There were so many unanswered questions before the Cleveland Browns squared off against the Minnesota Vikings. The brown-and-orange front office seemed to surrender the season with the surprising moves made earlier in the week. However, the Browns’ players and coaches had other plans. It was just what the doctor ordered for the starving fan base that holds on to their team so dearly.
After scoring just 16 points in their first two games, the Browns answered with 31 points on the road. Although they weren’t perfect by any means, the orange helmets came out with a purpose and executed when the game mattered the most. Away from home in another hostile environment, the Browns beat the Vikings 31-27.
Starting just his second game of his NFL career, Brian Hoyer looked poised, showed command of the huddle, and moved the once anemic offense. Something worth of noting is Hoyer did not have any delay-of-game penalties either. The local kid from Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland finished with 321 yards and three touchdowns. Despite throwing three interceptions, Hoyer ran the offense the way offensive coordinator Norv Turner envisioned originally.
The return of the often troubled Josh Gordon proved to be a big one. Gordon caught 10 receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown. The 21-year old was crucial and a heavy part of the Browns offense that put up 409 yards. If there were a trade in the works for Gordon, the Browns brass might want to re-think it.
In a road game that no analyst or “laughing” expert (NFL Network) picked the Browns to win, the team battled adversity and left it all on the field. As a Brown fan, that’s all you can ask for. So instead of a Browns therapy gloomy and sad Monday, happy Monday brown-and-orange nation!
Ryan Ruiz is the Cleveland Browns Beat Writer for The Inscriber: Digital Magazine. You can follow him on Facebook: Ryan (BrownsWriter) Ruiz and Twitter @ryanpruiz24. Ryan is also a Browns correspondent for The Sportsfix. Tune in every Friday at noon on www.thesportsfix.net.