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Browns Reality Check -
beachbum312 Reputation:98 Level:Superstar Since:Sep 17, 2006
	May 18, 2008 9:24 pm Score: 92
	Yes clark we all realize we have a tougher schedule this year. We also realize we had basically the same schedule as the Steelers last year. If we wouldn't have blown the 2nd game with you guys last year we would have won the division, seeing how our record would have been 11-5 and yours 9-7. We aren't the only ones with a more difficult schedule this year. The Steelers also have a hard achedule, actually a harder one than ours. We aren't saying we will have a better record this year. Alot of us think we will have a better team and maybe have less wins, but it looks like it may only take 9 to win the division this year based on schedules. Well Bean you finally said something dumb enough to reel me back in. 1. We started our backups week 17 in a meaningless game. We were leading Baltimore 35-3 at halftime with our starters the first time around. 10-6 was 11-5 if we needed that game. 2. How did you "blow" the second game? Blowing it is outplaying a team the whole game and then making a mistake or two at the end to lose the game. You guys had 170 yards of offense the whole game and ONE first down in the second half. It was only a game because Cribbs took two kickoffs to the house (close enough).
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Browns Reality Check -
clark0610 Reputation:99 Level:Superstar Since:Nov 7, 2006
	May 18, 2008 9:54 pm Score: 100
	I understand that not all teams that made the playoffs last season will make them this year obviously, but with that logic are you suggesting that the Browns schedule this year is really no different then last year because this coming season hasn't played itself out yet? The fact of the matter is that they had 0 wins against playoff teams last season and this season they play the Cowboys, Giants, Redskins, the jags, indy, the Titans and pittsburgh twice. not to mention 4 additional divisional games, the Eagles, Broncos, Bills and Texans (ok i guess that is there whole schedule)....with a strait face how is that not a LOT more difficult then last year opponents? Frequently teams that have traditionally struggled end up with a gravy schedule at some point and end up with a better record then they really are, only to have people jump on their bandwagon (see the Cardinals year after year) and then they flat-line the next season. nothing personal but looking at what they did last season against those teams vs what is in front of them this season i don't see 9 wins (let alone 10 or 11). oh and all those playoffs teams that they play are traditionally good teams....not some fluke that sneaks in once every 4 or 5 years.
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Browns Reality Check -
geno2131 Reputation:99 Level:Superstar Since:May 29, 2007
	May 18, 2008 11:27 pm Score: 99
	Clark-- The Browns schedule is really no different from last year because we believe the only real threat to take to win the divison other than the Browns is the Steelers. We could be proven wrong on this. The Bengals and or Ravens could bounce back with a vengence. However, if you exclude those teams the schedule is no different because our schedule last year was very similar to the Steelers schedule. While some less than intelligent pittsburgh fans (not you mano) are quick to point out how easy our schedule was last year, they seem to forget that had the same easy schedule and ended with the same record. These less than intelligent fans also jump in that they rested thier starters week 16. They fail to remember the Browns came exceptionally close to winning the 2nd Browns Steelers game last year. If the Browns had won that game, the Browns would have finished 11-5, and the Steelers had not rested their starters and actually won week 16 the Browns stil had a 1 game lead on them. The Browns fans will also look at the momumental leaps made from week 1 beating against the Steelers to the rest of the season. Given a "do over" of the result could be different. Next year we get a whole new season. Now an intelligent fan woulud realize the issue is not who you play, but who you play compared to who your primary competition for a playoff spot (division title). The Steelers schedule next year is more difficult than the Browns schedule. Of course this is based off of my opinion of teams before the season starts which means absolutely nothing. We will have to wait until the games start to get good reads.
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