With no Browns game over the weekend we can now look forward to Sunday, and thanks to our new pals the Steelers and the Chargers, this game means something.  Even with the help, this game is the entire season right here.

Some would say that the Browns have to win out, or 4 of 5 to get in the playoffs. In the long run, that may be true. But the way I see it, they must win A game - this one. This has been a problem with this team all year. Worrying about the season, or who we are playing in the Superbowl, what seed we will be and not being ready for the next game.  If they can beat the Ravens at home Sunday, then the season is still viable. So Sunday, is all that matters.

Can we please stop with all the local and national media asking about if Baker Mayfield is healthy or not? Of course he's not.  Where have you been? He's not going to "get better" this season. He'll need shoulder surgery, and time off to heal up at seasons end. And enough with his contract stuff too. It will or will not work itself out. Let's worry about how we get this done this Sunday. That's all that matters right now.

I think this game is resting squarely on the shoulders of Kevin Stefanski.  Right now, the Browns are rested from the bye.  The defense has played quite well the past month or so.  And the performance last week in Baltimore lead me to believe they can play with the Ravens. I hope Stefanski watched the Steelers/Ravens game Sunday. The Steelers played the Ravens like the professional team they are, and got it done.  They stuck to the running game, remembered their identity and had faith they were going to be successful being who and what they are. And in the second half, they were and won a big game saving their season. Love them or hate them, they are a great franchise, and have played Steeler football just like that for 50 years.

And just last night, the Patriots won the Monday Night Game by throwing 3 passes all night!  The conditions were very bad and Bill Belichick was not going to ask a young QB to do things he was incapable of doing.  So they ran the ball for 230 yards on the night.  BTW - they are 9-4 and #1 seed in the AFC. And who are their running backs?  Yeah, me either....

This game is completely in the hands of Stefanski.  I feel the players will execute to the best of their ability what they will be asked to do, and they can hang with the favored Ravens.  But does Stefanski want to win this important game, or does he want to be "right" or "the cerebral guy?"  Will he kick field goals if they are there?  Will he stop the beyond ill-advised "trick" plays at important moments?  Will he have his team focused not have a bunch of needless penalties?  Will he properly manage timeouts and the clock? And most of all, will he let Chubb, Hunt, his tight ends and the O line decide this game?  Because if he asks a physically compromised Baker to throw the ball all day long, and abandons the running game identity again, the season will be over Sunday at 4PM.  In short, will he understand how important this game really is?

So in the end the simple question is this.  Do you want your team, fans and your players to be victorious?  Or do you want to show us all, how you say we could, or should be victorious?  Maybe we have we stockpiled enough senseless, silly losses already to do things differently this week. The Ravens are going to be who they are, maybe we should too. Let's lace 'em up, pull the chin straps tight and let's see who wins.

This game is in his hands.

GO BROWNS!