Andra Davis had an interesting take on the Browns' first loss in three games Sunday.

''Now maybe everybody will stop talking about the playoffs and let us just focus on doing what we do, which we were doing from the get-go,'' Davis said after the loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

That's an interesting perspective.

Apparently the excitement from the world outside the team contributed to this loss.

For that, we certainly apologize.

One would hate to see people actually get excited about a team finally winning, so perhaps from this point forward everyone should sit quietly and hope.

This might not be fair to Davis, one of the best guys on the team. He was accessible after the game, and he merely stated his opinion, to which he's entitled as a U.S. citizen. He's also a dedicated player, a hard worker, a team captain, a leader and an excellent father.

Davis' statement merely fits in with the way the team seemed to approach the game in Arizona, and that was by having their heads elsewhere.

Consider this fact: Davis and coach Romeo Crennel both said that they were really happy that the Browns did not let the Cardinals score a touchdown
late in the game.

That feat did keep the game within a touchdown, and it meant Kellen Winslow's catch that could have been ruled a touchdown would have won the game.

But before the stops at the 2-yard line, the defense gave up a 79-yard drive that included runs of 14, 9, 6 and 8 yards by Edgerrin James. Said drive effectively made the Browns' last chance a rushed exercise with a last-play heave, rather than one that could have been careful and measured.

Over time, a team's weaknesses will show.

Sunday, the Browns had four healthy defensive linemen. The ones they do have are not great.

A defense eventually will need to stop the run to win, and the Browns didn't do it against the Cardinals, just as they haven't been stopping the run most of the season.

Not stopping the run in those four-plus minutes was much more costly than the benefits of preventing the touchdown.

To Crennel's credit, he said the staff did not coach well, and the team did not play well.

''We have nobody to blame but ourselves,'' he said.

His bottom-line approach and candor were correct.

And to the team's credit, nobody wailed too long or too loud about the Winslow catch that was (but wasn't). All correctly said that it was their fault they put themselves in the spot that that catch was needed.

Which is why Davis' comment and the team's play were kind of confusing.

The Browns are in a playoff push.

They have a chance to take part in the postseason.

These games are important.

Expecting people not to talk about it or ask about it is not realistic.

The Browns' task does not change if the fans talk about the weather, holiday shopping or the playoffs. Their job is to prepare, play well, play smart, compete and do their best to win.

Expecting perfection from a team that does not play in New England is unrealistic.

The Browns might make the playoffs; they might not. Expecting intelligent play is not asking a lot. The Browns played Sunday as if their heads were embedded in the saguaros around Phoenix.

Davis wasn't outrageous in his comments. He remains a team good guy.

But he is emblematic of the approach and the thinking.

By bringing up the talk, Davis pretty much said it had an effect.

NFL types say all the time that their only concern is within the team. ''The focus is on us. We need to do what we can do.''

All that stuff.

At this point, the Browns need to enjoy where they are, appreciate the interest and excitement, and then carry out the talk.

Play smart, play hard, and then go win the game.