Browns’ late-game magic Kardiac Kid-like
- col-aaron-dorksen
- October 26, 2023
- 620
A few thoughts from the week in sports …
For the second Sunday in a row, the Cleveland Browns pulled out a last-second win that left fans with an equal mix of exhilaration and anxiety.
Anyone over the age of 50 surely remembers the Browns’ Kardiac Kids team of 1980. That squad had a penchant for last-second wins and was Cleveland’s first playoff qualifier since 1972.
The 2023 Browns have shown similar late-game magic the last two weeks while their $230 million quarterback has watched most of the action from the sidelines.
The Browns’ 39-38 victory over the Colts on Oct. 22 was capped by Kareem Hunt’s 1-yard touchdown run with 15 seconds left. The Browns benefited from two huge penalties on the final drive, then needed four plays to finally punch it in as Hunt got the ball over the end zone line without an inch to spare.
What a crazy final drive! My family was yelling out loud encouraging the Browns and offering play suggestions after each heart-stopping, unsuccessful attempt from the 1.
“Run the ball” was said a lot earlier than fourth down.
It was a scene I’m sure played out in similar fashion in living rooms all over Ohio and beyond.
That win over the Colts was preceded by a 19-17 triumph over the previously unbeaten 49ers the week before, which was still in doubt until San Francisco missed a field goal as time expired.
Since coming back to the NFL in 1999, the Browns have been one of the league’s worst franchises as fans know all too well. The Browns are the ones who we usually watch snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
However, these Browns have been different this season, led by their outstanding defense. Cleveland (4-2) is tied for second with Pittsburgh behind Baltimore (5-2) in the rugged AFC North entering its matchup at Seattle (4-2) on Oct. 29.
The Browns have the lowest rated passing offense in the NFL, but XFL alum PJ Walker has done just enough to lead winning drives in each of the last two weeks.
The undrafted free agent from Temple hasn’t topped 200 yards passing in either game, doesn’t have a single TD pass and has thrown three interceptions, but he’s been out there giving it his all, which is a lot more than can be said about Watson.
Walker — the underdog Browns fans are all rooting for — has made several big late-game throws and, more importantly, shown a lot of heart.
However, fans have to wonder how long the team can continue to win with Walker at the controls.
Watson returned from a shoulder injury to start the game but was 1 for 5 passing and then went out with a head injury. Although Watson was medically cleared to return, Stefanski said he wanted to “protect” the franchise quarterback by keeping him out.
The Browns’ defense had its first rough game, giving up 456 yards, but also forced four turnovers. Myles Garrett, aka Superman, had nine tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and flew over the line to block a field goal. Yeah, it’s awesome to have Garrett on the Browns.
It’s also wonderful to finally have a clutch kicker in Dustin Hopkins.
Running backs Jerome Ford and Hunt haven’t been spectacular but provided enough to keep the sticks moving and take some pressure off of Brown. With Nick Chubb already out for the year, word at the start of the week was Ford will miss one to two weeks with an ankle injury suffered against the Colts.
With no Chubb, no Ford and no clue about Watson heading into the Seahawks game, Seattle entered the week a 2.5-point favorite. This Browns team is really growing on fans, and we’ll of course be rooting for them again, hoping the late-game magic can follow them to Seattle.
Can Cavs take next step
The Cleveland Cavaliers were a lot of fun to follow last season — until the playoffs.
The Cavaliers finished with a 51-31 record, a seven-game improvement from the previous year. However, the Knicks won their opening-round playoffs series 4-1 in dominant fashion to send Cleveland into the offseason knowing it had a long way to go to make any kind of serious noise in the postseason.
GM Koby Altman added Max Strus, Georges Niang, Ty Jerome and Tristan Thompson in the offseason, hoping to add much-needed depth.
The 2023-24 Cavs opened the season on Oct. 25 on the road against the Brooklyn Nets. The Cavs’ “Big Four” of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will once again lead the way.
As a Cavs fan, it’s been disheartening to hear chatter that Mitchell wants out of Cleveland. Mitchell is a special player, and hopefully the team can get on a winning roll and everyone is “All In.”
H.S. football playoffs underway
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of the high school football playoffs. Six area teams qualified for the postseason and opened play Friday night. Here are the matchups that involved locals:
—Division IV: Bryan (5-5) at West Holmes (8-2).
—Div. V: Youngstown Liberty (5-5) at Norwayne (9-1) and Triway (5-5) at Harrison Central (8-2).
—Div. VI: Rittman (6-4) at Cuyahoga Heights (8-1).
—Div. VII: Conotton Valley (4-6) at Dalton (8-1) and Lucas (7-3) at Hillsdale (8-2).
I don’t agree with the OHSAA putting all games on Fridays, instead of splitting them up on Fridays and Saturdays like in past years. It takes away chances for fans to see multiple games in a weekend, results in less media coverage and the pool for picking game officials is obviously spread out more thinly.
Parting shots
Congrats to the Wooster volleyball team for improving to 24-0 after a Div. I district semifinal win over Olmsted Falls on Oct. 24. Fifth-seeded Wooster advanced to a district final against second-seeded Avon Lake (23-2) at Midview High School.
—The baseball playoffs have been awesome to follow, with the ALCS and NLCS both coming down to Game 7s to determine the pennant winners who will battle in the World Series. The Rangers outlasted the Astros in the AL while the Diamondbacks edged the Phillies.
I haven’t had time to watch much of the action live but have watched most of the highlights after each of the games on YouTube. The six- or seven-minute game recaps are like Cliff Notes for sports fans.
—Former Guardians catcher Austin Hedges is now a backup on the Rangers and will get a crack at a World Series ring. Good for “Hedge Hog.”
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com.