For much of the first half, it appeared that CBS was replaying last year’s Browns-Bills game which ended in a 6-3 Cleveland victory, their only one until the last four games of the season.
At the pace the contest was being played at, the network was going to have to show the entire second half of another game, because it might have been over by 2:30 PM eastern time.
However, it was really a different game and the Browns turned a late turnover by Miami into a 13-10 triumph, running their record to 5-7 on the season and matching last year’s win total for the entire season.
Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was using the caveman offense, seemingly refusing to throw on first down. In the second half, the offense took more chances and put a touchdown on the board after a 3-3 halftime tie. It was only a tie because Dolphins’ kicker Dan Carpenter made a 60 yard field goal to end the half.
Somewhere, Woody Hayes was smiling at the offensive strategy of the two teams. He also had to be happy because Miami QB Chad Henne, who went to Michigan, threw three interceptions, including one off a deflection which led to Phil Dawson’s game winning 24 yard kick.
The Cleveland defense played well for the most part, holding the Dolphins to under 300 yards total offense. But when the Browns took the lead on a 3 yard TD pass from Jake Delhomme to Benjamin Watson, the defense countered by letting Miami march right down the field to tie the game on an 11 play, 80 yard drive.
Rookie CB Joe Haden was all over the field, making tackles, breaking up a pass in the end zone, and intercepting a pass for the fourth straight game. The last Brown to do that was Ernie Kellerman in 1968. It makes you wonder why he didn’t start until Eric Wright was hurt in game 10.
S Abe Elam has turned into a big play guy over the past several games picking off another pass today. Elam started this trend with his strip of Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski a few weeks ago, and continued it with a strip and touchdown against Jacksonville. This kind a big play ability had been missing from the Cleveland secondary for a long time.
And S Mike Adams made the play of the game, intercepting a Henne pass after a deflection by LB David Bowens and returning it to the Miami 2 yard line with a minute left in the game.
As for the offense, well, if Peyton Hillis ever got hurt and had to miss a game, the Browns might consider a forfeit. The big running back from Arkansas touched the ball on 16 of the team’s first 28 plays. If they weren’t handing him the ball, they were throwing it to him.
To be fair, Watson had an excellent game, catching 10 passes for 100 yards and a TD. And WR Mohammed Massaquoi had a good game as well, grabbing four balls for 81 yards including 37 yard catch on a long pass (yes, a pass downfield!) from Delhomme and a nice catch and run which set up the score.
Delhomme did a solid job, connecting on 24 of 34 passes for 217 yards, but Browns fans had to swallow hard when the QB threw a pass late in the fourth quarter that was nearly another pick six for Miami. As a veteran, he should know better on throws like that. He also took a sack prior to Dawson’s miss of a 47 yard attempt in the third quarter.
The loss to Jacksonville continues to loom large as a win there would have the Browns sitting at 6-6 right now. This was another game that could have been made easier by a decent offensive game plan. Maybe the coaching staff is most comfortable with Colt McCoy after all.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 