Back in 1990 + 1991, Bernie Kosar threw 308 straight passes without a interception and that was an NFL record that stood until yesterday when Tom Brady got up to an amazing 319 and counting!  This should hurt Browns’ fans a little as Kosar was one of the best QBs in team history.  He played in 108 games (105 starts) over nine years with the Browns and he completed 1,853 of 3,150 (58.8%) passes for 21,904 yards with 116 TD passes and 81 INTs (81.6 QB Rating).  Kosar also carried the ball 105 times for 162 yards (1.3 ypc) with 4 TD runs for the Browns.  The amazing thing about Kosar’s record was that the Browns were only 9-20 in games he started during the years of his streak (1990 + 1991).

The Browns just couldn’t get much going offensively against the Ravens yesterday and it killed them in this game.  Rookie QB Colt McCoy had a dud of a game as he completed 15 of 29 passes for 149 yards with 0 TD passes and 3 INTs.  His receivers didn’t exactly fight for the ball on his pickoffs but they were still bad passes.  McCoy also carried the ball 4 times for 30 yards (7.5 ypc) in this game.  Mohamed Massaquoi threw a 29-yard TD pass to Brian Robiskie in this game on a very nice pass play!  Peyton Hillis had a rough time as he only had 35 yards rushing on 12 carries (2.9 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 5 yards.  Mike Bell pitched in with 27 yards rushing on 7 carries (3.9 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 48 yards (24.0 avg).  WRs Chansi Stuckey (4 rec, 39 yards), Brian Robiskie (2 rec, 35 yards, TD) and Mohamed Massaquoi (2 rec, 14 yards) all pretty much had games to forget except for the TD pass and catch.  The Browns finished up with 102 yards rushing on 26 carries (3.9 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 30 passes for 178 yards as they had possession of the football for only 28:14 in this game.

DE Kenyon Coleman, OLB Matt Roth and ILB Chris Gocong led the Browns with 7 tackles apiece in this game.  But, rookie CB Joe Haden was a standout once again with 5 tackles, 1 pass defensed, 1 sack and a interception!  The Ravens finished up with 161 yards rushing on 38 carries (4.2 ypc) and they also completed 12 of 19 passes for 97 yards.  The Browns are now 5-10 on the year.

Time hasn’t changed how Browns’ fans think of Art Modell and the Baltimore Ravens!  They hate them and it will show on Sunday!  The Browns have lost two games in a row in which they have scored a combined 23 points.  But they seem to play to the level of their competition so I think they are going to play a good game.  The Browns lost in the first meeting in Baltimore 24-17.  The Ravens need this game as they are 1/2 a game behind the Steelers in the AFC North.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Browns have the ball:  Peyton Hillis rushed for 144 yards and he caught 7 passes in the first meeting between these two teams.  He’s looking a little gimpy in practice but I think he’s going to be o.k. by Sunday.  Still, look for the Browns to take the shackles off of Colt McCoy this weekend.  If the Browns can keep OLB Terrell Suggs (11 sacks) out of the backfield, McCoy should be able to make some plays down the field as the Ravens are giving up 222.6 yards passing per game this year.  Ben Watson, Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie are going to have to make some plays in the passing game if the Browns are going to pull an upset this Sunday.

When the Ravens have the ball:  The Browns have to step up and stop Ray Rice and Willis McGahee or it’s going to be a long day at Browns Stadium.  Joe Flacco is likely going to want to take some shots down the field to Anquan Boldin who caught 3 TD passes against the Browns the first time around.  It won’t be so easy this time with Joe Haden on Boldin instead of Eric Wright.  The secret weapon of the Ravens in this game is likely going to be rookie TE Ed Dickson so the safeties (T.J. Ward & Abram Elam) better be keeping an eye on him.

PREDICTION:  RAVENS 23, BROWNS 20

The Cleveland Browns have placed 25-year old TE Evan Moore on the Injured Reserve List with a hip/groin injury.  Moore played in 12 games for the Browns this year and he caught 16 passes for 322 yards (20.1 avg) with a TD grab.  He has now played in 17 games in his first two years with the Browns and he has caught 28 passes for 480 yards (17.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.  The Browns will need Robert Royal to step up in Moore’s absence.

The Browns have placed 31-year old linebacker Scott Fujita on the Injured Reserve List with a knee injury, ending his season.  Fujita played in 9 games for the Browns this year and he had 51 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 pass defensed, 1 interception and 2 forced fumbles.  The linebacking unit has missed Fujita’s toughness and playmaking.

The Cleveland Browns have placed 25-year old CB Eric Wright on I.R. ending his season due to a knee injury.  Wright played in 13 games for the Browns this year and he had 42 tackles, 9 passes defensed and 1 interception.  He has now played in 59 games in his first four years with the Browns and he had 249 tackles, 47 passes defensed, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles and 9 interceptions (0ne returned for a TD).  It will be interesting to see if the Browns keep him around for 2011 as he was simply awful for them this year.

The Browns didn’t play any defense as the Bengals had the ball for 38:03 in this game and it did they in yesterday in Cincinnati.  Colt McCoy returned as the starting QB and he played another good game.  He completed 19 of 25 passes for 243 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs yesterday in a winning effort.  Peyton Hillis led the way on the ground for the Browns with 59 yards rushing on 14 carries (4.2 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 23 yards (11.5 avg).  TE Ben Watson (7 rec, 92 yards), WR Brian Robiskie (5 rec, 82 yards, TD) and TE Robert Royal (2 rec, 29 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Browns yesterday.  The Browns finished up with 59 yards rushing on 14 carries (4.2 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 25 passes for 219 yards.

Safety T.J. Ward (10 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed), DT Ahtyba Rubin (10 tackles), DE Kenyon Coleman (9 tackles) and OLB Matt Roth (9 tackles) led the way for the Browns’ “D” in this game.  The Bengals rushed for 188 yards on 45 carries (4.2 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 23 passes for 209 yards.  The Browns are now 5-9 on the season after this very disappointing loss.

The Browns have won 2 of their last 3 games and 4 of the last 7.  Head Coach Eric Mangini has led the Browns to a 5-2 record in December & January in his time with the Browns.  The Browns beat the Bengals 23-20 in Week #4 and that’s what started the Bengals’ tailspin as the Bengals have now lost 10 games in a row.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Browns have the ball:  Seneca Wallace was under center in the first game against the Bengals but it will be Colt McCoy this time around.  It won’t change what the Browns try to do too much.  They are going to feed the ball to Peyton Hillis against a soft Bengals’ front seven that is allowing 124.8 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.  The Bengals are giving up 223.1 yards passing per game so far this year and they only have 18 sacks, so Colt McCoy should have more than enough time to survey the field before tossing the ball.  Ben Watson, Mohammed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie will likely be the top targets for McCoy in the passing game other than Peyton Hillis out of the backfield.

When the Bengals have the ball:  The Browns have had troubles stopping the run so don’t be surprised to see Cedric Benson & Bernard Scott getting more carries than usual this Sunday.  Terrell Owens had 10 catches for 222 yards with 1 TD grab the last time these two teams played but T.O. will be matched up with either Joe Haden or Sheldon Brown so things are going to different this time around.  He won’t have Eric Wright to run away from this Sunday.  Carson Palmer has 18 interceptions this year and so do the Browns so look for Palmer to throw a couple passes to the wrong team this Sunday.

PREDICTION:  BROWNS 24, BENGALS 21

Head coach Eric Mangini has named 24-year old rookie Colt McCoy as his starting QB for the rest of the year.  McCoy has played in 5 games for the Browns so far this year and he has completed 81 of 127 passes (63.8%) for 975 yards with 3 TD passes and 3 INTs (85.3 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 20 times for 87 yards (4.4 ypc) with 1 TD run so far this year.  McCoy was a third round pick out of Texas (#85 overall) but he has played like a first round pick for the Browns so far this year.  They hope he can finish strong against the Bengals, Ravens and Steelers.

The Browns have released 28-year old cornerback Eric King.  King played in 3 games for the Browns this year and he made 3 tackles.  The Browns have signed 24-year old CB Coye Francies off the practice squad to replace King on the roster.  Francies played in 6 games for the Browns in 2009 and he had 4 tackles and 1 pass defensed.  Francies was a 6th round pick by the Browns in 2009 out of San Jose State.