49ers throttle Browns 26-8

    The Cleveland Browns kept the game close in the first half and even led until the final play of the first half when San Francisco's Matt Gay kicked a field goal for a 10-8 lead by the break.

However, the second half was a different story as San Francisco shut the Browns out on their way to a 26-8 win in Cleveland.

Quinshon Judkins rushed for 91 yards and scored a two-point conversion while Shedeur Sanders threw a touchdown to Harold Fannin in the first start of Sanders' career.

Cleveland drops to 3-9 with the loss and will meet 1-11 Tennessee at home next week, with Sanders meeting fellow rookie quarterback Cam Ward for the first time in what appears to be the most likely chance to win in the Browns' final five games.

Brownie Bits

1) Two key plays destroyed the Browns in the second half.

The first came with the Browns still down only 10-8 in the third quarter.

It's fourth and one on their own 33.

I have no problem going for it here, you are 3-8, try some things.

2) I don't even have an issue with a gadget play, but considering the wind is blowing fiercely, the cold weather, and a little thought should go into that factor.

It's a direct snap to Harold Fannin, who is not a quarterback or running back and not accustomed to catching snaps, let alone in bad weather, so of course, Fannin fumbles.

Eight plays later, San Francisco scores on a Brock Purdy run.

3) Then in the fourth quarter, Cleveland forces a punt, still down only 17-8, but it's fumbled by Gage Larvadain at the Browns eighteen and recovered by San Francisco.
Six plays later- touchdown.

4) The coverage unit allowed a sixty-six-yard punt return to Skyy Moore, and Malachi Corley caught a kickoff at the ten while he fell out of bounds, rather than allow the ball to go out of bounds.

Yet, Bubba Ventrone still gets a pass on the constant mistakes from his units.

I don't believe firing him now would make a difference, but Ventrone cannot return next season.

5) Shedeur Sanders made his first start and threw a touchdown without an interception.

Sanders is handicapped by lousy receivers as Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel were but he managed to avoid the big mistake, even at the expense of only moving the ball on one occasion.

6) On that one occasion, Shedeur Sanders showed a glimpse of what he could be with an excellent throw to Harold Fannin, who dragged two defenders into the end zone.

It was the only throw of the day that made you think and hope of a possible future.

7) Sanders also overthrew an open Jerry Jeudy in the first quarter for what would have been a likely touchdown.

The two had a salty exchange on the sidelines during the game and there needs to be some work on the  "chemistry" between the rookie and the veteran, both of whom have had their rocky points this season.

8) The Browns wasted another good effort from their defense as the three 49ers touchdowns came on drives of sixteen, eighteen, and thirty-two yards.

I don't care how good your defense is, when you have to defend the short field all day, scores are going to happen.

9) Cleveland's defense took a shot with the loss of  defensive tackle Maliek Collins, who had been having an excellent season and the injury looked pretty serious.

Losing Collins and his play up the middle would be a major setback for a defense that has carried this team all season.

10) The Browns offensive line hasn't been great this season but I was surprised to see Kevin Stefanski rotate Wyatt Teller and Tevin Jenkins at guard from series to series.

Of the possible veterans that are able to leave next season (Jack Conklin, Ethan Pocic, Teller, and Joel Bitonio, who may retire), Teller would be my choice as the one to keep, if I had to choose one.

I'm wondering why the decision was made and could it hurt the chances of keeping Teller for 2026?

11) The Browns should beat an even worse Tennesssee team (one win) at home next week.

But what if they don't?

The Titans aren't as good as the Browns and should Cleveland somehow lose this game, this will be another three win season as I don't see them winning any of their final four games against three playoff contenders (Bears, Bills, Steelers) and on the road against the Bengals and the returning Joe Burrow.

In my opinion, if the Browns lose at home to the Titans, Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski will have sealed their eventual fate.

All is Well! Ohio State bullies Michigan 27-9

      Well, all is well in my world for the first time since 2021 as the Ohio State Buckeyes put things in their proper place with a dominating 27-9 win over the Michigan Wolverines in their snowy home in Ann Arbor.

Julian Sayin threw three touchdown passes, including a fifty-yard strike to Carnell Tate, Bo Jackson rushed for 117 yards, and the Ohio State defense never allowed the Wolverines to reach the end zone, holding them to three field goals, all in the first half.

Ohio State caps an undefeated regular season at 12-0 (9-0 Big Ten) and will play the other unbeaten team in the conference and country in the Big Ten Championship game next Saturday, meeting Indiana in Indianapolis.

Olentangy Offerings

1) I must admit, I was a little concerned when Michigan scored three points on their first drive, and then picked off Julian Sayin shortly thereafter to give them the ball in Ohio State territory,

Ohio State's defense would hold Michigan to another field goal, and only another field goal would be allowed for the remainder of the game.

2) The play that worried me most was an early run by Jordan Marshall, the player who mouthed off most through the week with gems such as "we (Michigan) have the best coach in the country", "it's about the culture" (think about that over the last few years), and not wanting to "be around people who are all about themselves".

Marshall entered the game with an injured shoulder; his first run was for thirty-six yards, but he left the game shortly.

Marshall tried to return in the second half, but he was stopped for little gains and soon was through for the day, finishing with sixty-one yards on seven carries.

3) Ohio State benefited and was stung by two calls in the first half.

Ohio State benefited on a close call on a Julian Sayin to Jeremiah Smith touchdown pass that saw Smith possibly losing control as he passed the goal line.

Because the ball went through the back of the end zone as part of the dumbest rule in the sport (a fumble through the end zone is considered a touchback and gives possession to the defense), Ohio State would have seen a 10-6 lead turn into a 6-3 Michigan lead, returning the ball to the Wolverines.

4) The other controversy happened earlier in the first half.

Julian Sayin's QB sneak was initially called a touchdown and reversed by replay (I don't think Sayin scored, but I didn't see evidence on the replay through the pile of bodies), but C.J. Donaldson pretty clearly broke the plane of the goal line (The second dumbest rule in football), and it wasn't even replayed! 

Ohio State settled for a field goal on the drive.

5) Much of the talk during the week was about the availability of Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith for the game, and in the case of Tate, if he would ever play for the Buckeyes again, with Tate's eligibility for the 2026 NFL Draft.

I thought both would, both did, and both scored on long passes, 50 yards for Tate and 35 for Smith.

I think the Buckeyes are OK here.

6) The Ohio State defense never seemed threatened after the first drive.

Ohio State stopped Michigan after Julian Sayin's interception and shut down their offense entirely in the second half.

7) Michigan's freshman quarterback, Bryce Underwood, is being paid a lot of money, and he is a true freshman, but it's fair to consider that Michigan has to have thought they deserve more for their dollars than sixty-three passing yards and an interception.

8) While the game was essentially ended by the Sayin to Tate strike in the third quarter, the true kill-shot was the field goal that ate the final five-plus minutes of the third quarter and the first six of the final period.

That drive slowly sapped Michigan's will and any chance of it forging a rally.

9) Ohio State's offensive line has been maligned through the years (not as much this season), but the numbers in this game- Zero sacks allowed, Zero pressures against Julian Sayin, and one hundred eighty-six yards rushing.

It is often about the trenches and physicality in this game, and in the recent losses, Michigan had the edge in that department- not on this day.

10)  The defensive line did its share of bullying.

Kenyatta Jackson, Kayden McDonald, and Caden Curry are more than just pass rushers; they stuff the run as well.

Michigan finished with one hundred yards rushing as a team, but remember, thirty-six of those came on the first run by Jordan Marshall.

After that run, Michigan rushed for sixty-four yards on twenty-three rushes, an average of 2.78 per try.

11) The win (as we have heard so often) was the first over Michigan since 2019, but don't forget (although Michigan has) that in 2020, the Buckeyes reached the National Title game (before losing to Alabama), and a losing Michigan team ducked a certain defeat in that Covid season by meekly saying they didn't have enough players.

Combine that with the "Connor Stallion" losses, and you could say Michigan had a real two-game winning streak.

12) Give Ryan Day credit for class by telling his team not to plant the Ohio State flag at midfield.

Michigan stood at midfield to block any attempt and later said, "They weren't going to do that," but Day told Michigan coach Sherrone Moore at midfield that they wouldn't be planting any flags.

It defused a possible situation after last season's debacle in Columbus.
Perhaps if Michigan were so concerned about retribution, it shouldn't have started this practice.

Hopefully, we can get past this in the future from both schools.

PPM

   It's Rivalry Week with lots of bitter battles, including one for Ohio State against those dastardly Wolverines.

Last Week: 10-4 

Overall: 125-55

College 

Ohio State over Michigan 20-10

Texas Tech over West Virginia 36-17

N.C. State over North Carolina 20-17

Arkansas over Missouri 39-36

Boise State over Utah 31-13

Bowling Green over Massachusetts 30-20

UTSA over Army 40-29

Washington State over Oregon State 17-13

Marshall over Georgia Southern 41-31

New Mexico State over Middle Tennessee 27-21

Games of the Week

Texas over Texas A&M 24-21

Arizona State over Arizona 37-35

NFL
49ers over Browns 24-17

Dolphins over Saints 20-10

Games of the Week

Eagles over Bears 31-24

Bills over Steelers 27-20

Boxing Challenge: Riyadh Rumbles!

      It's better than never coverage from me yet again, but this time it's not so bad, as there will be no boxing challenge action over the Thanksgiving weekend.

In the main event, David Benavidez stopped Anthony Yarde in the seventh round to retain his WBC light heavyweight title.

Benavidez bullied Yarde in the corners and ropes before scoring a knockdown and stoppage.

Benavidez announced that his next fight will be against WBA and WBO cruiserweight Gilberto Ramirez in 2026.

That is an interesting fight, but not as interesting to me as Benavidez against either Dmitry Bivol or Artur Beterbiev.

Devin Haney knocked down Brian Norman in the second round and outboxed him the rest of the way to take Norman's WBO welterweight title via unanimous decision.

The win gave Haney a title in a third weight division.

Haney won by scores of 117-110, 116-111, and a way too close 114-113, with my score at 117-111.

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez added the WBA crown to his junior bantamweight title (WBC and WBO) collection with a tenth-round KO of Fernando Martinez.

Rodriguez was way ahead when he ended the fight in the tenth.

The best fight was in the opener when Abdullah Mason won the vacant WBO lightweight title by a close unanimous decision over Sam Noakes.

Mason cut Noakes over his left eye early in the fight and forced the Briton to fight through the blood all evening.

The pair met toe to toe for much of the fight and produced an action-filled fight.

Mason won by scores of  115-113 on two cards (and mine) and 117-111 on the other.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 146 Pts(5)

Ramon Malpica: 138 Pts (5)

Vince Samano: 58 Pts (5)

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm at work all day, but I'm hoping all of you enjoy this holiday, the one holiday that doesn't have to be religious or secular to be enjoyed!

Best to all of you!

Browns rout Raiders

      The Cleveland Browns 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday has taken me some time to "get on paper".

Quinshon Judkins rushed for two touchdowns, while Shedeur Sanders threw for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

The Cleveland defense sacked Las Vegas quarterback Geno Smith ten times, with Myles Garrett (three) and Maliek Collins (two and a half) leading the way.

The Browns improved to 3-8 with the win and will come home for their next games against the visiting San Francisco 49ers.

Brownie Bits

1) I thought Shedeur Sanders was good and bad in his first start.

I thought his interception to Charles Snowden of the Raiders was a poor decision, but his throw to Isaiah Bond was the play of the day.

2) The Sanders throw to Bond was on the run and was right on the money with the type of throw that Dillon Gabriel isn't capable of making.

Sanders isn't known for extraordinary arm strength, but if he can make that throw, arm strength will not be an issue.

3) Every week, we write about Jerry Jeudy, and once again, it's a Jeudy screw-up as he caught one pass for thirty-nine yards before fumbling it away.

On this play, Jeudy was running down the field with a large gain before pulling up ( in live action, it looked possible that he pulled a hamstring), and inexplicably hopped in the air before Jeremy Chinn punched the ball out.

4) Quinshon Judkins finished with only forty-seven yards rushing on sixteen carries, but scored two touchdowns, both from the "Wildcat" formation.

Teams will continue to focus on stopping Judkins first until Sanders (or any other QB) can consistently show the offense can do other things besides handing off to Judkins.

5) To say that I'm not in love with the Wildcat is understating things, mainly because it's not a passing threat, but I prefer the formation when the player taking the snap is a power rusher, such as Quinshon Judkins, rather than a scatback type.

Judkins is far more capable of putting his shoulder down and gaining a few yards than a smaller, shiftier back, so it makes sense to use him in short-yardage situations.

6) Ten sacks on Geno Smith for the Browns defense.

The Raiders had no luck blocking the Browns pass rushers, and while Myles Garrett was his typical dominant self, Cleveland had eight players who finished with a half-sack or more.

7) Both teams entered the game at 2-8, and honestly, neither team is very good, but the Browns defense alone is enough to beat other crappy teams.

Although this didn't work out against the similarly awful Jets, Cleveland's defense will more often than not lift them to victory.

8) The Cleveland offensive line has been much maligned this season and rightfully so, but the O-line held the Raiders to just one sack against Shedeur Sanders and zero to Maxx Crosby.

Crosby is almost as good as Myles Garrett, and he did hit Sanders several times, but the offensive line held things together enough to keep Crosby from taking over.

9) Myles Garrett has more sacks (18) than the entire teams of the Panthers, Bengals, or 49ers.

Besides that being a crazy number, keep your eye on that as the 49ers come to Cleveland this week.

10) I'm not a big fan of the Browns white alternate helmets, but they looked better with the orange pants worn against the Raiders.

The orange breaks up the all-white look that the Bengals have with their alternates, which resembles pajamas with all the white.

11) The win essentially ended any hopes of the top overall draft pick.

The Browns are now at 3-8, which places them behind the 1-10 Titans (a future Browns foe) and behind the following 2-9 teams: Jets, Raiders, and Saints, along with the 2-10 Giants.

Add in three other 3-8 teams (Bengals, Commanders, and Cardinals), and the Browns would pick between sixth and ninth if the draft were held today.

Since they will likely defeat the lousy Titans in a Cleveland home game, the Browns might need help to pick in the top ten.

Boxing Challenge

   The boxing weekend is all on one card, but it is a damn good card from Saudi Arabia.

The main event is a light heavyweight title fight as newly promoted WBC champion David Benavidez will defend that title for the first time against Anthony Yarde.

Benavidez hammered out a unanimous decision over David Morrell in February to keep his minor title and was promoted to full champion when undisputed champion Dmitry Bivol gave up the title in favor of a third fight with Artur Beterbiev rather than defend against Benavidez.

Yarde is a strong puncher and fought well in his title challenges against Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev, but was stopped in both losses.

The interesting points here will be seeing how Benavidez handles the punch of a hard-hitting light heavyweight and how Benavidez's punch affects a fighter at his natural weight.

WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman faces his toughest test against former lightweight and junior welterweight champion Devin Haney.

Norman has impressed since winning his title with two optional defenses, and his power could do well against Haney, who was battered in his "no contest" against Ryan Garcia and was timid in his win over Jose Ramirez.

Is Haney damaged goods? Or will he be revitalized in a new division?

Junior bantamweight titleholders Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez (WBC and WBO) and Fernando Martinez (WBA) will unify seventy-five percent of the division in their matchup.

Both fighters have had an exciting recent win, with Rodriguez stopping Phumlele Cafu in ten rounds to take Cafu's WBO title, with Martinez repeating his unanimous victory over Kazuto Ioka.

The unification fight might be the best battle on the card.

Unbeaten contenders Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes will face off for the WBO lightweight belt that was vacated by Keyshawn Davis when Davis missed weight for a scheduled defense against Edwin De Los Santos earlier this year.

Mason has been tabbed as a future champion with his fast fists and power punches, but his chin has looked vulnerable, while Noakes has looked strong against fighters at the European level.

Boxing Challenge

WBC Light Heavyweight Title. 12 Rds

David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde

Ramon Malpica: Benavidez KO 10
TRS: Benavidez KO 8
Vince Samano: Benavidez Unanimous Decision

WBO Welterweight Title. 12 Rds

Brian Norman vs Devin Haney

R.L: Norman KO 9
TRS and V.S: Norman Unanimous Decision

Unification WBA- WBC & WBO Junior Bantamweight Titles. 12 Rds

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez vs Fernando Martinez

R.L: Rodriguez KO 6
TRS: Rodriguez KO 11
V.S: Rodriguez KO 9

Vacant WBO Lightweight Title. 12 Rds

Abdullah Mason vs Sam Noakes

R.L: Mason KO 8
TRS: Mason KO 4
V.S:  Mason Unanimous Decision