Tag: Cleveland Browns

Baker Mayfield’s wife clarified her ‘fair weather fans’ comment after the Browns’ win

“Didn’t expect to ruffle so many feathers.”

While I wasn’t aware that it was actually possible to be a fair-weather Browns fan — like, have you seen the Browns? — Baker Mayfield’s wife, Emily, caused a stir amongst Cleveland fans this week with her Monday Instagram Story.

Following the Browns’ win over the Bills in what was essentially a must-win game, the enthusiasm for the Browns took a decided turn for the positive.

Mayfield had his best game of the season, throwing for two touchdowns and no interceptions, and the Browns snapped a four-game losing streak. Given that Mayfield was getting compared to Johnny Manziel just a week ago, Emily couldn’t help but laugh at this sudden swing for the better from the same people who mocked Baker.

She posted about that on Instagram, calling out the “fair weather fans.”

As expected, plenty of Browns fans took issue with the comment. The way the post was originally framed made it sound like she was talking about all Browns fans.

Emily would clarify in a separate Instagram Story on Tuesday that she didn’t mean the diehard Browns fans. Instead, she was laughing at the fans who suddenly jumped on (and then off, and then back on) the Browns bandwagon amid the offseason hype.

She wrote:

LOL didn’t expect to ruffle so many feathers with my “fair weather fans” comment yesterday. No, I was not directing that at the die-hard, loyal fans who have stuck around for YEARS. I’m talking about the idiots who say HORRIBLE things about my husband and the team when we lose, and are back to obsessing when we win. That is laughable to me.

…loyal fans, I see you!

Surprisingly enough, the Browns are still somewhat in the playoff hunt at 3-6. They host the Steelers on Thursday night.

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Ranking the 11 most disappointing NFL teams of 2019

The Rams, Chargers, Bears and Browns are among the biggest disappointments.

What teams have failed to deliver in the biggest manners in 2019? The expectations for each of these 11 were not the same. Still, they have all come up short in different ways.

11. Cincinnati Bengals

 Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

Zac Taylor has taken a team that went 6-10 in 2018 and turned it into a laughingstock that is 0-9. Sure, there is no A.J. Green and that is an enormous loss. However, it feels more like a blessing for the talented wideout. Also, don’t think about throwing the loss of John Ross into the equation. He was trending as a bust and had a few good games before being injured, again. Benching Andy Dalton on his birthday was a gift as much as an insult. And throwing Ryan Finley to the Ravens was almost criminal. Could they go winless? It feels more probable than impossible.

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Top 5 offensive lines of Week 10: NFC North, upsets, honoring Swagger, and typical Ravens

As we slowly adjust back into reality, let’s take a look at the top 5 from Week 10.

In what could be described as a perfect spinoff to Netflix’s Stranger Things, Week 10 in the NFL was so upside down that the most-normal thing from all of the action was a dual something-or-other that might have forever changed the way uncles dance at weddings.

First, there was Dak:

And then, there was Jimmy:

Beyond that? Cleveland honored their mascot, Swagger, and his retirement from leading the Browns onto the field with an upset win over Buffalo. Aaron Rodgers caught a penalty flag—poetically, mind you—and the internet immediately shouted that such art needed to be accompanied by Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic.”

Three Heisman Trophy winners lined up in the backfield—at the same time!—during the Ravens-Bengals game. And Matthew McConaughey took the cyber streets after the incredible Monday night battle between the Seahawks and 49ers and basically wrote the dialogue for the next Lincoln commercial.

Not to be ignored or outdone—with some of the stranger credit going to Tennessee Titans’ Taylor Lewan—there were also some stellar efforts from a few the offensive lines.

As we slowly adjust back into reality, let’s take a look at the top 5 from Week 10.

5. Baltimore Ravens

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The only thing keeping the Ravens’ O-line from being ranked higher than fifth this week is the tilted-smirk realization that they played against the Cincinnati Bengals.

But when your quarterback ends the day with a perfect QB rating, and the running game totals over 130 yards and two touchdowns, it’s impossible not to give a thumbs up, either.

The Ravens’ O-line continues to be a collective force. They led the way for Jackson’s big game on the ground and they kept him protected during the pass. One penalty and one sack, with only minimal pressure from the Bengals’ rush later, and the Ravens’ front had done another standout job—regardless if some saw this game as more of an AFC North intramural session.

Marshal Yanda, Bradley Bozeman, Matt Skura, Orlando Brown, Ronnie Stanley, with a dash of Patrick Mekari and James Hurst: You don’t make the schedule, you just block—and, man-O-man, do you guys block!

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NFL Draft 2020: Here are the top 10 candidates for the No. 1 pick after Week 10

The Bengals appear to hold all the cards after Week 10 of the NFL season when it comes to the 2020 draft.

The Miami Dolphins are playing themselves out of the running for the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Forget tanking, Miami has won two in a row and could find itself vying for a top-five spot if this continues. The top 10 in reverse order as the NFL finishes Week 10.

10. Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray Arizona Cardinals
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals have three victories over awful teams. The rest of the schedule is difficult, and the only game they appear to have a shot at winning is against Cleveland in the desert Dec. 15. Don’t be surprised if they wind up with a higher pick.

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NFL Week 10: 26 elite performances

Lamar Jackson was a human highlight reel to top the elite in Week 10 of the NFL season.

Lamar Jackson continues to stun, Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley failed to deliver and the Seahawks edged the Niners to complete Week 10.

Arizona Cardinals

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Christian Kirk had a huge game in the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was going to take time for Kyler Murray and the young Cardinals’ receiving corps — exempting Larry Fitzgerald — to gel. Murray and Kirk were on the same page Sunday as they connected six times for 138 yards and three TDs. Kirk outdid his fellow Texas A&M WR, Mike Evans, on the other side as the Bucs’ star WR had four grabs for 82 yards in the win.

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Steelers-Browns odds: Cleveland favored in TNF battle with Pittsburgh

Previewing Thursday Night Football’s Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns sports betting odds and lines, with NFL Week 11 picks and tips.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4) and Cleveland Browns (3-6) clash in an AFC North battle in Week 11’s Thursday Night Football matchup at First Energy Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET. We analyze the Steelers-Browns odds and sports betting lines within, while providing sports betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Steelers at Browns: Week 11 preview, betting trends and notes

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  • The Steelers enter Week 11 as winners of four straight games, including a 17-12 upset of the Los Angeles Rams on home field in Week 10.
  • The Browns snapped a four-game losing streak with a 19-16 home win over the Buffalo Bills.
  • Cleveland ranks 26th in the NFL with 19.0 points per game. Pittsburgh is 19th with an average of 21.4 points per game.
  • The Browns are 19th with 348.4 total yards of offense per game. The Steelers are 28th with 288.8 total yards. Cleveland averages 40 more rushing yards per game.
  • The Browns allow 24.6 points per game while the Steelers hold the opposition to just 20.1. Pittsburgh allows an average of 332.2 yards of offense to Cleveland’s 356.0.
  • The Steelers defense has not allowed a rushing touchdown on 84 carries since Week 6.
  • Pittsburgh ranks second in the NFL with a plus-13 turnover differential. Cleveland is minus-8.
  • The Steelers rank second with 33.0 sacks this season.

Steelers at Browns: Key injuries

Steelers RB James Conner (shoulder) sat out Week 10.

Browns DL Olivier Vernon (knee) missed Sunday’s game.

Steelers at Browns: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 10:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Browns 24, Steelers 20

Moneyline (?)

The Browns got their first home win of the season in Week 10 and are 1-3 at First Energy Stadium. Pittsburgh is 1-2 on the road. Back CLEVELAND (-149) as a conservative home favorite on the short week with no travel.

Against the Spread (?)

The BROWNS (-2.5, -120) are just 2-6-1 overall against the spread. They’ve lost by an average of 5.6 points per game and fall 4.9 points shy of the cover. Pittsburgh (+2.5, +100) is 6-3-0 and covers by an average of 1.6 points.

With the projection of a field goal, however, take the home side as they’ll need to win by just three points for a $10 bet to return a profit of $8.33. The same wager on the moneyline nets a $6.71 return.

Over/Under (?)

Both teams are coming off low-scoring games in Week 10, as Cleveland and Pittsburgh played to point totals of 35 and 29 points, respectively. It followed the season trend for both sides of playing below the projected total.

Thursday’s number of 40.5 seems like an over-correction for a divisional clash. Take the OVER (-120).

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Esten’s NFL betting record: 23-29

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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What we learned from Bills’ Week 10 loss to Browns

What we learned, Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns, NFL Week 10

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Coming into week 10, the Bills had survived several games this season where they did not play well, but found a way to win. Their luck finally ran out in another ugly game Sunday along the banks of Lake Erie.

The Bills faltered on both their final defensive and offensive possessions of the game after coming from behind to take a lead in the fourth quarter. Cleveland went on a 10-play, 82-yard drive to take the lead on a Baker Mayfield to Rashard Higgins seven-yard touchdown pass with 1:44 to go. Josh Allen and the Bills got the ball back with a chance to either drive for a game-winning touchdown or game-tying field goal. Buffalo got to the Cleveland 35, but faltered from there as Allen threw incomplete on a back-shoulder toss on third down. Stephen Hauschka trotted onto the field to attempt a 53-yard field goal that would tie the game, but was both wide and short as Cleveland held on to win, 19-16.

There was a lot to be concerned about following this game for Buffalo, including questions on offense, defense, and with the coaching staff. The Bills offense again failed to deliver enough production to win the game, while the defense again had trouble stopping the run. Sean McDermott and the Bills’ coaching staff also had a rough day as there were game management decisions to question in the final two minutes.

The Bills are now 6-3 and suddenly find themselves falling back toward a gaining pack in the AFC wild card race as Buffalo has now lost two of its last three.

Here are four things we learned from the Bills’ loss Sunday in Cleveland:

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AFC North standings: Ravens sweep Bengals with Week 10 win

The Baltimore Ravens sweep the Cincinnati Bengals to keep their lofty lead in the AFC North standings through Week 10.

The Baltimore Ravens handled their business and beat the still-winless Cincinnati Bengals 49-13. It’s Baltimore’s first sweep of Cincinnati since the 2011 season and it marks another big win within the AFC North standings for the Ravens.

Baltimore will now finish no worse than 3-3 within the division, an important step to winning the AFC North. With a final game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns left on the schedule, the Ravens appear to have an insurmountable lead over the division at this stage.

Behind Baltimore is Pittsburgh, with their Week 10 win over the Los Angeles Rams. While they’re surging themselves, owning a four-game winning streak now, they still sit firmly behind the Ravens.

The Browns picked up a big win of their own, defeating the Buffalo Bills in the final minutes of the game to get their third win of the season. Though they remain well behind the Ravens within the division standings, there’s still plenty of season left to completely count them out.

The Bengals, on the other hand, are done. Having moved to 0-9, they’re now guaranteed to have a losing season. Though the AFC North isn’t exactly the toughest division in the league this year, it seems almost certain that a winning record is going to be needed to sit at the top of it. And with the playoffs firmly out of reach, Cincinnati has clearly moved into figuring out what talent they have on their roster and perhaps if rookie coach Zac Taylor will return in 2020.

Let’s take a look at the AFC North standings after Week 10.

AFC North standings:

Team Record Division Record Conference Record
Baltimore Ravens 7-2 3-1 5-2
Pittsburgh Steelers 5-4 1-1 4-2
Cleveland Browns 3-6 1-0 3-3
Cincinnati Bengals 0-9 0-3 0-5

The Ravens effectively hold a three-game lead over the Steelers in the AFC North standings after Week 10, thanks to their current head-to-head and division-record tiebreakers. Their Week 17 game looms in the horizon if Baltimore were to lose half of their next six games.

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