Fansided

Surprises and shocks from Week 2 of the NFL season

By Andrew Garda

Sep 14, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) throws a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at Levi
Sep 14, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) throws a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at Levi /
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Sep 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine gets a gatorade bath after beating the New Orleans Saints 26-24 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine gets a gatorade bath after beating the New Orleans Saints 26-24 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland over New Orleans

Subtitle: I tried to tell you about Terrance West

One bit of chest thumping and then one mea culpa.

I talked a lot this offseason about Cleveland Browns rookie running back Terrance West. While it was often in relation to fantasy football, I always felt that he would be a big part of this offense. Ben Tate gets hurt too often (as he is now) and West is a nice big running back who can perform when the lights come on.

Despite a poor preseason, I always felt he could shine. He struggled at times on Sunday, but played very well and got some tough yards both on the ground and in the air. Isaiah Crowell is pretty darn good as well. Between the two of them, they might “Wally Pip” Tate, though the team has invested enough in Tate to give him his job back.

Now the mea culpa: I never thought Cleveland had a chance here. Not at all. I’m sure I wasn’t alone, in this but there it is.

This is how the Browns need to win games—they have to have a very good defensive performance and give their offense a puncher’s chance to win late.

That’s what the Browns did on Sunday, as the defense did just enough to keep things close with a powerful New Orleans offense. Credit to the offense though, who came through when it counted.

What’s up with the Saints defense? Back to back games where they allowed 24-plus points? Maybe we were willing to excuse an unconscious performance by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (what else do you call 448 passing yards and three touchdowns?), but this was different. In the end, this was a defense which gave up points more than they did yards.

The Browns didn’t blow their doors off. They just scored when they had the chance and when they needed to.

When the defense needed to come up big, they couldn’t. The last scoring drive by the Browns ate up almost all the clock, using 14 plays and going 85 yards. That didn’t happen last year.

It shouldn’t be happening this year, but it is. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has his work cut out for him.

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