Darn good win from the Browns this week and now we are in good shape after the week one loss to Kansas City. The Chiefs have lost 2 straight and are 1-2 and we are 2-1.  Now, we don't play the Chiefs directly the rest of the season, but we could see them in January like last year, when it really matters.  And I want that game here.

The next two games especially, are big games for the Browns. The Vikings know our coach Kevin Stefanski well as he was a coach there for many years. They are good and they will want to beat him. Then we have the Chargers who just beat the Chiefs. Both of these games are on the road.  Tough duty here. These next two games are games that teams that have big time late season and post season dreams win.  Staying ahead of the Chiefs is a big deal too, since we would lose a tiebreaker to them, plus we don't also want to lose a tiebreaker to the Chargers.

Want to send a message to the league? The TV networks? The Chiefs?  Win these next two games and get to 4-1. Go to Minnesota and win, and then to California and win! Plus, you're beating good teams.  I know I sound like I'm demanding of the Browns, but we need to be.  You can't win every game, but you need to win games every year that are tough and put you in position for later this season. And these are two of them.  There's a big difference between being 4-1 than being 3-2 or 2-3.

We are in a place we are not used to, and there are NO MORE moral victories, we are beyond that, it's time to be the Chiefs. It's time to beat good teams, and it's time to win on the road. Now that we are ahead of the Chiefs, it's time to stay ahead of them. In a way it's like we playing the Chiefs every week. Keep that mindset and the season will take care of itself.

Go Browns! 

Read Previous Articles

Last Weeks Browns Piece

Beat The Elite

Season Preview

New Album Releases This Week:

Larry Fleet – Stack of Records

Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name

Billy Strings – Renewal

New Singles/Videos:

Chris Janson - Bye Mom

Gabby Barrett - Footprints on the Moon

Brantley Gilbert - Gone But Not Forgotten

Scotty McCreery - Damn Strait

The Akron Marathon is Saturday! If you are running it should be great weather!

Also stay safe and have fun. If you are driving in the area there will be a number of road closures Saturday to be aware of... Find more about the race here.

The Marathon on Saturday the finish line is at Lock 3 but these roads will be closed most of the day:

East South Street eastbound between Wolf Ledges Parkway and Grant Street, 7:15 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.

South Broadway between Exchange Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

All-America Bridge northbound between Martin Luther King Boulevard and North Main Street, 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

North Main Street northbound between Olive Street and East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue, 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.

East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue between North Main Street and Carpenter Street, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Tallmadge Avenue between Cuyahoga Street and North Main Street, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

High Street between Martin Luther King Boulevard and South Main Street, 7:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

North Main Street southbound between Tallmadge Avenue and Olive Street, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

All-America Bridge southbound between North Main Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Bowery Street between West Center Street and South Broadway, 7:15 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Quaker Street between West Bowery Street and Ash Street, 7:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Ash Street at Dart Avenue, 7:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.

University Avenue between South Broadway and Hill Street, 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Wolf Ledges Parkway southbound between University Avenue and East South Street ,7:15 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.

Grant Street between East South Street and North Firestone Boulevard, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

North Firestone Boulevard between Girard Street and Thornapple Avenue, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

South Firestone Boulevard between Thornapple Avenue and East Wilbeth Road, 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

Palm Avenue between South Firestone Boulevard and Aster Avenue, 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

Aster Avenue between Palm Avenue and North Firestone Boulevard, 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

North Firestone Boulevard between Aster Avenue and Beardsley Street, 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

Beardsley Street between North Firestone Boulevard and East Wilbeth Road, 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

Wilbeth Road westbound between Brown Street and Firestone Parkway, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Firestone Parkway northbound between West Wilbeth Road and West Firestone Boulevard, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

West Firestone Boulevard between Firestone Parkway and South Main Street, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

South Main Street northbound between Wilbeth Road and South High Street, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

West Market Street westbound between High Street and Main Street, 7:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

North Main Street northbound between Market Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

North Howard Street between North Main Street and Cuyahoga Street, 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

West North Street between North Howard Street and North Maple Street, 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Merriman Road between Treaty Line and North Portage Path, 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

North Portage Path between Treaty Line and Merriman Road, 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Sand Run Parkway between North Portage Path and Revere Road, 8:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sand Run Road between West Market Street and Smith Road , 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Overwood Road between Sand Run Road and Wiltshire, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Wiltshire Road between North Hawkins Avenue and Castle Boulevard, 8:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.

Fairfax Road between North Hawkins Avenue and Castle Boulevard, 8:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.

Rampart Avenue between Fairfax Road and Bond Steet, 8:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.

Castle Boulevard between Fairfax Road and Garman Road, 8:40 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.

Garman Road between Melbourne Avenue and North Portage Path, 8:40 a.m. to 1 p.m.

North Portage Path southbound between Mayfair Road and West Market Street, 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

West Market Street eastbound between Portage Path and South Main Street, 8:50 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.

South Main Street between Market Street and Mill Street, 9 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.

Good Luck!!!!  Just be aware and be careful to keep everyone safe!!

Chris Stapleton was featured this weekend on CBS Mornings Saturday Sessions. He sang three songs; "Arkansas", "When I'm With You", and "Starting Over":

Box Office Results - Chang Chi (about 6 milion) 3 weeks!

New This Week - Dear Evan Hanson

More Marvel – Hawkeye -  trailer is out, movie soon.

New Poll - 50 of the best horror movies ever made, including “Paranormal Activity,” “A Quiet Place,” Stephen King’s “It,” “Halloween” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”   (Story)  

Two Weeks   -  (Moved up)   Bond - No Time To Die 

Erin asked if I could write about Jo Dee Messina. You bet and proud to do it.  What a compelling career she had. There aren't many country singers from the Boston area, but she is. And one listen to her songs, you'll understand you're hearing someone very unique. I emceed a number of her shows, including a huge charity show here at WQMX and Country Fest, and she is terrific!

Great Debut Song - A Real Favorite!

The beginning was interesting as her amazing talent and Tim McGraw were instrumental in getting her a record deal, as he produced her first album. I proudly played all of her songs on great stations for years, she was a breath of fresh air with her redder than red hair, and her carefree spirit. There are times that in country we take our music too seriously. What I mean is, songs that are too deep, off point, trying to make some kind of statement, or songs that are better suited for another format. A little bit of all of that goes a very long way.  That was NOT JDM.  Her songs were on point, and her ability to confidently sail through a song with power, passion and endless energy is simply unmatched. 

Hit Single Two - Great Song!

When JDM busted on the scene in 1996, country was riding a huge wave.  Country women were really riding high as Shania, Pam Tillis, Suzy Bogguss, Terri Clark, Faith, Martina, Reba, LeAnn Rimes, Trisha Yearwood, Lorrie Morgan, Lee Ann Womack and others were having big success.  JDM came out of the box hot with Heads Carolina, Tails California and she fit right in. JDM was a tornado of energy and you could feel it through her music. That was her absolute gift to us, an unapologetic burst of power that was a real separator from the pack.

This Broke Her Through - First Number One!

Her song choices were bold, and fearless. She was not concerned with soaring vocals, reaching and holding high notes for a ridiculous amount of time, or showing off some overdone vocal calisthenics. She never tried to out sing the song. She chose good songs that fit her perfectly and ran with them, as they were tidy and to the point, and you knew it was her.  She knew the song was a fit, so she just poured her passion into the song's delivery and message and didn't try to dress it up with a bunch of vocal lipstick. Something that always jumped out at me with her was she made the song her very own.  The songs also were constructed perfectly around her, and I'm not sure that has ever been done better for a single artist.

Big Song -  Remake Of An Old Dottie West Classic - Big Favorite

She went on a real nice run starting in 1996 that essentially ran through 2005 for her commercial and charting success. She had six number one songs and a bunch more top tens, including three more number two hits as she was a consistent hit maker. JDM became the first woman in country to have three multiple week number one songs from the same album. She is another example of just how difficult it can be to have long term success in this or any format, because things change in the format and in culture. But for the time she was a force, I was a big fan.

This Was Her Crown Jewel - (#1 - Four Weeks)

Her debut album, Jo Dee Messina was great with two big songs, and another that should have been.  Heads Carolina, and You're Not In Kansas Anymore were hits, and I always felt You Wanna Make Something Of It  (the third single) should have been, as it fell short, but was a slick video and a great song.  But that didn't slow her down as bigger things were just ahead. The I'm Alright album in 1998 was an absolute smash with five big hit songs on it and the next album, Burn was a gigantic success with more hits and airplay.

Her Final Number One

JDM's career had a bump or two with some well publicized financial issues early on that nearly derailed everything. Some health issues later as well.  But as a survivor of life and the business her music reflected it. I always felt that you could feel the hard work in her music.  It never sounded like someone handed her a song and said "Here, sing this."  I could feel the work ethic, and the drive in her voice as she seemed to live inside the song. In short, she possessed that one rare thing that all great vocalists have, I believed her every word. I can't say that about every everyone. She had/has the gift of it.

BONUS - This Should Have Been A Big Hit!

Her successful chart run ended with her last big song, My Give A Damns Busted that went number one, written by the late Joe Diffie.  And today, she still sings and tours I'm sure with a great passion. But JDM should be hailed as a singer that did something very difficult to do. In an era of absolute and unparalleled success by country men and women of the 1990's, with a menu of A-listers a mile long, she not only competed, she cut through and made you know you were hearing a Jo Dee Messina song.

Big, Big Song - 

A truly unique and big time talent, the incredible Jo Dee Messina.

Today is the first day of fall. OK, here come the comfort foods!

This looks pretty darn good!

Make THIS!

The Browns are in rare air, as big expectations and lots of winning lay ahead.  I am not down on the Browns at all. In fact just the opposite. But I am expecting much from them as they are out of excuses, and now success or not, is squarely on them as a team, and not as an organization.  As I wrote last week the days of "moral victories" are over for me, and hopefully for them.  (Click here to read last weeks article)

But looking at them through the truth prism, there is a part of the Browns that needs to be fixed ASAP, or the season could be a series of very close wins and losses. No nuts and bolts here, that's not our area of expertise, that is theirs, but our third down defense is bad, and is going to haunt this team if they don't get it fixed. The ability to get off the field and get your offense back on it, is crucial to their success and right now, it stinks.  Because the offense is darn good and needs to be on the field.

But this is nothing anywhere near new for them. Third down defense has been bad in this town for 35 years. And that is no exaggeration.  Bad third down defense cost this team two AFC Titles in the 1980s' with the Kosar teams. "The Drive"  from John Elway was an entire series of them. "The Fumble" would not even have been an issue if the game was not in the place it was. Again, Elway, and third downs.  It also cost us a trip to the AFC Championship game last year in KC, as the Chiefs made play after play killing the Browns chances of advancing to a game with the Bills that I was confident they would win.  And can we stop with the Mahomes thing?  The guy who ended our season last year in the playoffs on third downs was Chad Henne a 13 year journeyman who was making 1.2 million, pennies for a QB. Eventually you have to make a play and get off the field.

Last weekend, they made the Texans' third string rookie QB look pretty darn good as he converted third down after third down against the Browns making this game much closer than it should have been, and threw his first NFL TD pass in a 14 play drive!  How do we fix this? Not my job, but it is someone's and they need to do it. Players need to play better and coaches need to coach better.  If this is not fixed, the Browns could have a real issue against most teams, and that shouldn't be. We are better than most and it's time to show it.

Third downs are an emotional thing. Stop teams on third down and you get the ball back.  You also demoralize the opposition with three and outs, and that is a big deal. Then it energizes your offense.  It keeps your crowd in the game, and takes theirs out of it. It sets the general tone that we are better, stronger, and tougher than you are. Win that battle and you win most games. In this era of scoring a million points a game, there still comes a time in a game that you have to win -  that you have to close people out and get off the field. We are not really there yet.  You can't just simply outscore people forever.

And with an exciting player like Justin Fields coming to town this weekend, I hope we don't make him look like Elway, or Big Ben more recently, who has tormented the Browns third down defenses for years. Make no mistake, the Bears know this as does the rest of the NFL and the Browns now are charged with fixing this big time problem. The Browns need to take it to him and show the Bears they are simply better. As good as our offense is, they are useless if they are on the bench.

Football is an interesting sport. If your on defense, you are happier when you play less. And that's what we need, more third down defense, so they can watch the offense do its thing.

Now, get off the field!

GO BROWNS!!!

(Photo cred - To the Amazing Justina Bucceri) Thank YOU!

Friday, Blossom didn't just host a concert, it was an event. Brooks And Dunn came back to town for the first time in many years. And 30 years after their introduction to the Country Charts with their incredible debut song, Brand New Man.  Since "disbanding" in 2010, Brooks and Dunn went their separate ways, and each launched solo careers that had some success, but not a lot. Kix Brooks hosts a weekly countdown show, and they have done Vegas at various times with various people.

But this is what has turned out to be true. They should be together, they are better together and we are lucky for it. I really don't care if they do another album or release new music. If so..fine.  If not, I will gladly go and see them in concert again.  This show was something special.

It was an event. When you see a band play that has been together this long, it's special, it's different, it's incredible and it's more than just a show.  You get to see how the real pros do it, and that is rare  -  darn rare. Taking nothing away from any other act as concerts are always fun and have their moments of greatness, this is the another level.  Like the Eagles, or Garth, or The Doobie Brothers, and even more recently Darius Rucker,  it's just fun to see the cream rise to the top, and see these stars still on top of their games.

I was not going to miss this chance, as I didn't miss Garth a couple of times over the past few years. There is just something different when artists like this take the stage.  Brooks And Dunn basically invented, and still embody the idea of country as a lifestyle and not just a love of music.

Just learning about Brooks And Dunn or a long time fan?  Want to learn more about them after seeing the show?  Read my article about them. HERE

With Brett Eldredge/Morgan Evans at Jacobs Pavillion Tonight, Brooks & Dunn/Travis Tritt/Elvie Shane at Blossom Friday Night, WQMX Charity Concert Series with Teddy Robb Satruday Night at The Dusty Armadillo  and Thomas Rhett back again at Blossom Sunday Night...

I don't you to miss out on some Friday New Releases:

Scotty McCreery – Same Truck

Carly Pearce – 29: Written In Stone

Jameson Rodgers – Bet You’re From A Small Town

Laine Hardy – Here’s to Anyone

Ray Fulcher – Larkin Hill Mixes EP  (Which Ray will be part of our WQMX Charity Concert Series October 16th at The Dusty Armadillo.  Just $10 Tickets Benefit NEOPat and it is presented by Klaben Auto Stores....  purchase your tickets at DustyA.com right now!)