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Charles Woodson and Al Harris, Packers cornerbacks

The mismatch on paper was a mismatch on the field.

Browns rookie receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie weren’t able to do anything against the veteran
Pro Bowlers. Massaquoi caught a pass for 22 yards, while Robiskie was blanked.

Derek Anderson threw to Massaquoi eight times, only to be frustrated by Harris, especially on deep go routes. Anderson looked for Robiskie five times, and the only one that was completed was an interception by Woodson that set up a Packers touchdown.

Without his starting receivers as viable options, Anderson was left to look for running backs and tight ends, which is no way to come back from a big deficit.

Woodson added a pass defensed and a forced fumble of Joshua Cribbs.

Thumbs down

Abram Elam, Browns safety

The “must-have” in the draft-day trade with the Jets has dissolved into a nonfactor. His pass-coverage skills are such a concern that he was replaced in nickel situations by Mike Adams at safety and receiver Mike Furrey at nickelback. That’s right: The Browns coaches think a third-down receiver is a better option in the secondary than the safety they got for moving down 12 spots in the draft.

Elam was on the field in the base defense, and was on the bad end of a pair of long touchdown passes. He missed a tackle on Spencer Havner, which turned into a 45-yarder. Later, Elam blitzed, Green Bay saw it coming and Donald Driver went 71 yards.

Elam’s lack of an impact fits perfectly in a secondary that gives away big plays like they’re Halloween candy.

Plays of the game

A fumbled exchange and a negative run inside the 5-yard line derailed the Browns’ two best chances at touchdowns. For the fourth time in seven games, the Browns didn’t find the end zone. This time, poor play in the red zone was the main factor.

The Browns had first-and-goal from the 5 late in the first quarter, but a Jamal Lewis run was stopped at the 2 and Anderson dropped the snap on second down. A third-down incompletion ended the chance.

Late in the third quarter, the shot at pulling within two touchdowns vanished despite a first-down opportunity at the 1-yard line. Lewis lost 2 yards on first down as right guard Floyd Womack was knocked backward.

“They shot the gap and made a good play,” Womack said.

An incompletion, a 2-yard Lewis run from the shotgun and a fourth-down incompletion killed the last scoring threat of the day.

Stat of the game

2.6: Yards gained per Browns pass play. Derek Anderson threw 29 times, completing 12 for 99 yards. He was sacked twice, subtracting 18 yards for a net of 81.

Quote of the game

“I’m concerned about our football team. Every time we lose, I worry about the guys and whether or not they have the willpower to go to the next week knowing, ‘Hey, we’re gonna win.’” — Receiver/special teamer Joshua Cribbs on the Browns dealing with a 1-6 record and 31-3 loss to the Packers on Sunday.

Matchups

Offense

Nothing fancy for Green Bay. Control the ball with the run and make big plays through the air. The Browns simply can’t score, and the play calling doesn’t make sense.

Edge: Packers

Defense

Blown coverages and missed tackles have become staples of the Eric Mangini-Rob Ryan defense. The Packers allowed three points and hit Derek Anderson all day.

Edge: Packers

Special teams

Mason Crosby missed a 55-yard field goal and sent two kickoffs out of bounds for Green Bay. He also had two touchbacks. Dave Zastudil landed four more punts inside the 20-yard line, and Billy Cundiff banked in a 22-yard field goal off the left upright.

Edge: Browns

Coaching

Mike McCarthy’s team didn’t look ahead to Brett Favre’s visit next Sunday. The progress Eric Mangini had been seeing failed to materialize Sunday.

Edge: Packers

Scoring summary

Second quarter

BROWNS 3, PACKERS 0. FG Billy Cundiff 22, 14:58. Drive: Eleven plays, 65 yards. Time of possession: 6:21. Key plays: Derek Anderson threw 22 yards to Mohamed Massaquoi, and Al Harris was called for a face-mask penalty to add 15 yards to the 21-yard line. Anderson found Lawrence Vickers for 10 yards to the 5 on third-and-4.

PACKERS 7, BROWNS 3. Spencer Havner 45 from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick), 12:11. Drive: Six plays, 71 yards. Time of possession: 2:47. Key plays: Rodgers hit Donald Driver for 13 yards on third-and-6. The touchdown came on third-and-1.

PACKERS 14, BROWNS 3. Driver 71 from Rodgers (Crosby kick), 7:01. Drive: Three plays, 86 yards. Time of possession: 1:57. Key play: Rodgers threw 19 yards to Donald Lee on second-and-14 from the 10.

PACKERS 21, BROWNS 3. Ryan Grant 1 run (Crosby kick), 1:56. Drive: Seven plays, 15 yards. Time of possession: 3:07. Key plays: Drive set up by a Charles Woodson interception and 25-yard return. Grant ran 9 yards. Cornerback Brandon McDonald called for pass interference in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 1.

Third quarter

PACKERS 24, BROWNS 3. FG Crosby 18, 3:34. Drive: Nine plays, 51 yards. Time of possession: 5:22. Key plays: Drive set up by a Joshua Cribbs fumble. Grant carried four times for 30 yards. Rodgers hit Lee for 16 yards to the 8.

Fourth quarter

PACKERS 31, BROWNS 3. James Jones 5 from Rodgers (Crosby kick), 9:42. Drive: Eight plays, 99 yards. Time of possession: 4:32. Key plays: Rodgers threw 18 yards to Greg Jennings and 14 yards to Havner. Rodgers scrambled for 19 yards on third-and-6 from the Packers 39. Grant ran 37 yards to the 5.

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