BEREA, Ohio — Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown, who’s seen a lot in his 10 years in the NFL, held court on a getaway day Monday and said he’s not waiting for a college star such as Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III to come in and be the savior of this 4-12 team.

“I’m definitely not, and if you are, you’re crazy,” he said.

Brown stressed that one or two rookies — the Browns will have the fourth overall pick in the April draft and the Falcons’ first-round pick in the 20s, aren’t going to change the fortunes of this rebuilding team, at least not overnight.

“My thing is, if you’re dependent on a draft pick to come in here and change your life, then you’re kidding yourself,” he said. “This game is too hard. There’s too big of a jump to come from college and think that he’s going to come in … who does it? Maybe Randy Moss did it. So you already know the pattern. It’s not that.”

So what will it take for the Browns to compete in the AFC North, where their three foes are skipping off to the playoffs?

“The guys here have to step their game up to another level because they’re experienced,” said Brown. “When you lose close games, you can go back and maybe point to one or two drops, or one or two miscues. When things like that happen, I bet you go back and you say ‘ah, [it was] a young player [who] hadn’t been in that situation. Hadn’t experienced it.’ Well now he’s experienced it and he won’t do it again.

“Most rookies, anyway, they get hurt because they get tired and they don’t understand the speed and the strength of this game at the professional level. So I’m never sold on high draft picks.”

Brown said he’s not spewing lip service when he says the Browns are close to being a good team. They lost six games by seven points or less, and went down to the wire most games with their division rivals, although they finished 0-6 in the division for only the second time since 1999.

“We’re very close,” said Brown, who went to the playoffs with the Eagles six times, including one Super Bowl. “It’s one or two plays each game. You just have to find the playmakers and they just have to understand the sense of urgency and make the play.”

But don’t Browns fans hear the same thing every year?

“I didn’t tell you this last year,” he said. “I thought we were way off last year, from a lot of other things we were having to deal with. You can say whatever you want to say, but I do believe that and I came from an organization where we’d start 0-4 — sometimes 0-3 — and we were one or two plays out, and we found a way to start making those plays. Then we’d run off eight in a row, and then the people that were laughing, they don’t seem to laugh any more.”

Brown is convinced coach Pat Shurmur — who took a critical beating by some fans and media this season — is the right man for the job.

“I think he did a tremendous job, dealing with being a head coach for the first time,” said Brown. “Everybody thinks it’s an easy job, everybody wants to sit in a room and say, ‘I can do this better, I can do that better.’ He dealt with the situations the best he could, and he kept this football team fighting. For me, that’s how I judge a head coach.

“If a football team goes out there and competes week in and week out, through thick and through thin — and it was very thick this year — but we didn’t quit. So that tells me that the leader is in place and the guys believe in him and they will fight. If you put a football team out there that’s giving up 40 points, scoring nothing and they’re quitting, that tells me that the leader in place is not the guy.”

Can he make the jump in year two?

“He can definitely make a jump,” said Brown. “But the most important thing is that the players have to make the jump. And the players have to make the plays.

“I think this coaching staff is in place for a while. The worst thing that I’ve known of the history of the Browns is, one or two years and they want to blow it up. People want to think that it changes in one or two years. There’s a process that you have to go through in this league and you have to be patient to do it.

“The coaching staff did the best [they could] with their knowledge of the players, not having an off-season to really get to know the guys. They put them in the best positions that they knew how to make plays on the field, and I think it’s heading in the right direction.”

As for the defense, which finished 10th overall, Brown is certain it’s on solid footing.

“Anytime you have a [middle] linebacker like D’Qwell Jackson, your foundation is in place,” said Brown. “Anytime you have a starting defensive tackle — and I’ve played with some good ones — like Ahtyba Rubin, motor doesn’t stop, intense guy, angry player, studies, and he brings the young guys like Jabaal Sheard and Phil Taylor along with him, it’s in place. You’ve got Joe Haden, T.J. Ward, young players in the secondary, the foundation is in place.

“We had to go through the growing pains of being young, but the foundation is in place and I think it’s going in the right direction.”

While losing teams such as the Rams and Bucs fired their coaches Monday, other Browns agreed that this is a 4-12 team on the rise.

“My rookie year I played for Green Bay and we were 6-10 and there wasn’t a whole lot of turnover on that roster,” said tight end Evan Moore. “They had a lot of young guys that they let grow up in that system and look at them now. Granted, that team has a lot of talent and I believe we do, too. We have a lot of young guys I think are only going to get better.

“I think it goes without saying that a foundation needs time. Guys need time to mature and I think we have the makings here of something that could be pretty impressive if guys are given time to mature.”

Said kicker Phil Dawson: “We were in a lot of games. It’s death by inches, though. How are you going to look at that? Are we that close, or is that just the nature of the league? It depends on your personality, how you’re going to view that.

“In my little world, if my plant foot misses the spot by a quarter-inch, I miss the kick. That will probably tell you how I look at it. Everybody looks at themselves critically and figures out how they can improve. If we do that, now these close games are coming out in our favor. Hopefully that’s the way guys respond to it.”

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Notes, observations and some facts on the fourth quarter …

• On super-important first possession, Browns complete 3-and-out with a third-down swing pass to Peyton Hillis. Groans. Minus-3 yards. Punt.

• Ben Roethlisberger’s shovel pass to Hines Ward results in 3-yard loss on alert hit by D’Qwell Jackson. Nonetheless, Steelers celebrate Ward’s 1,000th career catch.

• Isaac Redman loses the ball on a hit by Chris Gocong. Eric Hagg recovers and refs tack on 15 yards on a facemask penalty. Browns have it at Steelers’ 43.

• Mohamed Massaquoi gets a first down with a catch at the 32. Peyton Hillis out with a knee injury.

• Wallace’s pass over middle a little behind Massaquoi, but catchable. Dropped at the Steelers’ 19.

• After a Wallace throw two yards out of bounds, Browns punt from the Steelers’ 34 with 10:11 to go.

• Buster Skrine’s pass interference against Jerricho Cotchery bails out Steelers. First down at 26.

• Redman coughs up another after a 22-yard gain, and it’s recovered by the Browns at their 39.

• After one first down, Wallace’s passes on second and third down are off mark and almost intercepted. One fourth-and-10 with 4:59 to go, Browns elect to punt.

• Ben Roethlisberger makes a big throw to Heath Miller for 11 yards and a first down at the Steelers’ 29. Browns use their last timeout with 2:44 to go.

• Steelers can’t close the game out on offense, as Roethlisberger’s third-down pass is knocked away by Joe Haden. Browns, with no timeouts, get one last chance after Cribbs fumbles the punt out of bounds at their 24.

• Evan Moore catches one for eight yards at the 32, clock runs. Cribbs drops a short dump pass, but that at least stops the clock. Is there any play that’s more than 15 yards downfield?

• On third down, Cribbs catches another dumpoff for a first down. But can’t succeed doing this.

• Sideline pass to Massaquoi … just four yards downfield … is dropped.

• Snow coming down heavily on second down. Moore catches it over the middle and runs out of bounds to the Browns 45.

• Just 41 seconds left … have to go downfield. Carlton Mitchell grabs his first reception for 18 yards, and Wallace spikes the ball with 22 seconds left at the Steelers 37. Pittsburgh calls their second timeout.

• Snowglobe conditions. Moore catches a pattern near the sidelines, but can’t get out of bounds. Ball is clocked with five seconds remaining at the Steelers 25.

• Last play is … delayed by the Steelers’ last timeout. Will Browns have some final trick play to end the season?

• Hail Mary sees Greg Little get his hands on the ball in the end zone, but the ball is knocked harmlessly to the ground. End of game. End of season.

The Cleveland Browns suffered another disappointing heartbreak against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Eve (12/24/11). The end of the first half certainly has fans scratching their heads. Why the Browns did not attempt a field goal is beyond comprehension. Browns’s coach Pat Shurmur looked like he was going to explode when the team did not go for a field goal.

Shurmur is saying that he is responsible for the communication breakdowns that happened throughout the game. However, speaking of the particular play at the end of the first half, Shurmur said, “I never would have called a run in that situation with that much time.”

Seneca Wallace took the field as quarterback for the game because Colt McCoy is still out with his concussion. Wallace really looked a lot better last week. He had a few good passes in today’s game, like the excellent touchdown pass to Evan Moore, but he seemed far less confident in this game than he did in the Arizona game.

Wallace has been in the NFL for nine seasons, but he really seemed to be carrying a rookie confidence around with him today. This is the thing that the Browns do not need, especially when playing a team with the talent of the Ravens.

Going into the second half with no points on the board looked really terrible. Then, finally Josh Cribbs saved the day by running an 84-yard touchdown off of a punt. It was a truly remarkable play. This play was not a game-saver, but it definitely re-energized the Browns and gave the fans a little hope and confidence.

Should we even discuss the fourth quarter? Specifically that play where Wallace passed to Hillis when they should have just kicked the ball. This was another head-scratching play that is becoming all too characteristic of the Browns.

Then, with two minutes to go in the game, Phil Taylor just had to go offsides. The Browns had one more chance to actually do something, but him going offsides completely eliminated their chances of a last ditch effort. Had he not gone offsides, the Browns would have had two minutes (I know not much, but at least it would have been something) to at least attempt to score a touchdown.

The Browns will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers for their last game. If they expect to add another win to their record, they are going to have to stop with the careless mistakes and put forth more focus.

R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen is a lifelong Browns fan who grew up in a household of Browns’ fans. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. Regardless of the trials and tribulations the Browns have been through, she remains loyal, albeit honest about her home team. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

D’Qwell Jackson must feel as though he’s stuck in a never-ending
film loop, one in which the Cleveland Browns make the same mistakes
over and over until the final whistle signals the end of yet
another defeat.

Such was the case Saturday, when the Browns bungled their way to
a 20-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

“We’ve been in some close ones, and today told the story of the
season,” Jackson said. “We fought for three quarters, the offense
was able to move the ball, we put the ball in the end zone, and we
still had a chance at the end.”

That’s when Cleveland (4-11) made its most glaring error.

Down 20-14 with no timeouts left, the Browns lined up on defense
after the two-minute warning with the Ravens facing a fourth-and-2
at the Cleveland 37.

It appeared obvious that Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco was
merely hoping to draw the Browns offside. And right on cue,
Cleveland rookie tackle Phil Taylor jumped across the line of
scrimmage to give Baltimore a first down.

The Ravens (11-4) then ran out the clock on their eighth
straight win over the Browns, including two this month.

“We jumped offside and we didn’t give ourselves a chance,”
Jackson said. “It’s hard to do.”

As soon as the flag dropped to the ground, Jackson grabbed the
rookie to offer him some advice.

“He said, `Hold your head up.’ It’s tough,” Taylor said softly
in a sullen locker room. “It was the first hard count and we stayed
onside. The second time, I just jumped. Of course you feel bad, but
you just got to move on.”

Taylor wasn’t the only one with a mistake to lament. Jackson got
torched on a touchdown pass from Flacco to Ray Rice. The Browns had
to use their first-half timeouts early because of personnel issues.
And quarterback Seneca Wallace, after driving Cleveland to the
Baltimore 3-yard line, curiously called a running play instead of
spiking the ball as time expired in the second quarter.

“It seems that it’s the 15th time I’ve said this, (but) the guys
played extremely hard,” Cleveland coach Pat Shurmur said. “I told
the guys for us to win these close games here in the AFC North,
we’ve got to play a little smarter in some of the critical
situations and that will help make the difference. That’s where
we’re at.”

Flacco threw two touchdown passes and Rice ran for 87 yards to
help the Ravens finish 8-0 at home.

Josh Cribbs had a career-high 84-yard punt return for a TD for
Cleveland. Wallace went 19 for 33 for 147 yards in place of Colt
McCoy, who was out with a concussion. Peyton Hillis ran for 112
yards, but Cleveland’s offense mounted only one decent drive.

The Browns took the opening kickoff and moved from their own 26
to the Baltimore 30 behind the power of Hillis, who gained 30 yards
on six carries. But on a third-and-1, Cleveland inexplicably went
to the air, and Lardarius Webb intercepted Wallace’s pass for
Mohamed Massaquoi.

Flacco immediately threw deep for Torrey Smith, who drew a
60-yard penalty for pass interference on Mike Adams to set up a
5-yard touchdown pass to Ed Dickson.

Later, a 29-yard throw from Flacco to Smith led to a 48-yard
field goal by Shayne Graham.

After another Cleveland punt, Flacco directed an 82-yard drive
that gave Baltimore a 17-0 lead. Rice slipped behind Jackson on the
right sideline, caught a soft pass in stride and sprinted into the
end zone to complete a 42-yard scoring play.

That made Flacco 5 for 5 for 94 yards and two touchdowns on
third down.

Cleveland moved deep into Baltimore territory late in the first
half, thanks in part to a 30-yard pass interference call against
Chris Carr. But with the clock inside 10 seconds and the Browns
without a timeout, Wallace handed off to Hillis instead of spiking
the ball, and Hillis went nowhere.

Wallace took the blame, and so did Shurmur.

“I need to communicate it better, OK?” Shurmur said.

Time expired before Cleveland could get off another play, and
the Browns headed to the locker room after being held scoreless in
the first half for the second time this season. The other time it
happened was also against Baltimore.

Graham kicked a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter to make
it 20-0.

The Browns finally scored when Cribbs took a punt on the right
sideline, escaped an arm tackle and broke toward the center of the
field before outrunning three defenders into the left corner of the
end zone late in the third quarter.

“I was wondering where all the defenders were,” Cribbs said. “I
saw all the great blocking around me. From there, it was easy. It
was just a walk in.”

Cribbs also contributed to Cleveland’s next touchdown, catching
a 23-yard pass from Wallace as part of an 80-yard drive that ended
with a 9-yard TD throw to Evan Moore midway through the fourth
quarter.

The Browns forced a punt, but on a fourth-and-4 from the
Cleveland 45 with 4:03 left, a pass to Hillis did not produce the
necessary yardage.

Taylor’s jump across the line of scrimmage soon followed.

NOTES: Ravens KR David Reed hurt his left knee and declared
himself out for the season. Also, Baltimore OT Marshal Yanda
(chest) and CB Cary Williams (concussion) did not play in the
second half. … Shurmur said the Browns sustained no serious
injuries. Cleveland closes the season next Sunday against
Pittsburgh.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Dec. 24, 2011

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens achieved perfection at home for the first time, and now they’re looking to add to that ledger in the playoffs.

Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes, and the Ravens beat the bumbling Cleveland Browns 20-14 on Saturday to move one step closer to winning the AFC North.

Ray Rice ran for 87 yards and caught a TD pass for the Ravens (11-4), who led 17-0 at halftime and held on.

“I have never been perfect at home in 16 years of football. That’s amazing,” Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis said. “As good of teams we’ve had here, we’ve always found [a way] to lose one or two here or there. I think this year we really made a focus on taking care at home. This is the result, us being able to go 8-0 and being able to be sitting where you want to sit at the end of the day.”

The Ravens would win the AFC North by defeating Cincinnati on the road next week. That would also give Baltimore a first-round bye and a home playoff game – two if New England loses next Sunday at home against Buffalo.

“It’s big, man,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “We are at our best when we are at (home) and our fans are rocking. So we definitely need a home playoff game, by any means necessary.”

Flacco went 11 for 24 with touchdown passes to Rice and tight end Ed Dickson. He also had a 33-yard run.

Josh Cribbs had a career-high 84-yard punt return for a TD for Cleveland (4-11). But the Browns generated very little offense and were guilty of questionable play calling, bad clock management and untimely penalties in their fifth straight loss.

Cleveland saved the worst for last. Having already burned their three timeouts, the Browns lined up on defense after the two-minute warning with the Ravens facing a fourth-and-2 at the Cleveland 37.

It appeared obvious that Flacco and the Ravens were merely hoping to draw the Browns offside.

As the play clock moved close to zero, Cleveland tackle Phil Taylor jumped across the line of scrimmage to give Baltimore a first down.

“It was the first hard count and we stayed onside,” Taylor said. “The second time, I just jumped. Of course you feel bad, but you just got to move on.”

Said Flacco: “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in position for that to happen. It’s never worked.”

The Ravens then ran out the clock on their eighth straight win over the Browns, including two this month.

“We knew this would be quite a challenge for us,” Cleveland quarterback Seneca Wallace said. “We’re playing the Ravens at home, and they’re playing for everything. I should have played better, and I should have made better decisions.”

Wallace went 19 for 33 for 147 yards in place of Colt McCoy, who was out with a concussion. Peyton Hillis ran for 112 yards, but Cleveland’s offense mounted only one decent drive.

The Browns took the opening kickoff and moved from their own 26 to the Baltimore 30 behind the power of Hillis, who gained 30 yards on six carries. But on a third-and-1, Cleveland inexplicably went to the air, and Lardarius Webb intercepted Wallace’s pass for Mohamed Massaquoi.

Flacco immediately threw deep for Torrey Smith, who drew a 60-yard penalty for pass interference on Mike Adams to set up a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dickson.

Later, a 29-yard throw from Flacco to Smith led to a 48-yard field goal by newcomer Shayne Graham, signed in the middle of the week to take over for the injured Billy Cundiff.

After another Cleveland punt, Flacco directed an 82-yard drive that gave Baltimore a 17-0 lead. Rice slipped behind linebacker D’Qwell Jackson on the right sideline, caught a soft pass in stride and sprinted into the end zone to complete a 42-yard scoring play.

That made Flacco 5 for 5 for 94 yards and two touchdowns on third down.

Cleveland moved deep into Baltimore territory late in the first half, thanks in part to a 30-yard pass interference call against Chris Carr. But with the clock inside 10 seconds and the Browns without a timeout left, Wallace handed off to Hillis instead of spiking the ball, and Hillis went nowhere.

Wallace took the blame, and so did Browns coach Pat Shurmur.

“I need to communicate it better, OK?” Shurmur said.

Time expired before Cleveland could get off another play, and the Browns headed to the locker room after being held scoreless in the first half for the second time this season. The other time it happened was also against Baltimore.

Graham kicked a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter to make it 20-0.

The Browns finally scored when Cribbs took a punt on the right sideline, escaped an arm tackle and broke toward the center of the field before outrunning three defenders into the left corner of the end zone late in the third quarter.

“I was wondering where all the defenders were,” Cribbs said. “I saw all the great blocking around me. From there, it was easy. It was just a walk in.”

Cribbs also contributed to Cleveland’s next touchdown, catching a 23-yard pass from Wallace as part of an 80-yard drive that ended with a 9-yard TD throw to Evan Moore midway through the fourth quarter.

The Browns forced a punt, but on a fourth-and-4 from the Cleveland 45 with 4:03 left, a pass to Hillis did not produce the necessary yardage.

Taylor’s jump across the line of scrimmage soon followed.

Notes

• Ravens KR David Reed hurt his left knee and declared himself out for the season. Also, Baltimore OT Marshal Yanda (chest) and CB Cary Williams (concussion) did not play in the second half.
• Shurmur said the Browns sustained no serious injuries. Cleveland closes the season next Sunday against Pittsburgh.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Eight games, eight wins. The
Baltimore Ravens
achieved perfection at home for the first time, and now they’re looking to add to that ledger in the playoffs.

Joe Flacco
threw two touchdown passes, and the Ravens beat the bumbling
Cleveland Browns
20-14 on Saturday to move one step closer to winning the AFC North.

Ray Rice
ran for 87 yards and caught a TD pass for the Ravens (11-4), who led 17-0 at halftime and held on.

“I have never been perfect at home in 16 years of football. That’s amazing,” Baltimore linebacker
Ray Lewis
said. “As good of teams we’ve had here, we’ve always found (a way) to lose one or two here or there. I think this year we
really made a focus on taking care at home. This is the result, us being able to go 8-0 and being able to be sitting where
you want to sit at the end of the day.”

The Ravens would win the AFC North by defeating Cincinnati on the road next week. That would also give Baltimore a first-round
bye and a home playoff game – two if New England loses next Sunday at home against Buffalo.

“It’s big, man,” linebacker
Terrell Suggs
said. “We are at our best when we are at (home) and our fans are rocking. So we definitely need a home playoff game, by any
means necessary.”

Flacco went 11 for 24 with touchdown passes to Rice and tight end
Ed Dickson
. He also had a 33-yard run.

Josh Cribbs had a career-high 84-yard punt return for a TD for Cleveland (4-11). But the Browns generated very little offense
and were guilty of questionable play calling, bad clock management and untimely penalties in their fifth straight loss.

Cleveland saved the worst for last. Having already burned their three timeouts, the Browns lined up on defense after the two-minute
warning with the Ravens facing a fourth-and-2 at the Cleveland 37.

It appeared obvious that Flacco and the Ravens were merely hoping to draw the Browns offside.

As the play clock moved close to zero, Cleveland tackle
Phil Taylor
jumped across the line of scrimmage to give Baltimore a first down.

“It was the first hard count and we stayed onside,” Taylor said. “The second time, I just jumped. Of course you feel bad,
but you just got to move on.”

Said Flacco: “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in position for that to happen. It’s never worked.”

The Ravens then ran out the clock on their eighth straight win over the Browns, including two this month.

“We knew this would be quite a challenge for us,” Cleveland quarterback
Seneca Wallace
said. “We’re playing the Ravens at home, and they’re playing for everything. I should have played better, and I should have
made better decisions.”

Wallace went 19 for 33 for 147 yards in place of
Colt McCoy
, who was out with a concussion.
Peyton Hillis
ran for 112 yards, but Cleveland’s offense mounted only one decent drive.

The Browns took the opening kickoff and moved from their own 26 to the Baltimore 30 behind the power of Hillis, who gained
30 yards on six carries. But on a third-and-1, Cleveland inexplicably went to the air, and
Lardarius Webb
intercepted Wallace’s pass for
Mohamed Massaquoi
.

Flacco immediately threw deep for
Torrey Smith
, who drew a 60-yard penalty for pass interference on
Mike Adams
to set up a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dickson.

Later, a 29-yard throw from Flacco to Smith led to a 48-yard field goal by newcomer
Shayne Graham
, signed in the middle of the week to take over for the injured
Billy Cundiff
.

After another Cleveland punt, Flacco directed an 82-yard drive that gave Baltimore a 17-0 lead. Rice slipped behind linebacker
D’Qwell Jackson on the right sideline, caught a soft pass in stride and sprinted into the end zone to complete a 42-yard scoring
play.

That made Flacco 5 for 5 for 94 yards and two touchdowns on third down.

Cleveland moved deep into Baltimore territory late in the first half, thanks in part to a 30-yard pass interference call against

Chris Carr
. But with the clock inside 10 seconds and the Browns without a timeout left, Wallace handed off to Hillis instead of spiking
the ball, and Hillis went nowhere.

Wallace took the blame, and so did Browns coach Pat Shurmur.

“I need to communicate it better, OK?” Shurmur said.

Time expired before Cleveland could get off another play, and the Browns headed to the locker room after being held scoreless
in the first half for the second time this season. The other time it happened was also against Baltimore.

Graham kicked a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter to make it 20-0.

The Browns finally scored when Cribbs took a punt on the right sideline, escaped an arm tackle and broke toward the center
of the field before outrunning three defenders into the left corner of the end zone late in the third quarter.

“I was wondering where all the defenders were,” Cribbs said. “I saw all the great blocking around me. From there, it was easy.
It was just a walk in.”

Cribbs also contributed to Cleveland’s next touchdown, catching a 23-yard pass from Wallace as part of an 80-yard drive that
ended with a 9-yard TD throw to
Evan Moore
midway through the fourth quarter.

The Browns forced a punt, but on a fourth-and-4 from the Cleveland 45 with 4:03 left, a pass to Hillis did not produce the
necessary yardage.

Taylor’s jump across the line of scrimmage soon followed.

NOTES: Ravens KR
David Reed
hurt his left knee and declared himself out for the season. Also, Baltimore OT
Marshal Yanda
(chest) and CB
Cary Williams
(concussion) did not play in the second half. … Shurmur said the Browns sustained no serious injuries. Cleveland closes
the season next Sunday against Pittsburgh.

© 2011 STATS LLC

BALTIMORE, Md. — If you’re a Browns fan, you probably are wondering why you spent your afternoon before Christmas watching this game.

Not because your favorite team quit in the 20-14 loss at Baltimore.

But it was how they lost.

It was that disaster at the end of the first half.

Quarterback Seneca Wallace lost track of the time. Rather than spike the ball at the Baltimore 3-yard line and at least kick a field goal, Wallace called a run to Peyton Hillis, who was tackled for no gain (and no points) as the clock ran out.

A frustrated Pat Shurmur looked as if he was ready to eat his plastic play-calling sheet.

“I never would have called a run in that situation with that much time,” said Shurmur, who then blamed himself for the “communication breakdowns.”

Wallace deserves credit for using his legs and strong arm for a beautiful 6-yard touchdown pass to Evan Moore, whose catch matched the athleticism of Wallace’s off-the-gallop throw.

But he also deserves the blame for not stopping the clock, regardless of what he thought the coach said — or what play he thought was called.

That mess cost the Browns three points.

Wallace did talk about “everyone not being on the same page … and it’s not the head coach’s fault.”

But he sounded and looked like a rookie, rather than a guy who has been in the league for nine years and played in 61 games.

But there was so much more to frustrate Browns fans.

Their team was behind, 17-0, at the half. They were poised to be humiliated by a team that has the NFL’s second-best home record (72-23) since 2000. But the Browns really did make this interesting.

Joshua Cribbs returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown.

Sheldon Brown intercepted a Joe Flacco pass in the end zone to save a touchdown.

Wallace combined with Moore for that touchdown.

Hillis was outstanding, bulling his way for 112 yards of grit against a defense designed to stop him.

Could the Browns actually beat Baltimore for the first time since 2007? Could they give their beaten-down fans something good to talk about after a game? Or would it all be just another cruel tease?

Browns fans know the answer.

That was especially true as they had chewed up all their timeouts with 4:05 remaining. Wallace had some trouble with play calls and formations.

This stuff shouldn’t be happening in game 15, no matter who is the quarterback.

There also were a couple of bizarre play-calls, where you can fault the head coach.

Wallace threw an interception on a third-and-1 in the first quarter — it was a strange screen pass to Mohamed Massaquoi, who was 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

You need 1 yard. You have Hillis running over people and the blockers in high gear. Give him the ball.

In the fourth quarter …

I don’t even want to talk about the last part of the fourth quarter.

There was a silly pass to Hillis on a fourth-down play designed to go nowhere. Rookie Phil Taylor jumped offsides, denying the Browns one last chance to get the ball — it came after a timeout where the coaches warned the defense that Baltimore would try to entice someone in an orange helmet into a penalty.

In the end, the Browns dropped to 4-11, having lost 10 of their past 12 games.

Merry Christmas?

The new year and a new season can’t come fast enough for Browns fans, because this one has gotten to be very, very old.

BEREA, Ohio — “You play to win the game,” an old coach named Herman Edwards once said.

He meant when the ESPN oompah band isn’t around and when the playoffs are unlikely. Edwards’ observation is the heart of the NFL’s “on any given Sunday” (or Thursday) mantra.

That might be a difficult sell to anyone who saw Thursday night’s Browns loss at Pittsburgh, however.

The Browns seemed to have knocked Ben Roethlisberger out of the game late in the first half in Pittsburgh. But he came back, like the trouble that has persistently found him off the field.

If the Browns are ever good again, if this game were in the playoffs or for a playoff berth, it would be remembered for Roethlisberger’s emergence as the next Willie Mays, John Elway, or Michael Jordan. They were great players who broke the hearts of valiant Cleveland teams. The NFL Network’s Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock were practically playing a fife and drum in tribute to Big Ben.

The Browns’ Colt McCoy was courageous, too. The Browns trailed, 7-3, in the fourth quarter when McCoy was blasted backward and left limp on the grass by another of James Harrison’s killer shots to the head on Browns players. In the past two years, he has put Mohamed Massaquoi, Josh Cribbs and McCoy out of games, although the latter only briefly.

But McCoy had also run out of the pocket on the play. He was a ballcarrier then, a threat to run before flipping a short pass to Montario Hardesty. Harrison’s helmet-to-helmet shot was obviously a penalty, but there is also the question of what he was supposed to do? Back off? Brake his momentum on a potential stop against a player who had scrambled to the lip of the goal-line earlier in the game?

After the game, coach Pat Shurmur said McCoy began exhibiting symptoms of a concussion. McCoy’s father and his former high school coach, Brad McCoy, criticized the Browns’ medical staff and coaches Friday for putting his son back in the game. Shurmur said if Colt McCoy hadn’t been cleared to play, he never would have been sent back in. Frankly, this will do McCoy no favors in the Browns’ organization.

Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace entered the game upon McCoy’s departure. His second play was a pretty 13-yard pass to Evan Moore that carried to the Steelers’ 5. It might have been the best pass of the day by a Browns quarterback. Even McCoy’s first-drive completions, on the intermediate routes he usually spurns, necessitated twisting, turning, leaping catches by his receivers.

Now, one pass does not a season or even a comeback make. But Wallace to Moore looked like Steve Young to Jerry Rice, compared with what occurred when McCoy returned to the game on first-and-goal at the 5.

Maybe McCoy wanted back in because of his competitiveness. Pittsburgh had put Big Ben with his bad ankle back in, after all. Maybe McCoy also knows his future with the Browns is on the line in the last weeks of the season. Maybe the Browns also wanted to check under heat the Petri dish McCoy has become to see if anything but mediocrity buds were growing there.

Shurmur said, after the quarterback passed a quick series of sideline tests designed to detect a concussion, McCoy told him, “I’m ready to roll.”

Two other Browns suffered concussions in the Pittsburgh game — Owen Marecic and Ben Watson. Neither returned. That can be read as proof of the Browns’ caution, or of McCoy’s ability to convince those who wanted to believe him.

Wallace is a better scrambler than McCoy, he had been spared the beating McCoy had taken and he was fresher. These points became issues because McCoy looked anything but ready to roll.

On first down, Harrison, in hot pursuit again, swatted at McCoy’s heels, tripping him up and leading to an obvious intentional-grounding call after McCoy’s underhanded pass was aimed at no one in particular.

From the 16 on third down after the penalty, McCoy stood in the pocket, with the play well-blocked, and threw late and short to Mohamed Massaquoi in the corner of the end zone. Shurmur said Massaquoi had to play better defense and try to knock down the ball on the throw. In any event, Pittsburgh’s William Gay plucked it like a peeled grape. Gone was the last chance for Cleveland.

Said Shurmur, when asked if McCoy was the best chance to win, “There is no doubt in my mind. That doesn’t mean I don’t have confidence in Seneca.”

Experts in medical ethics can debate McCoy’s fitness to play after he was leveled. Shurmur can try to have it both ways with his quarterbacks.

Strategically, in their equivalent to the Ohio State-Michigan game, when a victory would have made a miserable season less so, when their starter had just been savagely belted out of the game, Seneca Wallace gave the Browns the best chance to win.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Notes, observations and some facts on the fourth quarter …

• Ricky Williams loses ball on a Chris Gocong strip. After unpiling several players, officials award Scott Paxson the ball at the Browns’ 32.

• Check that. Ravens challenge, and call is reversed.

• Joe Flacco’s pass down the right sideline is caught out of bounds by Lee Evans. Looked like he touched the pylon before going out of bounds, but Ravens don’t challenge that one. They punt.

• Browns go three-and-out and cap it off with a 35-yard punt.

• After Ravens punt, Browns’ offense has to punt after getting one first down on an interference penalty. Brad Maynard’s low kick is returned 68 yards for a touchdown by Lardarius Webb.

• Going to the no-huddle, McCoy finds Ogbonnaya and Watson over the middle of an indifferent defense to get in scoring position, then nearly gives up a pick-six to Danny Gorrer in a late pass to the sidelines.

• Fourth and 10 from the 22 (after another Little drop), McCoy has time against a four-man rush and hits Evan Moore for the touchdown. High snap on the point after — welcome to Cleveland Christian Yount — but Maynard gets it down and Phil Dawson converts.

• Onside kick fails and Alex Smith gets testy with a couple of Ravens.

• Rice gets four yards on first down and has 200 for the game. Stays for one more carry for four more yards and then heads for sidelines. He averaged 7.0 on 29 carries.

• Not enough time for Ricky Williams to reach 100 yards, but he’s past 70 at five yards a pop. Nice backup for Rice.

• Two-minute warning brings kneel downs and the final score.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — As Pat Shurmur gears up Sunday against his former Rams team — who have slumped to 1-7 — Browns linebackers coach Bill Davis assures impatient fans that the Browns’ first-year coach is the right man for the job.

Davis should know. He has a track record of breaking in first-time head coaches — seven in all — and knows what makes a good one. His newbie list dates all the way back to Bill Cowher in 1992 and includes former Browns coach Chris Palmer in 1999. Two of Davis’ first-timers went on to coach in Super Bowls — Pittsburgh’s Cowher and Arizona’s Ken Whisenhunt.

“What I love the most about Pat is that he’s himself through and through and that first year is the hardest for those guys to be themselves because there’s all kinds of pressure,” said Davis, who’s known Shurmur since their days together at Michigan State in 1990-91. “Pat is the same Pat I knew way back. He’s very logical, steady, a very intelligent football mind.

“He hasn’t wavered. He hasn’t changed in a loss as opposed to a win. And those are all of the leadership qualities I’ve seen in the guys that have succeeded in this business. The ones that don’t are the ones that are either trying to be someone they’re not or they’re way up or way down. So we’ll weather the storm.”

But first, Shurmur must overcome a rash of injuries and other obstacles faced so far in this 3-5 season. Sunday, the Browns will be without starting running backs Peyton Hillis (hamstring) and Montario Hardesty (calf), starting receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (concussion) and starting safety T.J Ward (foot).

The good news is the Browns expect all to eventually return. The bad news is they’re not sure when.

But injuries are only a fraction of the challenges Shurmur has faced:

• He was thrust into his first season as a head coach with no off-season because of the lockout, while implementing new offensive and defensive systems.

• His star running back Hillis has been embroiled in controversy all season long, from rocky contract talks to strep throat-gate to his mid-week marriage to his teammates having a meeting to help get his head on straight.

• Linebacker Marcus Benard made it safely through the bye week only to crash his motorcycle the first day back and be lost for the season.

• Several players have gone public with frustration over not getting the ball enough or their role on the team.

“Pat’s done a great job handling everything,” said linebacker Scott Fujita. “Obviously he’s been dealt an interesting hand, starting with the lockout. He never made any excuses for that. And he’s had some drama throughout the course of the season that most coaches — much less first-time head coaches — wouldn’t have to deal with. Things like that, he’s handled it extremely professionally.

“He keeps guys focused, he keeps guys with their eye on the prize — and that’s just trying to get better and win games and that’s all you can do in this situation.”

At times, Shurmur — a perfectionist — shows his frustration, particularly the Monday after a loss. He’s certainly come under heavy fire from some fans and media. But he’s never wavered.

“I’m really enjoying it, believe it or not,” he said. “I probably don’t show it. I’m enjoying the interaction with the coaches, I’m enjoying working with the players, I enjoy the process. I’m a very impatient guy. I don’t enjoy the results yet. I think the people around me need to just tell me to keep going and relax, but I don’t tend to listen to that very well.”

Tight end Ben Watson, who played six seasons in New England, said most NFL head coaches have to contend with off-field controversy, but that the lockout was unique.

“The biggest difference for coach Shurmur this season is that we didn’t have an off-season,” said Watson, who’s second on the team with 25 receptions. “I would imagine that was a weird way to start your career — being locked out. When you’re a rookie head coach, you need all off-season to get to know your players, and we’re still all learning each other.”

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, whose team was expected to contend, also wasn’t able to get his new offensive scheme installed properly under new coordinator Josh McDaniels. The Rams are 31st with 12.5 points per game and the Browns are 29th with 14.9.

“Both teams are kind of fighting through the same thing going through this season,” said Spagnuolo. “Hopefully as this season goes on, we’ll get better and better.”

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford attributes his development as a rookie last season to Shurmur, then the offensive coordinator. Bradford set NFL rookie records for completions (354) and attempts (590), while his 3,512 passing yards were second-most by a rookie in league history.

“Pat taught me a lot, not only on the field, but off the field, how to be a leader, how to handle certain situations,” said Bradford. “[He stressed] the way I handled myself, the way the guys saw me, my body language in the huddle and on the sideline. I used to be a guy that got up and down, kind of rode the emotions of the game. I think Pat taught me to be a little more even keel and let the guys always see me in a positive light.”

Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron, former head coach of the Bills and Bears, has been impressed with Shurmur.

“Coach does a great job of relating to the team, of getting the team ready to play,” said Jauron. “He makes quick decisions. He makes the right decisions. I’m very impressed by him, his preparation, how he addresses the team and how he leads them.”

The last thing he needs in this turbulent season is to lose to a 1-7 team.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

HOUSTON — Notes, observations and some facts on the second quarter …

• So far, ironman Chris Ogbannaya has played every offensive snap for Browns.

• Emmanuel Stephens makes a tackle for Browns. He’s the backup left end.

• Matt Schaub hangs in vs. D’Qwell Jackson blitz and connects with Owen Daniels for 12 yards. Big-time QB play.

• Behind a monster block by Lawrence Vickers on Scott Fujita, Arian Foster runs 19 yards for a touchdown. Seven plays, 71 yards.

• Thomas Clayton relieves Ogbannaya and runs for 4. Colt McCoy is later hit as he throws on blitz by Quintin Demps. Painful to watch.

• Jacoby Jones breaks a punt return to the left for 50 yards.

• Finally, a Browns defensive turnover. Mike Adams’ big hit deflects Matt Schaub pass for Owen Daniels and D’Qwell Jackson intercepts. Browns take over at their 42.

• Facing fourth-and-2 at the 50, Browns call time after letting clock run down to 1:06. Then a first down on Evan Moore 6-yard catch.

• McCoy is intercepted by Demps. Looks like a Pick 6, but McCoy makes a TD-saving tackle at the Browns’ 23. Unnecessary roughness call on Shawn Lauvao moves ball to Browns 10 with :02 left. Texans kick field goal for 24-3 lead.

SAN FRANCISCO — Maybe the Browns just needed another trip out west to locate their missing West Coast offense — one that’s ranked 27th with only 16.2 points per game.

“It’s the pink elephant in the middle of the room,” said receiver Greg Little.

“We’re all scratching our heads,” said quarterback Colt McCoy.

“It’s frustrating,” said tight end Evan Moore. “It’s not that hard.”

But it has been for the Browns, and it won’t be a trolley ride Sunday against the 5-1 49ers, especially without starting receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (concussion) and perhaps running back Peyton Hillis (hamstring). The 49ers are 11th in total defense — second against the run.

“This will be the best defense we’ve played all year,” said McCoy.

Not exactly what this points-challenged offense needs right now, is it? Consider some of these numbers:

• The Browns are 31st in the NFL with 4.3 yards per play;

• They’re 29th with only 10 touchdowns;

• They’re 31st with only 13 trips inside the red zone; and

• They’ve have been outscored, 34-3, in the first quarter.

But tight end Alex Smith indicated that a change of pace will be in store.

“We have a couple of things up our sleeves to try to try to get our tempo generated,” he said. “It’s not radically different. We’ll just try to be fast-paced and keep the defense off it’s toes. Until we get our tempo right, I don’t think we’ll have success.”

Could the Browns be planning to open in the no-huddle to bust out of their first-quarter slumber?

“That’s another aspect of it, but at the end of the day, it’s about executing the plays as fast as we can,” said Smith. “If we can pick up the pace, it will help us out a lot.”

McCoy insisted that the current protocol, beginning with 15 or so scripted plays, is progressing just fine. “I think we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing,” he said. “[But] the no-huddle has been a good part of our offense when we’ve got our backs against the wall. We work on it a lot in practice, so we’ll see.”

More than anything, McCoy said, it’s a matter of this young offense continuing to hone the West Coast scheme.

“You go back and watch it from Joe Montana to Steve Young to anybody’s who’s run it, it’s an offense where it’s rhythm, it’s timing [that makes it succeed],” said McCoy. “You get the ball out and let guys make plays — and we’re going to stick to that. It’s what we do, and we’re getting better week-to-week. The one positive from last week is that we stayed on the field for 40 minutes. Now we’ve just got to get in the end zone.”

That type of ball control will be difficult against the 49ers’ second-ranked run defense – which yields 74.7 yards per game. They’re the only team in the NFL not to give up a rushing touchdown this season and haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 28 straight games, the longest active streak.

“We faced the best run defense last week [in yards per carry] and now we’re facing the second-best,” said running back Montario Hardesty, who churned out 95 yards against the Seahawks. “They defend the run very well with seven guys in the box. It all starts with their linebackers. They’re tough, physical and fast to the ball, but we’re up to the task.”

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas gushed over the 49ers’ front seven in general.

“There’s big-time studs across the front, they’re built to stop the run, and in my opinion they’ve got the best linebacker in the NFL in Patrick Willis,” said Thomas. “He doesn’t miss any tackles. You look at their guys on the outside, they’re outstanding, They do everything you want out of a front seven, so it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

He knows he’ll get a tough battle from former Bengals right end Justin Smith, who leads the 49ers with an amazing 32 pressures.

“Justin is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL,” said Thomas. “He’s been doing it a long time, he’s extremely durable, he’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical. He plays with a relentless motor. He’s a guy that’s going to be really hard to block. I remember playing against him my second game of my career [against Cincinnati] and it was a battle every single play.”

But 32 pressure in six games? Can that be right?

“In Cincinnati, he didn’t always have a lot of sacks, but he hit the quarterback all the time,” said Thomas. “He’s a guy who never quits. Even if he’s blocked, he’s still getting through at the last minute. He’s good and underrated.”

The 49ers have also held opposing quarterbacks to a 77.7 rating, fifth in the NFL, and they rank first in the league with 49 passes defensed. They’re tied for third with 14 takeaways.

“Their defense is playing lights out right now,” said Little. “With Mohamed out, I definitely want to take on the responsibility of being a bigger playmaker.”

Josh Cribbs will replace Massaquoi in the starting lineup and second-year receiver Carlton Mitchell will see action on offense as well as special teams.

“We’re fighting, we’re clawing, we’re trying to do everything we can to score points,” said McCoy. “I can’t tell you how hard we work. I’ve spent a lot of time with the receivers, and it’s going to happen. We’ll be ready this weekend and hopefully we’ll start fast and play well.”

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

BEREA, Ohio — In Colt McCoy’s first game since Browns President Mike Holmgren said he’d evaluate him after the season, McCoy failed to score a touchdown, produced a total of six points and earned a 59.0 rating.

But Browns coach Pat Shurmur is looking for progress from his young quarterback and felt he got it during Sunday’s 6-3 victory over the Seahawks.

“I think Colt’s improving and I’ll stick with what I said [Sunday]: I thought he battled,” said Shurmur. “He scrambled once and got a first down, he got outside the pocket a couple of times and got yards and got out of bounds. He did a lot of good things.”

Shurmur acknowledged that he’s got to find a way to get McCoy out of the gate faster. The Browns have been outscored, 34-3, in the first quarter and struggled again against the Seahawks.

On the opening drive, McCoy hit Ben Watson with a five-yard pass and then right tackle Tony Pashos committed a holding penalty to put the Browns in second and 15. Under pressure, McCoy overthrew Josh Cribbs and missed a wide-open Watson. He also got drilled after the throw — one of about eight pressures, not including his five sacks.

On his second drive, he was almost picked off by Earl Thomas on a cross intended for Cribbs, and two plays later, threw too high for Watson in the right flat to force a punt.

“My focus — because it’s become the focus of everybody in Northeast Ohio — is a fast start,” said Shurmur. “So I look at the first two or three throws and I think we can still get better. Some of those could’ve gone for big gains. But I do think he battled and he’s part of the reason we found a way to win yesterday.”

McCoy said the entire offense — not just him — needs to improve on the first few drives.

“Early on as a group we need to be more cognitive, we talk about that all the time,” he said after the game. “Again, we got out there and didn’t move. We got a penalty after the first completion and I was off on a couple throws. I missed Ben (Watson) on a short cross and I’d like to have that one back and maybe he could catch it. That killed us.”

McCoy found more success in the late second and early third quarters, but then forced a pass to Evan Moore that was intercepted at the Seahawks 12. The pick marred an 11-play drive that covered 50 yards.

“Once you get a feel for things and you see the way they’re blitzing and the way they’re putting their hands down, we found our rhythm,” he said. “I made one mistake trying to squeeze one into Evan. Obviously, I’d like to have that ball back and in the whole scheme of things we want to throw the ball down field and we want to take some shots. But when it’s not there and it’s covered, just drop it down. I learned from that one.”

McCoy produced a 14-play drive in the fourth quarter that knocked 6:49 off the clock and kept the Seahawks off the field, but it ended in a second blocked field goal after running back Chris Ogbonnaya gained three yards on third and six at the 9. It was the Browns’ first venture into the red zone. Still, he completed a few passes and eluded about five defenders on a 12-yard scramble up the middle to convert a third down.

“We’re working at getting efficient, and there were indications of it yesterday,” said Shurmur. “You just need more completions. If you’re running crossing routes, hit them in stride so they can run the football.”

McCoy has been hit 38 times after the throw — sixth-most in the NFL — and has taken some hard shots, but Shurmur didn’t seem alarmed. After one of those hits in the third quarter, McCoy came off the limping, but Shurmur kidded that “he was walking straight” when he was with him Monday.

“When you look around the league, there are quarterbacks getting hit quite a bit,” he said. “He’s avoided some sacks. I try to make sure I call keeps and naked (bootlegs) to make sure I get him on the run, and every once in a while he’ll take one there.

“[Sunday] we had a couple of screen calls where he gets rid of the football and then it’s kind of a glancing deal, so we try schematically to make sure we eliminate that and we fight to make sure it doesn’t happen.”

Shurmur acknowledged it’s difficult to gauge McCoy’s development in the new offense because of the lockout. Monday, he was 28th in the league with a 75.4 rating and 27th with a 56 percent completion rate.

“This is a little bit uncharted playing a season without an off-season, so I think it’s important that he just improves each week,” said Shurmur. “Again, I think at the end of the year we’ll just add it up and see where it’s at.”

McCoy, who played much of the game without four offensive starters, welcomed Holmgren’s comments last week.

“That’s exactly how you’re supposed to evaluate it,” he said. “I think he’d say that for every individual on our team. I see that as a great thing. If he wouldn’t have said it, I would’ve done the same thing. I evaluate myself after every game and especially after every season.

“I’m going to give it my all every week, in practice, in meetings and in the games. If you do that, then good things are going to happen.”

On Twitter: @marykaycabot