Daily Dawg Tags: C’mon Browns, it shouldn’t be this difficult
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns continue to be the one team that can’t find a quarterback, as this weekend’s NFL playoff games highlighted.
The NFL playoffs rolled on over the weekend and three of the four games were highly entertaining.
As has happened every season since 2002, the Cleveland Browns were not participants in the fun, but that does not mean they were not represented. For a team that can’t draft — the Browns have just one first-round selection from 2009 through 2015 on the roster — there are a number of Browns alumni spread across the playoffs.
On Saturday in Philadelphia it was a rough ending for center Alex Mack and wide receiver Taylor Gabriel as the Falcons fell to the Eagles in a game that came down to the wire. Gabriel, who is on the popular “ones that got away” list, finished the game with two receptions for four yards.
Sunday may have been one of the most-entertaining afternoons in years, as the Jacksonville Jaguars and safety Tashaun Gipson rolled into Heinz Field and scored 45 points to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers. Certainly not the best way to end the season for “top 10 cornerback” Joe Haden of the Steelers.
Cleveland Browns
The late game saw the Minnesota Vikings score the game-winning touchdown on a 61-yard catch-and-run by wide receiver Stefon Diggs in a play that will be a mainstay of highlights for years to come. Linebacker Craig Robertson was on the losing side for the Saints, but Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, a former Browns head coach, was spotted celebrating on the field.
Shurmur may be the most unbelievable story of the postseason as he has risen from the ashes of a 9-23 record with the Browns to a coach where the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants are both vying to hire him as head coach.
The biggest takeaway from the weekend, however, is that the NFL is down to its final four teams and three of them are quarterbacked by Case Keenum (Minnesota), Blake Bortles (Jacksonville) and Nick Foles (Philadelphia).
Those three quarterbacks have all managed to play well enough to help their teams reach their respective conference championship games, yet the Browns under head coach Hue Jackson could not figure out how to win more than one game the past two seasons.
The success of Bortles, Foles and Keenum shines a brighter spotlight on the Browns continued inability to find a decent quarterback.
C’mon Browns, it really shouldn’t be that hard.
Cleveland Browns news:
Trying to figure out the Kirk Cousins conundrum
The Cleveland Browns are on their annual quest to fix the quarterback position. But is Kirk Cousins the answer to the team’s woes?
Alex Smith can be the answer for the Browns at quarterback
The Cleveland Browns continue to search for a quarterback as they enter 2018. However, this time, an opportunity to make a move for a veteran quarterback may have actually fell in their laps.
Hue Jackson rebuilding coaching staff again
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson continues to tinker with his coaching staff, this time hiring Ken Zampese as quarterbacks coach.
NFL news:
All signs point to Matt Patricia as next Detroit Lions head coach (Detroit Free Press)
"Matt Patricia has been the favorite to succeed Jim Caldwell as Detroit Lions coach since long before Caldwell was fired. Now, the Lions could be even closer to making it happen."
Eagles read final play before Atlanta broke the huddle (NFL.com)
"As the NFL’s replay officials examined a third-down catch from Julio Jones with 1:05 remaining in a stirring Philadelphia Eagles victory Saturday that was over-stuffed with plot twists, Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins gathered his team to make sure they got it."
Steelers season ends with loss to Jaguars (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
"The Steelers’ postseason revenge tour through the Jaguars and Patriots over consecutive games ended as it began Sunday when Jacksonville upset them, 45-42, at Heinz Field."
Move over, Drew Pearson, there’s a new Hail Mary in town (twincities.com)
"Move over, Drew Pearson, there’s a new Hail Mary in town, and this one will be remembered here for all the right reasons. Stefon Diggs’ 61-yard touchdown reception as time expired Sunday night was the shocker to beat all others as the Vikings finally snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in an NFL playoff game, a 29-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium that might have been the shock to the system this franchise needed."