Over the past 10 years there has been a tradition of losing for the Cleveland Browns. Year after year the Cleveland Browns have disappointed their fans and opened up the season with a loss on their home field. Well this year was different, the 2014-2015 season was the time to break tradition!
The Cleveland Browns had a great off-season bringing in a whole new regime to run this team. Now the team is under the leadership of General Manager Ray Farmer and Head Coach Mike Pettine. They also made some great acquisitions in free agency signing two hard hitters to the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Karlos Dansby and the hometown guy, safety Donte Whitner!
But the NFL Draft is what the entire sports world was hyped about. The Cleveland Browns took a chance and drafted the “Media God” Johnny Manziel. During training camp the Hoyer vs. Manziel quarterback battle was the focal point of every sports show. But in the end, the hometown guy Brian Hoyer won the starting job and felt ready to prove to everyone that he was the right guy for the job.
Coming into week two the Browns were definitely the underdogs to the New Orleans Saints. But the Browns are known to fight until the last drive and that’s what they did!
During the first half the Browns defense was very aggressive, they pressured the quarterback every down and they forced the Saints to go three and out on numerous drives. Brian Hoyer was pretty consistent in the passing game and our pair of rookie running backs put on a show for this Cleveland fan base. The Browns led the Saints going into halftime 16-10.
But during the second half the Saints made sure they fired back scoring two touchdowns to the Browns one touchdown during the second half, which gave the Saints the lead 24-23 with only a few minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Being down with two minutes left in the fourth quarter is every young quarterbacks dream! To be able to produce on the final drive and put your team in the position to win is one of the best ways to prove yourself as a quarterback.
Hoyer came through in the clutch to move his team down the field and with only a few seconds left on the clock he put the Browns in excellent field position to kick a game winning field goal!
With a game winning field goal coming off the foot of kicker Billy Cundiff, the Browns ten year home opener losing drought was over!