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00:00You guys said we haven't been talking about the game enough.
00:03I can assure you today, we will be talking about the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans.
00:093-5, 5-3, Browns the underdogs by 4.5 at home, Anthony Lima.
00:16And in for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish bound, Ken Carmet, it is Anthony Meglin, the quarterback.
00:23You guys say, oh, none of you guys played football.
00:25Oh, none of you guys played football.
00:27Well, we got somebody in studio who's actually thrown a football in a regulation football contest.
00:32What's going on, Ant?
00:33Lima, I am so excited to be here.
00:36Filling in for Ken.
00:38It's going to be tough to do him justice, but I'm going to give it my shot today and maybe
00:42we'll talk a little ball here.
00:42Now, Kenny did play football, but the last...
00:45Well, he tomahawked.
00:46He tomahawked.
00:47His last semblance of any kind of memories of high school football was him raising his hand in the air
00:54to assure the...
00:54His knee was sideways.
00:56The 50s in the crowd that he was going to live, that he was okay.
01:00And then he got out of practice the rest of the year.
01:02Smart man.
01:03That was a great way.
01:04That was a great senior send-off.
01:05There you go.
01:06Right?
01:06Smart guy.
01:07And he's going to Notre Dame this week.
01:09I think Notre Dame will be okay against BC.
01:13And then somehow Kenny's going to be back Tuesday?
01:15I don't know what all that is.
01:17He has some speech down in Columbus also.
01:19I thought he was just going to have a late night.
01:21What did he have, the thing down at Collision Bend last night?
01:23I thought he was just having a late night.
01:25It's a little celebrity bartending action.
01:28I remember when I used to get invited to those.
01:30Was he dressed like Cocktail?
01:32Was that the intention?
01:33Because I think he was trying to come off like a rather large Tom Cruise.
01:37Oh, did he have like these little witticisms?
01:40Oh, of course.
01:41I just saw him shaking shakers and trying to throw bottles behind his back.
01:45Well, that's our Kenny.
01:46It did not work.
01:47Listen, I think Kenny would agree.
01:49It is a big game.
01:51Anthony, we were on the phone yesterday.
01:52And you were outlining why you thought this was kind of bigger.
01:57Because every step of the way, I know you get very reactionary in the sports talk game.
02:03Where you build up every game in the NFL's life or death.
02:05But the reality is, when the Browns got off to the 5-2 start, that did give them a little
02:10leeway.
02:11But what you don't want to do is have this thing spiral.
02:14And you've lost two straight games.
02:15One with one quarterback.
02:17One with the backup quarterback.
02:18The last one certainly could have gone either way against the Saints.
02:21It was a tough, tough loss.
02:23But you were on the road.
02:24So you only won one of three on the road in those games.
02:27I think we all, most normal people thought they were probably going to lose to Pittsburgh.
02:33Sure.
02:33Just because it was a vengeance game.
02:35All right, here you are.
02:36This is a big one against Houston.
02:38The records are very misleading.
02:40It could be more misleading.
02:42Browns come in 5-4 record.
02:44The Texans coming in with a 3-5 record.
02:46But two teams that couldn't be trending differently.
02:48The Browns are on that.
02:50They're on a slide right now for a number of reasons.
02:52Not just because of the last two results, but because of the way that they've been playing.
02:56It doesn't look good.
02:58The defense, which early on in the season, we hung our hats on.
03:02They were the reason why the Browns were winning some of these games.
03:05And keeping them in it.
03:06They have taken a major slide.
03:08And some of the things that you're seeing from that side of the ball, especially when they're trying to stop
03:12the run, are incredibly concerning.
03:14We saw three straight games.
03:16You've had guys and teams put up season highs against them.
03:20So that part is really concerning.
03:21And then on the Houston side, C.J. Stroud has been an MVP type player all season long.
03:28Their 0-4 start had nothing to do with the offense.
03:31Everything to do with the defense.
03:33And now their defense is starting to trend a little bit.
03:36And sometimes, Anthony, I know they played the Chargers last week.
03:40And the Chargers aren't anything.
03:41But sometimes you get one of those games.
03:43You see one go through.
03:44And they play really well.
03:46And maybe that was a spark for them.
03:48They have eight sacks last week.
03:50Will Anderson got off.
03:51Jadavian Clowney, an old friend, got off for two sacks.
03:54And it's like some of the stuff that they do really well in their attacking style is going to be
03:58a major problem for the Cleveland Browns.
04:00And as you said, these records couldn't be more misleading because the Texans at 3-5 are the biggest contender
04:07for that last playoff spot that the Browns are going to be dealing with,
04:11which just adds way more intrigue to Sunday's game and the importance of it.
04:14Wait, are you telling me Jadavian Clowney didn't, after the game, say more of the defense was built around Will
04:20Anderson than it was about his opportunities?
04:23More about Will Anderson's Hall of Fame credentials?
04:25Oh, we might have had that running, you know, in years past with Jadavian Clowney.
04:29I want to hear from fans, 216-474-0092, about this game because we've built up prior games in the
04:35schedule.
04:36But my heart hasn't been in that.
04:38I know, like, Daryl and Ken and Nick, they had different games where they tried to make it a hallmark,
04:47huge, defining game, win or go home.
04:50And I haven't felt that way about any of these, but like you said, they're 5-4 now.
04:55And you are in a predicament here, especially with the noise, I think partially, that the Browns created this week
05:01in that building about the quarterback situation.
05:04Had Todd Munkin have just said on Sunday, after Shador's game, like, hey, we loved what we saw out of
05:10Shador.
05:10We thank him so much for being able to take over the football for a game, put us in position
05:16to win, and now we're going to hand the ball back off to our starting quarterback, Deshaun Watson.
05:21He didn't do that, even though from what I had heard and from some of the supporting comments, it did
05:26seem like, yeah, it was never truly in debate about who the quarterback was.
05:31And to come back on Monday, too, and say that he's not ready to name a starter, was like, man,
05:36like, just sometimes, like, just think about the effect that that has.
05:40Because we talked about, I talked about it on a show that I was on this week, and we were,
05:45the timing of it was just tough, because it was in between.
05:48They hadn't met as a staff yet, and he hadn't told any of his players who was going to be
05:52the starter yet.
05:52So he didn't want it to come out through the media, and he wanted to be able to tell them
05:56first, so he just dodged the question.
05:58But, of course, it took a life of its own, as it does.
06:02When I saw it first, I'm like, son of a gun.
06:04Here we go.
06:04Here we go again.
06:05We can't ever have a normal quarterback situation.
06:08We haven't had a normal quarterback situation in five years now.
06:11But why couldn't we just say, hey, we're going to go back to our starter.
06:14He gives us the best chance to win.
06:15Because also, too, Anthony, the way that Todd's approaching this, and the way that any coach would that you want,
06:21he still believes that the Browns can win the Super Bowl.
06:23And he is thinking, who is the guy who's going to get us to the playoffs and us give us
06:27the best chance?
06:28It's still Deshaun Watson.
06:29So just come out and say it.
06:30Just come out and say it.
06:31It was my point that had the trade deadline not been around, that I don't think this even would have
06:38been an issue.
06:39And that's not to say that the Browns were trying to do everything they could.
06:43Don't misunderstand me here.
06:44It wasn't that they woke up the morning of the trade deadline and said, we've got to put our full
06:50effort, our full girth into trading should or say.
06:55No, but that's not how this front office operates.
06:58This front office operates at asset management.
07:01Always, always looking at value.
07:03And, yeah, I think if some team, the Josina Anderson fantasy and some of you should or fan fantasy.
07:11I call it, you know, fan fiction at this point.
07:14But had the Vikings all of a sudden said, hey, would you take a third round pick for should or
07:20yes, should or be on the Vikings right now?
07:22Right now.
07:22I'd even say, hey, if the Vikings caught up and said, we're about to give a third to Vegas for
07:27Kirk.
07:27Would you take a fourth for should or should or would be in Minnesota right now?
07:31But nobody was not because the Browns totally don't believe in them.
07:34Right.
07:35They also they're running this like a business.
07:37They do have all their all their charts and they have all their analytics, their best practices.
07:44They have all of this that, yeah, every player is worth a certain number.
07:48Are there untouchables on the Browns?
07:50Maybe just the wide receivers.
07:53Harold Fannin.
07:54Maybe Denzel Ward.
07:55Denzel Ward.
07:55But there's a price for that now.
07:57You caught up with a one or two.
07:58There have been there have been years where I didn't think he was untouchable at all.
08:00I think they would have given him up.
08:02We saw that Miles Garrett wasn't untouchable.
08:04So don't don't take offense to it.
08:07When you hear that help, most of the should or fans that that pay attention to this show,
08:11they would have done anything to get him to Minnesota or anywhere else where he would have had a guaranteed
08:15starting spot.
08:16Unfortunately, I don't think that existed right now.
08:19And I think he's not that far away from getting an opportunity here in Cleveland.
08:23That's that's the other part of this is they are.
08:26I believe that the that Deshaun is on thin ice, not because of anything other than they have to figure
08:33out what they've got in him
08:35and why we go back to, you know, why this weekend so important and why it's such a major game
08:41in the schedule with no hyperbole.
08:43Because if you win this game, you are firmly in the conversation for the playoffs, like firmly in it.
08:49For that seven spot, if you lose it, you are like firmly out of the conversation.
08:54And then I think so.
08:54You think it's that easy?
08:56Yes, I absolutely do.
08:56You've seen New England schedule.
08:58New England has a tough schedule.
08:59New England might lose three, three out of their next four.
09:01They're going to lose on Sunday and in Germany, they're in Germany playing the playing the Lions.
09:06They'll get the they'll get boat race there.
09:07Then they come back.
09:08They play the Chargers after that.
09:09They'll win that.
09:10And then their next two games, I don't have it right in front of me, but their next two games
09:12are tough.
09:13I'll pull it up here in a second.
09:14But more so the concern is Houston, because when you look at Houston schedule, OK, they go.
09:19So they go Browns, Colts.
09:21When I say this, put it in your head if they win or lose.
09:24Browns, Colts, Ravens with Jacoby Brissett at Steelers, Commanders, Jaguars.
09:30They might if they beat the Browns, they might rip off five.
09:34They might rip off four there before they play the Jaguars and just do some simple math.
09:37That takes you to four and five, eight or not four and five, seven and five or eight and five.
09:43Like you are in it.
09:44And if they lose to the Browns, I could see on their schedule, if they lose to Cleveland, they could
09:48get to nine wins.
09:49And the Browns would have obviously the tiebreaker over it.
09:51So that becomes that becomes the watermark.
09:54If they beat the Browns, they have the tiebreaker over them.
09:57And then their watermark becomes 10 wins.
09:58All right.
09:59And then I don't know.
10:00I don't see 10 wins on Cleveland's schedule.
10:03Pat's schedule, by the way, after.
10:05So that's Lions Chargers.
10:07Then it's Bills, Vikings, Chiefs.
10:09You get Jets for a week.
10:10Lost, lost, lost.
10:11And then Broncos.
10:12Yeah.
10:12So they're out of it.
10:13And then the other team in the conversation for that last seven spot is the Raiders.
10:17The Raiders.
10:18And you have them.
10:19You just traded it.
10:20And you're going Fernando.
10:20They go Seahawks, Broncos.
10:22I believe Seahawks, Broncos, us.
10:23So they might lose, lose.
10:25And then another potential playoff game coming up after the box.
10:28So you have some clarity here.
10:30I'm not willing to say this is the end of the Browns' run if they lose to Houston.
10:35I mean, they're four and a half point dogs.
10:36I've never been so terrified of a three and five team.
10:39Just looking at the quarterback, his receivers.
10:41Remember, they also got Marvin Harrison Jr.
10:43They got Tank Dell back.
10:44Nico Collins.
10:45And Kayshawn Booty is awesome, apparently.
10:48He went for 130 and two on Sunday.
10:50I know.
10:50We like to man up everybody.
10:51But C.J. Stroud.
10:53Well, and Anthony, you see it when last week was a perfect example of where Cleveland's
11:00defense can get them in trouble.
11:02They played awesome for three quarters.
11:04And I think Tyler Shuck is top half of the league quarterback.
11:07And you could see they had.
11:08Don't say that too loud.
11:09I got ripped.
11:10Is that going to get me?
11:12I'm in new waters right now.
11:14So you've got to help me out here.
11:15You've got to give me the caution sign.
11:17People did not like that I was high on another young quarterback that's name was not Shador
11:21Well, it's because every week after every game we play, you go, should we get that guy
11:24as our quarterback instead?
11:25And they got him in the second round.
11:27I'm not done with Cam Ward.
11:28Everybody just said Cam Ward's done.
11:30I think he's had a nice little run here.
11:33He won the game, Anthony.
11:34But Shuck, through the first three quarters of that game, looked out of sorts.
11:37The Browns had him in hell a little bit.
11:39And then they Browns, like, it's hard to play man coverage for four straight quarters
11:43for 60 minutes.
11:44You could see it at the end.
11:45And also, too, good quarterbacks and good receivers, a quarterback who's accurate, can
11:49beat man coverage.
11:50They always say perfect football beats good coverage all the time.
11:54Good quarterback play beats good coverage all the time.
11:56And you're going to see that.
11:57C.J. Stroud is surgical.
11:58He's accurate as can be.
12:00He can push it.
12:00He can get to every single spot on the field.
12:03And it's going to be a major challenge for the Browns' defense coming up this weekend.
12:06Yeah, Browns have a secondary injury, too, that you're kind of paying attention to.
12:10So, you know, that is something that's going to be really, really tough.
12:14And Denzel Ward can only defend so much.
12:16And he's amazing, by the way.
12:18It's been awesome.
12:19This is one of his best.
12:20Like, he's honestly, like, peaking right now.
12:22He's playing some of the best football in his entire career, which we've got to see some
12:26really damn good football out of him.
12:27What he's doing this year is, like, really, really special.
12:30Yeah, well, he's going to have to be even...
12:31Can he guard four guys at once?
12:32Right.
12:33I know that's the thing about the way that C.J. Stroud is throwing the football.
12:36It's amazing.
12:37Everybody just gave up on C.J. Stroud after the playoff game last year.
12:40Maybe it was.
12:42Maybe he needed to see a sports psychologist because he was down and out, I think, maybe
12:45a little bit too online.
12:47Yeah.
12:47Maybe paying attention too much to what's being written, what's being said.
12:51And coming up, we may have a Cleveland Browns player who may be concerned about that.
12:55So, we've got a huge, huge show today.
12:58Obviously, we have Daryl.
13:00Obviously, we also have Nathan Zagura of the Browns Radio Network.
13:04We also had something very interesting go down with a Deion Sanders interview.
13:11No.
13:12I know a lot of people have weighed in on this.
13:14I heard the afternoon show talking about this.
13:15I'm actually going to go into this with an open mind, believe it or not.
13:19I'm fired up.
13:20We've got a Cavs Cup game tonight.
13:23Is that right, Owen?
13:24Of course.
13:25We've got...
13:26In all seriousness, Anthony, I know you don't know.
13:29We've got special music.
13:31Beautiful.
13:31We package it a little bit differently.
13:33We know that this team...
13:34Because it means more.
13:35And they're in the driver's seat.
13:37Right now, 1-0 in the Cup.
13:39I don't know that we've ever been started off in the Cup this well.
13:42In the Cup's existence.
13:44And listen, everybody says...
13:45They're talking about it all over the Emirates.
13:47Oh, the Cavs.
13:48They don't care about the early season games.
13:50No, they did care about one in particular.
13:52It happened to have this music behind it.
13:55It was the Cup.
13:58Oh, it's going to be close.
13:59Does that mean also it's a nationally televised game?
14:02Let me look at my little chart here.
14:04Oh, I don't think it is.
14:05I don't think it is against the Heat.
14:06How do you not put the Cup on the Cup?
14:07And Evan Mobley's got a toe injury.
14:10Toe injury?
14:10There's a toe epidemic going on right now.
14:13A couple guys.
14:14I know.
14:15Just disowned.
14:15They need to rename Turf Toe.
14:17That has the worst marketing agency of all time.
14:21Who did we have a few years ago that had the toe?
14:25Darius Garland?
14:25Yeah, Darius had two toes.
14:28One on the left foot, one on the right foot.
14:30Wearing metal shoes.
14:31Yeah, not good.
14:32All right.
14:32Slowed him down.
14:33And when we come back, I teased it when it came to one Browns player.
14:38Well, he's talking to people to try to get some help.
14:41Does this make you more or less confident that Jared Verse is going to be able to turn it around?
14:47That and Mr. Harden admitted he's fat to start the season.
14:50You going to hold that against him?
14:51That's coming up straight ahead here on Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan.