For my entire life I never remember us being a good west coast team, new Browns or old.  Losing to the Rams is not unheard of as they did win the Superbowl a few years back.  But truth be told, this week and last at Denver, we didn't lose to the Broncos or Rams, we lost to the Sean's.  Sean Payton and Sean McVay, two Superbowl winning coaches that saw us coming and constructed very confident game plans against us, knowing as coaches and organizations, they clearly had the upper hand.

It would be easy to sit here and bash Stefanski, but being honest, that's not fair, nor productive. Taking nothing away from Stefanski, the two Sean's are just light years ahead of him and both have far less talented rosters than us.  Let's clear this up right here. The Browns have significant injuries to many pivotal players and that can't be hidden or minimized.  We're playing a QB that was on his couch two weeks ago resting his 38 year old self.  But Joe Flacco played extremely well and didn't embarrass himself or the Browns. He looked really good considering.

I knew each of the last two games would be tough for us to win, because good NFL coaches know it's December and know how to win games that need to be won.  Both Sean's devised game plans that used our strengths against us and that's the sign of real football IQ.  They both knew the tendencies and predictability of our staff and counted on them to play into their hands, and we did in both games. They each knew that we want to throw the ball as much as possible with two QB's that are different, one being a rookie and one being rusty and we did. In the last two games, we threw about 90 passes and just scored 31 points total.  Only about 3 teams have run the ball as well as us in the entire NFL, and yet we refuse to do it to control the game. 

The Broncos and Rams both knew that going in. They knew that we would NOT play to our own strengths, even under these incredible circumstances of injuries and with new or geriatric QB's.  They were counting on the desire for us to implement a passing game that overall has not been effective all year.  We did it, and we lost.  It's just being outsmarted by far better football people that know you better than you know them - and know you better than you know yourself.  They breathed a sigh of relief we had no desire to figure it out.  They also have their first team QB's on the field and we don't.  But the coaches haven't gotten that memo yet.

Over the course of time our defense gets worn down, and plays poorly late and that's a problem. They're an attacking bunch and they have a tough time late in games when we can't move the ball or we turn it over.  No one has turned the ball over more than us in the NFL.  And you get that when you have injuries, third stringers playing and players being asked to do things that are not their strengths.  We're not scoring points and we're not this offensive machine we think we are.  But we're determined to prepare that way.

And here come the Jags with Doug Pederson who is another fantastic head coach.  He took the Jags from the outhouse, to a playoff win last year and then gave the Chiefs all the could handle in the playoffs before bowing out.  They are good, they are trying to get playoff games too and they're going to want to beat the Browns.  He's a good football man and this is critical for the Browns with many teams we are wrestling with for the playoffs having easier games this week than us.  But the Jags may be dealing with their own injured QB issues today.

And BTW - name a starting QB.  You're fooling no one except yourself thinking this strategy makes a difference. The Jags couldn't care less.

BUT through it all, the Browns still have their destiny in their own hands. Just win and things take care of themselves.  But winning in the NFL is hard when good competition is standing in your way.   And even harder when you're standing in your own way.

GO BROWNS

In case you missed some of my articles this week on WQMX.com, here is a recap. Grab a coffee and let's get you caught up. Thanks for reading and listening every day!

BROWNS - Ya Think Ya Know A Guy

Eat Of The Week

50 Favorites From 40+ Years - #3

Forgotten Jukebox - CB-92

Country Music Memory Lane - The Influencers (Revisit)

Wynn At The Movies And More

Box Office Results - Beyonce

#2 – Hunger Games

#3 Godzilla

New This Week - The Oath / The Cello / The Boy and the Heron / Eileen / Poor Things / Magazine Dream

Barbie - Will premiere on Max December 15th

Will Smith - Will star in I Am Legend 2 with Michael B. Jordan

Nicolas Cage - Says he “Has 3 or 4 movies left in him”

Macaulay Culkin  - Got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday.

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Also - My 50 Favorites Over 40+ Years This Week #3 (Link)

With Terri Clark coming back the area for a big show early next year, it seemed like a great time to revisit the Memory Lane article I wrote about her a year or two ago.  I've always been a fan, and her voice and music still sound great after all this time.

Let's revisit the amazing Terri Clark!

My Full Profile On Terri Clark

Clint Black  - Walkin' Away  - 1989 - (Album - Killin' Time)

It's from one of the biggest, most successful country albums ever, and you don't hear it much anymore. This was a #1 of course as were all singles from this total masterpiece. You still hear, Killin' Time and Better Man, but somehow this gets lost. Clint Black was a Mega Star and had the absolute right idea in the Neo-traditionalist era.  He led the charge along with Garth, and Alan Jackson and was very important in shaping 90's country in general. He sold millions and packed concert halls, and recorded gems like this. He was unapologetically country and this song is a great example of it.  I was always drawn to his music, as it was traditional, but still had a thump.  It didn't sound dated, it sounded new, but deeply rooted, but it never sounded "old".  He found a sound and it worked for him. There was also a real believe-ability about him that I and millions of others loved too. So let's drop a few coins in and take a listen to the amazing Clint Black and this fantastic song!

My Full Profile On Clint Black - Mega Star Series

#3 - Jake Owen - Startin' With Me - 2006

The first time I heard this song I loved it, and I love it more today than in 2006.  This is a very powerful, adult song that cuts deep.  This struck me right in the middle, as I too have felt there are times in my past I would have made different decisions. But I don't think I'm different than you or most.  Years ago, I learned the benefit of honest self reflection, and it helped me greatly.  I remember telling Jake at the station here years ago when he did a show for us I felt this was one of the best country songs of the last 30 years. This is one of the few songs that can make me tear up slightly, and does most any time I hear it.  This also has the exceedingly rare ability to grow with you and it hits you differently as you go through life's circumstances.  It's about as honest as a song can be. This was very early Jake Owen and that gave this song credibility and him too as it helped us get to know him, letting us way in.  Peaking at #6 on the charts, but pay no mind to that, this is about as good as written country songs get.  As I put this list together, this was one of the first songs I thought of.  Jake is the second artist to appear on my list twice with two in the top 20 (Down To The Honky Tonk #17)  Darius Rucker is the other at #15 and #47.  This is about perfect.

Last Week #4

The weather tells us all that it's winter, or at least cold part of fall.  It's Soup Season too.  I know, I know  -  you make the BEST chicken soup ever, but I have to admit this looks pretty darn good.

Let's give this a go!!

It's SOUP Season - Try This!!

Man, where to begin this week as last week I gave Kevin Stefanski real props on growing up as a head coach. I even said I thought the Seattle loss a few weeks ago woke him up as he about single-handedly blew that game with terrible decision making down the stretch.  Turns out with that loss nothing was really learned last Sunday at Denver, it was twice as bad. I admit, I was far too quick on the praise.

What happened Sunday was simply awful. Terrible play calling, a bad game plan, decision making was ridiculous and the result was horrendous. Not running the ball against the worst run defense in the entire NFL is just stupid.  BTW, running the ball is what his team does best offensively -  by far.  Good backs and high priced and excellent run blocking offensive linemen.  Asking these QB's to throw it 42 times on the road in Denver was just dumb.  And dialing up some backyard razzle-dazzle double reverse handoff, pitch thing with 2 third stringers trying to pull it off in the fourth quarter was just -  beyond boneheaded.  I'm sure he's the butt of many player meetings around the league again this week as that play pretty much blew the game. And it also made us look like bozo's.  It's unforgivable and embarrassing. Who does this stuff?

There were all kinds of calls on social media, "Fire Stefanski now!!" and that type of thing, but I don't buy into that at all right now.  What I would like is for him to LEARN SOMETHING!  These decisions are stuff of amateurs.  The "Fire Stefanski Crowd" is just mad and emotional and I get that.  But firing him just makes us start over and I don't want that, and I don't think they do either.  A new head coach means eventually new staff, new assistants and a new era.  I want the coach to learn what doesn't work and stop it with the ding-dong decisions when it matters! 

We all have people in our lives that "know everything" right?  They project there's nothing new for them to learn, and in my life I have no time for those people. I don't know, maybe Stefanski IS that guy. He's an Ivy Leaguer, maybe he honestly thinks he's the smartest guy in any room.  Maybe he thinks he "knows best."  Maybe he thinks he's just smarter than the rest of the NFL.  I don't know if any of that is true. But I do know this.  We looked Sunday like we were not ready to play, and at times it looked like it was his first game.  And when the game was still in doubt, he made us look like a Blooper Reel of Facebook memes and GIF's that put players in a position to fail that shouldn't be.  I gotta wonder what Schwartz, and Callahan think about this nonsense.  Myles Garrett too, Botonio, veterans trying to win at long last.

With extremely well managed and prepared wins against the Ravens, Steelers and 49ers, I thought coach had finally figured out that with this team, this year, under these very tough circumstances, he found the formula to win buy NOT GETTING IN THE WAY!  Sunday was a major step backwards in decision making. I hope the assistants gave him hell on the ridiculous game plan. And I hope the players did too. Everyone out there busting their humps for beyond bad play calling and backyard trick plays you would draw up in the dirt with Uncle John in the backyard after Thanksgiving dinner, with Aunt Louise and your cousins playing defense. 

So we get another crack at the NFL today as we visit the upstart Rams on the road. And let's hope last Sunday was just a hiccup.  Man, Ya Think Ya Know A Guy.....

GO BROWNS

As we near the top of my 50 Favorites From 40 Years year-long series, here are the songs I featured in November.  I have also included all of the previous months in case you are just jumping on.

This Month

#7 - Strawberry Wine - Deana Carter

#6 - Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell

#5 - When It Rains It Pours - Luke Combs

#4 - You Lie - Reba McEntire

Previous Months

October

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

January

Box Office Results -

#1 Hunger Games

#2 Napoloean

#3 Trolls

Wish - Yet Another Disney disaster 17 Million

New This Week -  Beyonce  /  Godzilla Minus One /  The Shift / Teddy's Christmas  / Saltburn / The Bikeriders

New Godzilla Movie This week - There are 37 Godzilla movies - then this one - and 4 more on the schedule

2013 - Frozen was released to theaters

Jackie Chan - Will Star in a Karate Kid Movie WITH Ralph Machio – next December

T-Swifty - ERA's Tour Movie – Starts Streaming In your home December 13

Bradley Cooper - Says he's open to doing another Hangover movie

Margo Robbie - Says she see's “no reason” for a Barbie Sequel

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Also - My 50 Favorites Over 40+ Years This Week #4  (Link)