Monday Read Option, Week 5: the Cleveland Browns and Four Other Teams Laugh All the Way to Comeback Wins

When you have the Cleveland Browns completing a 25-point comeback, when the Bills can go from 14-0 down on the road as a heavy underdog and win, and when the Rams can put a scare into the Philadelphia Eagles after trailing 34-7, to the point they had the ball at midfield with an opportunity to win in the final minute, well, you know it was a crazy Sunday.

Except it has pretty much been status quo for 2014.

Five different games on Sunday afternoon featured a team with a lead of 10 or more points at some point eventually losing the game. No lead is safe, no matter who you are playing.

For example, so far this year, we have seen eight different teams overcome a double-digit halftime deficit to win. To put that in some perspective, the most comebacks from a double digit halftime deficit is 18 in a season (2011). From 2001 to 2010, there were an average of 10 halftime comebacks when trailing by that much, for the entire year. We have 12 weeks to go.

So rather than focusing on one game for this week’s Read Option, I thought I would do a quick rundown of each of the comebacks.

PANTHERS STOP FUMBLING AND START SCORING

The Bears-Panthers comeback was the earliest rally, and a contrast of turnover swings. Carolina got their first touchdown on this wild play where Philly Brown picked up a punt after being hit and drawing a flag. After that, though, Carolina turned the ball over on three straight possessions, and Chicago capitalized to push it to a 21-7 lead.

It could have been 24-7 right before halftime. Chicago failed to convert a 3rd and 3, and then Robbie Gould missed a 35 yard field goal (another recurring theme in some of these games). “The 2nd most accurate kicker in the history of football has missed a chip shot.” To put that in context, before that miss, Gould was 79 of 87 (91%) on field goals between 30-39 yards.

That miss was immediately followed by a fantastic two minute drill drive by Cam Newton, featuring large chunks of passes, ultimately setting the team up at the 9 yard line with 17 seconds remaining and one timeout. Time enough for some throws to the end zone, but likely resulting in a field goal if tackled inbounds.

Greg Olsen got open down the middle of the defense, as safety Danny McCray got moved over with Newton’s eyes initially. There wasn’t anyone threatening the middle of the field that should have pulled the safety over, but Olsen was able to score against his old team. That changed the game going into the half, and it eventually swung when two Chicago turnovers (Cutler interception, Forte fumble) set up the Panthers for the fourth quarter win.

SAINTS FINALLY PLAY LIKE FAVORITES, WHILE TAMPA DOES THEIR BEST ’76 YUCCANEERS IMPRESSION

The New Orleans Saints were in danger of dropping to 1-4 at home to Tampa Bay after Drew Brees threw an awful interception for a touchdown. New Orleans answered with a touchdown, but the Saints defense hasn’t exactly been a juggernaut this year. Mike Glennon took Tampa Bay right back down the field to extend the lead in the fourth quarter to 31-20.

Thus, in order to have any chance, the Saints would have to get a defensive stop, even after another touchdown. That was no given, but then Tampa Bay put together an offensive possession that would have made John McKay proud. The original Buccaneers coach was famously quoted, in response to a question about what he thought of his offense’s execution, that he was in favor of it.

He would have gone with a firing squad after this series. This play-by-play summary captures what might be one of the ugliest offensive possessions you will ever see.

Three penalties sandwiched around an aborted snap fumble, followed by a run for no yards, and a safety. Here’s the play that resulted in the aborted snap. Oops.

That safety allowed the Saints to get within three points and tie it in regulation with a field goal, before winning in overtime on Khiry Robinson’s 18 yard run.

ODELL BECKHAM, JR. FINALLY ENGAGES WITH THE GIANTS

Odell Beckham, Jr. had the rough offseason where an imaginary fiancée went public with some outrageous claims, and has not been able to get on the field because of hamstring injuries since mini-camp. On Sunday, Beckham got into his first action.

The Giants trailed 20-10 after a big touchdown catch and run from Antone Smith (more on him in a future post) but scored the last 20 points while shutting down Matt Ryan with pressure from the defensive front. They ultimately took the lead for good when Odell Beckham scored his first touchdown and celebrated accordingly.

JIM SCHWARTZ’ REVENGE IN DETROIT

Buffalo came back from a 14-0 first half deficit, thanks to Calvin Johnson not being a factor and leaving with another injury, thanks to the Lions only going 1 for 11 on third down, and also thanks to Detroit’s inability to make a field goal (0 for 3).

One particular stretch featured a 44 yard field goal missed by Alex Henery, a Buffalo Bills drive to then miss a 50 yard field goal with Dan Carpenter, followed by another Alex Henery miss on a 47 yard attempt.

After Buffalo tied it, Detroit had another miss with 26 seconds left. You can understand Kyle Orton’s joy when a kick actually went in from 58 yards a few plays later.

Jim Schwartz, thanks to some missed field goals, got his wish to be carried off on shoulders at Ford Field as the Bills’ defensive coordinator.

THE BROWNS LAUGH ALL THE WAY BACK

Charlie Whitehurst looked like a quarterback rather than a member of the Black Crowes for approximately two minutes after replacing an injured Jake Locker. He immediately threw a touchdown in the red zone, then hit Justin Hunter for a 75 yard bomb to give the Titans a 28-3 home lead.

Then Johnny Manziel started a joke, which started the whole world crying.

Obviously, what we have here is either a completely unrelated thing involving a backup in the middle of a three hour contest while talking to a teammate on the sideline, or the impetus behind a massive comeback. You decide.

In truth, I could put lots of GIFs, but they would involve 1 yard runs by Shonn Greene and incomplete passes from Charlie Whitehurst, mixed in with some penalties. Tennessee managed only 3 first downs between taking that 28-3 lead, and when Cleveland took the lead 29-28 with just over a minute left in the game. Cleveland controlled the game from that point, despite failing on two fourth downs. Another safety (this one from a blocked punt) was the big play that set the Browns up to win in regulation, and led to white guys dancing.

CALAIS CAMPBELL CHOPPED DOWN

This one makes me sad. Calais Campbell is probably the best player right now who has not been selected to a pro bowl. The likelihood of that happening–and the Cardinals’ chances–just took a hit when Julius Thomas went low on Campbell on this play, which prompted some angry responses from Bruce Arians.

ANTONE WHO?

Finally, a note on Antone Smith of the Atlanta Falcons. Before the season, there was much talk about a speedy, small Florida State back being a big part of the Falcons’ offense. Of course, most were talking about rookie Devonta Freeman, not the 29 year old Antone Smith.

He did it again yesterday, scoring on a 75 yard play where he took a short pass and raced down the sideline. If you haven’t noticed, Smith has now scored on four long touchdowns this year while getting a very limited number of touches.

How amazing is this? Here’s a list of the most touchdowns of 30+ yards since the start of the 2013 season.

He’s the only running back that appears on the list. Smith had one career rush before his 28th birthday. He now has 6 touchdowns over the last calendar year, all over 35 yards, and has done it on 24 total touches (16 runs, 8 catches), including 4 touchdowns on only 17 touches on offense this year.

Has any running back ever scored this many touchdowns in the first five games of a season, on so few touches? For you old Colts fans, you have to go back to 1975, when Don McCauley scored four times on only 16 carries (and one catch). Of course, McCauley only had 39 yards total. In the last 15 years, you find Jerome Bettis scoring 6 times on only 32 touches in 2004, and Stacey Mack getting four touchdowns on 25 touches in 2002, but again, those were on short goal line situations. Basically, the opposite of Smith and his amazing big play run. He’s been a truly unique case.

[GIFs and videos, as always, from the amazing Michael Shamburger]