The Cleveland Browns continued their struggles in the fourth quarter, but this time they built up enough of a lead to hold on for a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals thus getting their first win of the 2010 season.
The brown and orange converted a last second field goal at the end of the first half to take a 13-10 advantage, and then took the second half kickoff and drove right down the field on a Peyton Hillis touchdown to extend the lead to 20-10, and then converted a fumble by Bengal QB Carson Palmer to raise the lead to 23-10.
That gave them enough cushion to withstand an aerial blitz by Palmer from that point on. He hit on 25 of 36 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns, finding WR Terrell Owens repeatedly. Cleveland had no answers for Owens, who caught 10 passes for 222 yards, including a 78 yard catch in the first half.
In total, Cincy outgained the Browns 413 to 295, as the Cleveland defense allowed the most yards they’ve given up all season, but made enough big plays to win. The Browns caused two turnovers, both fumbles recovered by DE Kenyon Coleman, and had four sacks, including a key one by LB Matt Roth with the Bengals driving late in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie or perhaps take the lead. It was the second sack by Roth on the day (Scott Fujita and Coleman had the others).
Cleveland held the Bengals to just 67 yards rushing, but Cincinnati didn’t really try to run, attempting just 18 for the game, choosing instead to take their chances against a secondary that Anquan Boldin exposed last week for three TD receptions.
Outside of Owens, the other Bengal receivers weren’t a huge factor, as the other Cincy diva wide out, Chad Ochocinco had only three catches for 59 yards.
Perhaps the highlight play for the defense was an unnecessary roughness penalty on rookie S T.J. Ward on a devastating hit on Bengal rookie wideout Jordan Shipley after Eric Wright knocked the pass away. Ward served notice to future Cleveland opponents that they should know where he is on crossing patterns.
Offensively, the Browns used Hillis as a battering ram once again, and he turned in his second straight 100-yard game, gaining 102 on 27 carries, including a huge 24 yard run with two minutes to go, giving Cleveland a first down and allowing them to run out the clock.
Mohammad Massaquoi wasn’t a factor, which is a concern, but Chansi Stuckey came through catching five balls for 56 yards, and the tight ends had their usual productive day, with Benjamin Watson making six grabs for 60 yards, and Evan Moore making a 24-yard touchdown reception from Seneca Wallace for the Browns’ first touchdown.
Josh Cribbs continues to make strides as a wide receiver as well, making two catches for 24 yards, as well as getting three carries for nine yards out of the wildcat formation.
Wallace played a solid game, hitting on 18 of 30 passes for 184 yards with the TD pass to Moore and one interception.
Now, coach Eric Mangini has a problem. If Jake Delhomme is healthy for next week’s game against Atlanta, does he go with him, or does he stay with Wallace after he led the team to their first victory. It says here that Wallace should get the nod based on his performance in his three starts. He’s put the Browns in a position to win in each contest.
The guess here is that Mangini will go with Delhomme.
The Browns are making progress. It sounds strange, but with some luck, they could be 4-0. If the NFL shortened games to 45 minutes, they would be one of the league’s surprise teams. Unfortunately, they still play 60 minutes, and the Browns need to learn to do the same. Sunday’s game was a nice first step.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 