Woe is them: Browns' offense continues to founder

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Is the Frye-era offense back? Please, no.

The futility of the Browns' offense has driven fans to the point where even long touchdown throws with the game still in balance are frowningly scrutinized. Colt McCoy tosses a 45-yard touchdown pass and the Twitterverse grumbles that he didn't lead his receiver.

That's where our heads are at after this latest frustrating defeat. The one positive about these performances is they allow one to fall into a sort of catatonic stupor where thought exists at a higher plane. Today's coma state got me thinking about the worst Browns' offenses since the franchise's return, and how this unit compares.

What we think will happen vs. the 49ers (Week 8)

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Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers

October 30, 2011

Brian	49ers 17 Browns 10	Just predicting the Browns score a touchdown is going out on a limb, here. Colt McCoy has to show improvement in pocket awareness or medium/deep accuracy .
Tom	49ers 28 Browns 6	The Browns are going to be hard pressed to score, and I can't see them breaking into the endzone against the 49ers tough defense. Phil Dawson continues as the only Brown to score points this week.
Doug	49ers 21 Browns 13	The Niners and Frank Gore will be a great test for the Browns much improved defense. I just don't think Cleveland's offense will  be better in the face of so many injuries and talent-related question marks, resulting in a worn out defense and a mark in the loss column.
Kevin	49ers 24 Browns 10	Maybe Roy Hall can break Ted Ginn Jr.'s ankle again. Otherwise, the Glenville legend may take a couple to the house considering the Browns' special teams problems.
SamVox	49ers 24 Browns 16	Here's hoping mild-mannered Pat Shurmur punches Jim Harbaugh in that pot belly.
Ryan	Browns 20 49ers 13	There is no logical reason to think the Browns should win this game but something just tells me they will. I think the Browns defense can keep Frank Gore in check and hopefully force Alex Smith into an INT or 2. Not sure how our offense can score 20 but I am banking on good field position on turnovers.
Sean	49ers 31 Browns 10

What we think will happen against Wisconsin today

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Wisconsin Badgers at Ohio State Buckeyes

October 29, 2011

Brian	Badgers 20 Buckeyes 10	The Buckeyes are hungry and angry. And those are just the ones who lost in Madison last year and aren't part of the team any more. The Buckeyes still with the team I'm sure are looking for revenge, but even a stout defense can't make up for a pitiful offense against a Badgers team who is looking for redemption after last week's shocking loss.
Tom	Badgers 28 Buckeyes 14	The offense continues to struggle and Wisconsin is to much to handle.
Doug	Badgers 27 Buckeyes 20	A return to the grind-it-out style of Tressel-ball led to a much-needed win against Illinois. But OSU will need to put it in the air more than four times to match the Wiscy offense. If the Buckeyes were on the road I'd say they haven't a chance. At home they do have one, it just won't be enough to beat the talented Badgers, still smarting after a killer loss to Michigan St.
Kevin	Badgers 28 Buckeyes 13	The Bucks just can't score. And an inept offense that makes the Browns look like the St. Louis Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" isn't going to cut it. Coming off a shocking last second loss last week, the Badgers may be looking to make a statement.
SamVox	Buckeyes 21 Badgers 17	Just a hunch. Get laid tonight, Columbus.
Ryan	Badgers 27 Buckeyes 17	A few weeks back I thought the Buckeyes had no chance to win this game, I now think they can win, but I just don't think they will. Wisconsin's offense is just too good, so unless the Buckeyes catch a few breaks like a kick off return and/or a pick-6, their offense just lacks the passing game to stay with the high scoring Badgers. I hope I am wrong but as my 11-1-1 ATS in the NFL last weeks tells you, I rarely am.
Sean	Buckeyes 21 Badgers 18	Another hunch.

Even Android is a Buckeye Fan

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Those of us at CST are split pretty evenly. No, not on what baseball team to support. Or basketball. Or football. Or arena football. Or semi-pro lacrosse. Maybe on rugby union. Not sure.

What we are split on is our smartphone operating system. Some of us are fully indoctronated iPhone (and Mac) devotees. Some of us don't care what we have. But some of us are Android disciples. And this is why. Let's see iPhone do that.

Texas blows Game Six, but it still can't compare

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Last night's World Series Game Six, already being called one of the best and most historic World Series games--if not overall baseball games---of all time, has bleary eyes across the country this morning.

AP

Amazing comebacks by both teams. But for Indians fans, this seemed very familiar. Neftali Perez, the Rangers closer who hadn't given up a run in a LONG time, had the Cardinals down to their final strike, down by two, and the outfield playing as deep as you can play without buying a ticket. And yet he pulls a Jose Mesa, giving up a game-tying triple to hometown boy David Freese over the confused defense of right fielder Nelson Cruz.

That, of course, was only the start. Josh Hamilton homered in the tenth to put Texas ahead, and the Cardinals went down to their final strike again. And again came back to tie. And then David Freese came up in the 11th inning again. And I don't think St. Louis has come down off that high yet.

I'm sure every Indians fan over the age of 16 thought immediately of Jose Mesa. And if the Cardinals could have brought Freese home from third base in the ninth, that would have been apropos. Sure, it's not Game 7, but still, the Rangers had one strike to go. But fortunately for Perez, he won't be the only goat in this loss. The Rangers managed to blow saves in the sixth, ninth and tenth innings, and then, of course, gave up the game winning home run in the 11th. Unbelievable.

Of course, like the 86 Red Sox, the Rangers have a chance to redeem themselves tonight in Game 7. Whether they can come back from this game is left to be seen.

Jose Mesa stands alone here.  A franchise without a title in 49 years. A city without a title in 34 years. Game 7. A lead in the ninth. And all gone. That's called pain, folks.  Dallas hasn't won a title in what, four months? (Memo to self, I still owe Mark Cuban a beer.)

By the way, Texas has played 46 games without consecutive losses. So don't weep for them yet. If you even could.