The more time there is to sift through the numbers, the more confounding it is that the Browns benched quarterback Derek Anderson for Brady Quinn.

In an earlier posting, we compared Anderson of this year to Anderson of last year. Those numbers told one story. But the more revealing story comes from these numbers.

During the Browns first four games this season, Anderson posted a 54.1 passer rating.

During the Browns past four games this season, Anderson posted an 88.8 passer rating.

The Browns struggles have more to do with their defense than their offense. In Cleveland’s three wins, the defense has allowed an average of 14 points per game. In Cleveland’s five losses, the defense has allowed an average of 24 points per game.

If the team were going to bench Anderson, the optimum time to do it would have been earlier in the season, when the quarterback’s performance warranted it.

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