Randomness from today's Browns home game:

Special Guest: My brother, Jeff. What screams "Hey, let's get together for your birthday" more than watching Browns football? I can think of a million things, but this is our plight. Besides we have already witnessed one of the worst games I have ever seen, a 30-0 shutout by a team which leads us to...

Today's Opponent: The Cincinnati Bengals. As Forrest Gregg used to say, "A fine football team". Many are pointing to this game as the proverbial "trap game" for the Bengals. Meaning they are looking ahead to their next opponent, overlooking the Browns. I am here to tell you, the Bengals are in no position to overlook anyone. They have yet to earn the right.

The Bengals are coming off their best game in a long time, a comeback win against the Steelers. They are vastly improved on defense. Cedric Benson has emerged from the recycle bin and may be the best back in the division. And Carson Palmer appears to have shaken off the rust and is nearing his prior form. I think it spells trouble for Browns Version 2.4.

And what about the Browns? Well, Dink II has been sent to the bench, lasting all of 10 quarters. And what a 10 quarters they were! Now, we can't even expect wins, we just want them to score a touchdown. Honestly, they should stop the game, if they happens. As usual, the Browns are right on the edge and it's only just become October. If they lose and drop to 0-4, it's over. Again. It would be tough to even attain respectability with that sort of start.

I've set my expectations for this game at the lowest bar. Anything better than a shredding by the Bengals should be considered a bonus.

Parking: East 6th northbound in a Truck Zone between Saint Clair and Rockwell. Same spot as Game 1.

Pre-Game Festivities: Today was the NFL's day to promote the fight against breast cancer. Therefore, the pink ribbons and shouts of "Save the boob!" were in abundance. Today's special alumni guests were Vince Costello and Ben Davis.

The Browns Spirit Flag was unveiled by breast cancer survivors and referred to as the largest Browns flag in the world. The National Anthem was played by John Popper of Blues Traveler. First of all, I never knew he was a local. Secondly, he played the anthem on his harmonica. I kinda liked it. It had that, "Oh, say can you see that train, train, take me on out of this town..." flavor to it. Jeff hated it with vigor.

Worst Feature (For Me): Once again, "Hang on Sloopy" at the end of the third quarter. Fans were in a more participatory mood today.

The Weather: Marky Nolan and Hollie Strano welcomed us to the game today after Braylon Edwards had already dropped a pass. Sunny early and brisk enough to have a wind with some bite. May have touched 60 with virtually no sun most of the game. Channel 3 Dual Doppler radar showed us nothing. Took me a while afterward to get warm.

Today's Giveaway: The "Limited Edition" Josh Cribbs poster sponsored by Ford Trucks. Hard to figure who was more prominent, Joshua or the trucks. Limited in the sense you can also pick one up at your local Ford dealer.

Section 345: Fairly quiet today. Oh, security had to run up near the back of the section a couple of times, but no ejections.

Best Browns Play: Josh Cribbs 58-yard kick return after the Bengals first touchdown. Of course, two plays later Jerome Harrison fumbled, the Bengals returned it, and it was 14-0, Bengals.

Best Bengals Play: On 4th and 11 of the final drive of the game in OT, Carson Palmer sends all the receivers downfield to set up what appears to be a long pass attempt. He elects to run up the middle and gains 15 yards. Essentially setting up the game-winning field goal.

Worst Browns Play: Opening drive of the second half. The Browns have marched downfield to set up a third-and-goal from the 8. The bad Derek Anderson shows up and throws an unconscionable interception behind the intended receiver, Steve Heiden. The interception return moves the ball to the Cincinnati 32. At least three points out the window.

Second Worst Browns Play: The fumble by Jerome Harrison. The Browns hardly had the ball after that TD and were already losing, 14-0.

Best Line from a Random: Guy by us singing "Here We Go Brownies, Here We Go". Solo for about three lines. Then he says, "Where the hell are the rest of you people?"

Oddest Browns Jersey: 2 Couch, 31 Green (tons of them), 63 Postal Dawg, 69 Your Mom.

Food Items: BOGOs on hot dogs and soda for a total of $9.50.

Worst Scoreboard Feature: I am really disgusted with the Browns mascots overacting on virtually every prize giveaway. And you thought Slider was bad.

The Fuckin' Run: Shockingly, the Browns did a good job against the run today. But still managed to give up 154 yards on 30 carries.

Worst Stat: At one time the Browns had given up zero first downs to Cincinnati, while getting 17 of their own. That stretch included 6 three-and-outs and a first down interception by the Bengals, encompassing most of the second quarter, all of the third and most of the fourth. And they still lost the game.

2nd Worst Stat: Probably Derek Anderson's 5.2 yards per pass attempt.

Most Interesting Stat: The Browns ran 4 plays in the first quarter.

Penalties: Nothing too egregious by the Browns. Eric Steinbach was blocking downfield on a screen once. And things got chippy for a time and there were offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties that were not costly.

The sad fact of today's game was it was winnable and the Browns didn't get it done. Especially for dominating on defense the way the way they did for most of the game. Jerome Harrison ran for over 120 yards, but really none were memorable, except for his fumble that tarnished his effort. Same goes for Anderson with his interception.

And we also got some welcome offense from two players ignored through the first three games, Steve Heiden and Mohamed Massaqoui. Heiden got a Browns TD and Massaquoi took advantage of double coverage on Braylon Edwards and got 8 balls for 148 yards.

So, while there were some signs of a better team effort, etc., it shows how the Browns must play a perfect game to win. And since those are rare, we are going to have to suffer through these kinds of games.

We had some issue with the play calling of the Bengals, but let's give the Browns defense credit. They came to play today. So, we can put to rest the coach getting fired, the players not playing for the guy, etc. But keep this in mind, it was a winnable game.

The Browns lose to the Bengals in an OT thriller, 23-20. They are now 0-and-4.

Meal of Links

We need to get Ted Turner on the case. Spoiled bison meat tends to smell.

Here's a guy who slept with 1300 prostitutes. And, yes, he always walks that way.

America's coolest small towns. None from Ohio, as you could imagine.

Exercise Yard

Peter King is everywhere. And he talks about it.

Visitor

None, on a Browns Sunday.