The latest Cleveland Browns news and notes from around the NFL in the Sunday Dawg Chow.
Sundays when the Cleveland Browns are not playing hit a bit differently.
The day does not feature the anticipation, or in the case of this year’s team the dread, over what will transpire during the game and if those three-to-four hours that fans invest will be worth it.
Cleveland being off also raises the question of how to fill the void?
Sure, you could catch a replay of the Las Vegas Grand Prix (if you did not stay up to watch it) to see if Max Verstappen claimed another Formula 1 driver’s championship.
And one can never go wrong spending a couple of hours with Liverpool, currently sitting at the top of the Premier League table, as they take on Southampton.
The early slate of NFL games are not overly attractive, especially the ones available on local TV, making one happy to have the Sunday Ticket package.
No matter how you decide to spend your day today, thanks for getting it started by stopping by for today’s edition of the Sunday Dawg Chow.
Dawgs By Nature:
- Browns NFL draft Week 12 rooting guide: Steelers win adds more names to list (Jared Mueller) – The Cleveland Browns knocked off the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 12 of the NFL’s 2024 regular season. While we had fun looking at how the Browns could make a miraculous run to the playoffs, a high pick in the 2025 NFL draft is the more likely outcome.
- Myles Garrett reminds everyone he is the top dog (Thomas Moore) – It has been a weekly crapshoot for the Cleveland Browns during the first 11 games of the 2023 NFL season. But there is one constant: the Browns have defensive Myles Garrett and the other team does not.
- Steelers WR George Pickens makes excuses for loss to Browns on Thursday Night Football (Barry Shuck) – What is it about the Pittsburgh Steelers employing mouthy receivers? After the Cleveland Browns defeated the Steelers on Thursday Night Football in a snow game, Pittsburgh wide receiver George Pickens was being interviewed in the visitor’s locker room after the contest and stated the Browns did not beat his team 24-19, it was the weather. Oh, and also the officials.
- Browns road to playoffs is unrealistic but fun; winning out creates potential path (Jared Mueller) – The Cleveland Browns have three wins this season and any chance of making the NFL playoffs is pretty much over. On the other hand, the Browns have victories over the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers which can allow fans, and DBN, to at least think about the miracle story.
Cleveland Browns:
- Anatomy of the Browns‘ final defensive stop in win over Steelers (cleveland.com) – On the final play of the Browns’ 24-19 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland defenders all had some version of the same thought.
- Jameis Winston’s ‘one play at a time’ mentality wins over Cleveland Browns teammates (Beacon Journal) – Myles Garrett saw everything he needed to see out of his quarterback at one of Jameis Winston’s lowest moments Thursday night.
- Jameis Winston is playing just well enough to complicate the Browns’ future plans at QB (The Athletic) – The door to the locker room swung open late Thursday night and Jameis Winston jogged down the hallway singing “Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way.” Winston has certainly been a holiday gift of sorts for the Browns these last few weeks. But he’s also perhaps complicating their plans.
- Kevin Stefanski expected to remain as Browns head coach in 2025 (NFL.com) – Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski won’t have to worry about his job status entering Thursday night’s game, in spite of the team’s 2-8 record. Stefanski is expected to remain as Browns head coach in 2025, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday’s edition of The Insiders.
NFL:
- How Joe Namath’s pantyhose commercial changed an industry (ESPN) – Fifty years ago, Joe Namath was in the backseat of a limousine, riding down Park Avenue on his way to film a TV commercial at a Manhattan studio. He was one of the most recognizable athletes in America — a Super Bowl MVP, a movie star and a prolific pitchman. He had appeared in dozens of commercials, endorsing everything from shaving cream to popcorn makers to typewriters.
- Who Is the best team in the AFC? (The Ringer) -The power structure in the AFC made a lot more sense this time last week. Now, it’s chaos. Which team(s) should we be most confident in? And which have the most glaring concerns?
- Baker Mayfield’s equipment donation helps prep program to state title (Tampa Bay Times) – Space Coast High wins the Sunshine State Athletic Association Atlantic 1A championship after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and his wife provide nearly $18,000 for equipment.