnesota Vikings will travel to play the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field next Sunday with the NFC North title on the line following their Week 16 demolishing of the New York Giants. The winner of the SNF game will earn a home playoff game as the No. 3 seed in the NFC."
Steelers failed to show up in Baltimore (Still Curtain)
"With a potential playoff spot on the line and going up against a watered-down Ravens team the Steelers had all the tools they needed to pull out a win but fell short against the Ravens."
Bill Belichick says Matthew Slater followed orders on coin flip (ESPN)
"An unusual exchange between Patriots captain Matthew Slater and referee Clete Blakeman during the overtime coin toss left New England kicking off to start the extra period, a decision that helped the rival Jets to a much-needed victory. Patriots coach Bill Belichick confirmed he instructed Slater to choose to kick if New England won the toss, even though overtime rules allow a team to win outright if it scores a touchdown on its opening possession."
Exactly zero chance Peyton Manning a doper (Indianapolis Star)
"Athletes cheat. It’s what they do, how they’re wired, who they are. All athletes? No, of course not. Not all athletes. But lots of them, and you don’t need me to tell you that. Barry Bonds Lance Armstrong Ben Johnson LaRon Landry. But not Peyton Manning."