Daily Dawg Tags: Another typical Cleveland Browns opener
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, Sept. 12.
How about the opening game?
In what has become a familiar sight, the Cleveland Browns lost another opening game as they have done every year since 2004. The Browns had chances, but ultimately saw the game slip away due to mistakes, a sluggish offense and an ineffective defense.
“I saw a team that started a little sporadic, and then I saw a team that started to fight and play,” head coach Hue Jackson said after the game. Like I just told them last night, momentum in games change. And the momentum changed, and you’ve got to fight like heck to get it back,.
“There’s things to improve as a football team obviously … we’ve got to grow from this and get better and we will.”
We have a full slate of post-game coverage planned today, but before we do that let’s take a look at Sunday’s action for the Browns and around the NFL.
Cleveland Browns news:
Browns loser opener to Carson Wentz, Philadelphia
"No one expected the Cleveland Browns to be a great team in 2016. But Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was much worse than what was expected heading into the game."
Browns: 4 takeaways from loss to the Eagles
"It was a predictable outcome for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles as the Browns dropped their opening game for the 12th consecutive year. But that doesn’t make it any less disappointing."
RG3 to undergo tests on his injured shoulder
"Entering the 2016 season one of the major questions surrounding the Cleveland Browns was the health of quarterback Robert Griffin III. On a team that hasn’t had a quarterback start a full 16 games since Tim Couch in 2001, and with Griffin carrying a history of injuries with him, it is only natural to wonder when – not if – Griffin will get hurt. Well, it turns out that when was the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles."
How many games will the Browns win in 2016?
"Many have predicted nothing short of doom and gloom for the Browns this season. Forget challenging for a playoff spot, the Browns are going to be so bad, according to some, that they may find a way to post a record worst than 0-16. So just what does 2016 have in store for the Browns? The Dawg Pound Daily staff got together to look into their respective crystal balls and come up with a prediction for the season."
Browns had mismatch on puzzling fake punt (ohio.com)
"Browns coach Hue Jackson’s decision to call for a fake punt with his team at its own 41 and down seven points early in the second quarter Sunday seemed baffling to most. But after hearing left tackle Joe Thomas’ explanation after a 29-10 season-opening loss to the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, one might wonder instead how it didn’t work."
Game plan too complicated for young team (cleveland.com)
"This is going to be a long, painful season. Hue Jackson knows that. Hopefully, the Browns coach knows a lot more about his team after the opening loss. Jackson has a well-earned reputation as a creative offensive coach. Creativity is important. But first, the Browns must figure out what is the offense all about? Is it built on the running game? Is it a passing team?"
Cleveland-Philadelphia grades (PFF)
"Here are the top takeaways and highest-graded players in the Eagles’ win over the Browns."
NFL news:
Dak Prescott aced his debut, but Cowboys failed to back him up (Fox Sports)
"Dak Prescott did his job Sunday. You can argue he went above and beyond what was expected of him — he drove the Cowboys into position to kick a game-winning field goal against the Giants, despite having only a minute and no timeouts to drive down the field. It was the rest of the Cowboys that failed to perform in Sunday’s 20-19 loss."
Keep Carson Wentz’ terrific debut in perspective (Philadelphia Inquirer)
"At the end, Carson Wentz did what all NFL starting quarterbacks do, finding his counterpart at midfield for a handshake, a half-hug, and a brief exchange of best wishes. Wentz didn’t spend more than a few seconds with Robert Griffin III after the Eagles’ 29-10 victory over the Browns. But the moment, that framing of a young quarterback on the ascendance and one who used to be, was enough to serve as a reminder to maintain perspective during what promises to be a wild week around here."
Jack Del Rio has guts, Raiders have glory (San Jose Mercury News)
"Long before the daring call, Jack Del Rio had made the daring call. There was no question in his mind. If his team drove for a touchdown in those final moments, Del Rio was not going to kick the extra point, tie the game and hope for overtime. He was going to order up a two-point conversion."
Brock Osweiler shines in Texans debut (ESPN)
"The Houston Texans spent the offseason retooling their offense, and it paid off as quarterback Brock Osweiler led the Texans to a 23-14 victory against the Chicago Bears. Osweiler, who signed a big four-year, $72 million contract with the Texans in March, was 23-of-35 for 231 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Texans head coach Bill O’Brien said that although there are always things to work on, Osweiler showed good poise running the offense on Sunday."