Randomness from today's Browns home game:

Gale is today's special guest. Browns Version 2.3 has been talking a good game about revenge this week. Yes, revenge for last year's 41-0 debacle against the Super Bowl Champs. We have won 2 of our last 3 games for one of the few times in recent history. A win at home will go a long way in restoring what little faith remains in this year's squad.

Today's opponent: The dreaded Pittsburgh Steelers. Our biggest rivals on paper, but in a rivalry, most teams share the winning every once in a while. They own us lately. But the Steelers have the same record as the Browns coming in, and the way they've played, gives us a chance, I think. Last year, I knew a month ahead of time we would lose, so there is some excitement this year.

The weather was abysmal today. If it's gonna rain, be warmer. If it's that cold, it might as well snow. It drizzled for most of the game, rained a bit and some strange wind kicked up ice pellets at one point. The ice came after the "Pittsburgh Sucks" chant. Ye football gods were angered. Unbelievably, after the game, it was the coldest I felt all day.

Today's giveaway: To combat the Terrible Towel, AT&T provided Browns flags. We arrived too late to partake.

Section 345 was rather subdued. But, once again, many season ticket holders bailed on this game and, oddly enough, many of those tickets ended up in the hands of Steelers fans. Not as bad as Christmas Eve 2005, but enough to be annoying.

The running game today was decent, as Reuben Droughns was hurt. Imagine that. Our smaller, quicker backs had an OK day running. Mmmmm.

The only time I saw G.E. Smith this week was in David Bowie's video of "Fashion".

Worst Browns play: Not many that were truly ugly. Probably the early reverse to Braylon Edwards for -8 yards qualifies.

Best line from me (After the game, while passing Public Hall. White smoke billowing from some outlet pipe, into the sky): "I guess they chose a new Levert today."

Best line from a random: "Hey, Steeler man. What are you lookin' at? I'm a motherfuckin' Browns fan." People are so civil.

Oddest Browns jersey: 81 Morgan (Is this guy so cheap, he doesn't wear shoes?) 95 Willie made me laugh.

No in-game purchases.

Best Browns play: No question, Joshua Cribbs kickoff return for a TD. The best return guy we've had since Eric Metcalf.

The cold prevented many costumes today. Lots of plastic wraps, blankies and gloves and mittens.

Best Fan Cam picture: More of a promo where the police dog barks at a guy on the ground, while hovering over him. Accompanied by Pink Floyd's "Dogs of War".

Worst stat: The Browns gave up 253 yards in the last quarter. Ugh!

2nd worst stat: The Browns gave up over 31 yards per kickoff return. Strangely, their best coverage came after Cribbs TD return, when we got an excessive celebration penalty. That forced us to kick from the 20 and we handled that well.

Most interesting stat: Our running backs caught only 2 balls. That means Frye was doing a better job of checking downfield.

Of course, this is the type of game the Browns always seem to lose. The defense was on the field a lot late, but it's a talent issue. I give the Browns credit for patching together a secondary this year. Superb safety play is making us look good on D. Brian Russell and Sean Jones are playing very nicely together. And Brodney Pool is stepping up in man coverage. But injuries have forced Jeremy Perry, Ralph Brown (my favorite whipping boy) and Daven Holly to garner significant playing time. Holly had two interceptions, one for a TD, but that group is forced to play a coverage that prevents the big play, but opens up a lot of underneath stuff. It worked for three quarters, but killed us late in the game today.

Charlie Frye didn't kill us today. The Steelers had just enough to beat us. Next week, the Bengals and their no-huddle offense come in. Not good news.

Meal of Links

I was so punchdrunk from the Browns game that I was absolutely giddy watching "The Simpsons" tonight. I almost spit out my Green Tea when after a day of "Vermonting", Bart said, "We learned lots of things today. Did you know candles are made by losers?"

Stopped at Melt after the game. That Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup is a killer. Had a bacon, ham and swiss grilled cheese that will be finsihed for a meal tomorrow.

All about "Dexter". OK, I pimp it a lot, but it's so different (to me) than anything on the tube these days.

Exercise Yard

Does anyone remember when Bonnie Bernstein didn't wear hats?















Her hat blended in with the crowd during a shot at OSU on Saturday, so you could play "Where's Waldo?"

Visitor

None, it's a blustery Browns Sunday.