Why the Browns aren't as bad as you think
By Teddy Covers
Teddy spends every Sunday typing furiously at his laptop as he watches the games, giving you the key info that the box scores and game recaps simply don’t have. This week: AFC tidbits from around the league from Week 13.
Cleveland Browns
Despite their miserable season, I think the Browns have the potential to return to respectability faster than many other teams at the bottom of the standings. They have a QB of the future in Brady Quinn, a couple of talented players on the offensive line and an emerging young receiver in Mohammed Massaquoi.
The Browns have talent on the defensive side of the football particularly in the back seven. A new coach, a fresh coat of paint, a couple of contributing draft picks and voila -- a .500 finish in 2010.
Kansas Chiefs
There’s very little to like about the Chiefs these days, on either side of the football. KC’s defense has only notched 17 sacks for the entire season and the defensive line is getting blown off the line of scrimmage on running plays as well.
Before the two minute drill in the first half, KC managed only one drive that didn't result in a three and out. This offense lacks weapons every bit as much as the defense does. Matt Cassell finished the game with a 14.6 QB rating before he was mercifully benched in the fourth quarter.
Indianapolis Colts
Peyton Manning really is playing at a higher level than any other QB in the league. No other QB in the league can drop a perfect pass, finding a half yard window into double coverage to hit his receiver in stride. No one else manages the clock as effectively as Manning and no other QB reads defenses quite so effectively. He never gets confused or rattled by pressure or schemes of opposing defenses.
Pittsburgh Steelers
This defense is a far cry from last year's Super Bowl winning group. Cornerback William Gay got burned repeatedly in coverage against a poor passing team before going down with an injury in the fourth quarter. But it's more than just one player getting torched.
Last year's defense was capable of changing games on a weekly basis. This year's stop unit simply isn't making big plays, leaving a mediocre offense (only seven plays longer than 10 yards through the first three quarters against Oakland) to produce all the points.
It’s clear Pittsburgh badly misses Troy Polamalu. The All-Pro safety has missed most of the year with a knee injury. Without him in the lineup, Pittsburgh struggles to get turnovers.
Houston Texans
Matt Schaub got hurt early, leaving Rex Grossman to shoulder the load for Houston at the QB position in a 'must win' divisional game on the road. By the time Schaub returned to the field late in the second quarter, his team trailed 17-0, which basically tells us all we need to know about Grossman's ability to move the offense.
This run defense has improved by leaps and bounds since the beginning of the season. Houston had a nice goal line stand early, shutting down Maurice Jones-Drew. They did it again facing a first and goal from the five yard line in the second half. But as the run defense has improved, Houston's pass defense has declined -- Garrard picked them apart throughout.