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CPD
Not pretty, but precious: Browns revel in long-awaited victory over error-prone Bengals
by Tony Grossi Sunday September 28, 2008, 7:01 PM
Joshua Gunter/The Plain DealerThe Browns' Braylon Edwards goes high to grab this fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Derek Anderson (3) in the corner of the end zone Sunday in Cincinnati. The catch gave the Browns a 10-6 lead on their way to a 20-12 triumph at Paul Brown Stadium.
CINCINNATI -- The only quarterback change here on Sunday involved the Cincinnati Bengals. Carson Palmer was held out with an inflamed elbow as a precaution. The Browns learned of the surprise move when they arrived at Paul Brown Stadium in the morning.
It was the first break they've received all year.
Behind backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had not started an NFL game since his rookie 2005 season with St. Louis, the Bengals committed five turnovers and wasted timeouts.
Those miscues enabled the Browns and Derek Anderson to persevere and come away with a 20-12 victory, their first in nine months.
"It feels like forever," said cornerback Brandon McDonald.
The win allows the Browns (1-3) to dwell on positive vibes during their bye week in preparation of a Monday night home game against the defending champion New York Giants -- the team that whipped the Browns into a tailspin in August.
The Bengals (0-4) have road games ahead at Dallas and the Jets and don't reach their scheduled bye until Nov. 9. In other words, hand them the keys to the AFC North cellar.
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CPD
Browns Insider: Bruises a pleasant price to pay as Lewis enjoys focus on ground game
by Mary Kay Cabot Sunday September 28, 2008, 8:41 PM
Joshua Gunter/The Plain DealerJamal Lewis takes a tumble after colliding with the Bengals' Leon Hall during the first half of Sunday's game.
Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski made good on his promise to give Jamal Lewis the ball more, and it worked beautifully. Lewis ran the ball six times for 40 yards on the first drive Sunday to set up a Phil Dawson field goal. "Chud surprised me running it like we did early," said Lewis, who finished with 25 catches for 79 yards and a TD. "We just came out and set the tempo. We're a little beat up from pounding it up in there."
The Browns abided by the Lewis Rule: give him the ball 25 or more times and you almost always win. Lewis is 23-3 when he carries 25 times or more. In the previous three games, he averaged less than 15 carries per game -- all losses.
The return to the run came a week after Lewis said it was "pathetic" he got the ball only 12 times in Baltimore. Chud said he agreed and that it would change.
"I think we were going to go that way whether I said anything or not," said Lewis. "The offensive staff came together and we played some good physical football."
Romeo Crennel said the coaching staff told the players the first two plays would be runs and they'd go from there. Lewis gained six yards on his first run, 18 on his second.
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Edwards finally riffs, so Browns finally roll
by Mary Kay Cabot Sunday September 28, 2008, 8:25 PM
Joshua Gunter/The Plain DealerBraylon Edwards plays an imaginary guitar to celebrate his first TD catch of the season during the Browns' 17-point fourth quarter Sunday.
CINCINNATI -- Braylon Edwards got back to making some beautiful music in the end zone Sunday afternoon, celebrating his touchdown catch with an air guitar solo to Aerosmith's "Dream On." Just when it looked like all the Browns' offensive magic had gone poof, Edwards made a spectacular one-handed grab of a Derek Anderson pass on a left fade route for a 4-yard TD that put the Browns up, 10-6, in the fourth quarter.
The score -- Edwards' first of the season --ignited a 17-point quarter, which was reminiscent of the high-flying Browns of 2007.
"[Anderson] put it where only I could catch it," said Edwards. "[Cornerback] Leon Hall couldn't do anything about it and I was able to make the catch. It was a heck of a throw."
The TD came a play after Hall forced Edwards out of bounds on the same route but to the right. Thanks to the new Kellen Winslow-inspired no forceout rule, there was no debate on the incompletion.
"He and I have been working our tails off on that fade throw, because they told us if we don't, we're not going to get to throw it," said Anderson. "Everyday after practice, we're throwing, throwing, throwing. I figure if I keep throwing it, he's going to make a play eventually."
Edwards, who said the Aerosmith song was running through his head after his TD catch, apologized to Anderson midweek for his first three sub-par games.
"I said, 'I haven't been there for you,'" said Edwards. "Last year, we were there for each other. Last year, when we stepped on the field, we knew we were going to score. It was just a matter of how, who and how fast."
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Sacking the sub: Bengals' backup QB steps in for Palmer and takes a beating
by Josh Katzowitz, Special to The Plain Dealer Sunday September 28, 2008, 8:17 PM
Joshua Gunter/The Plain DealerBengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick struggles to gain a first down during the third quarter Sunday as (from left) Brandon McDonald, D'Qwell Jackson and Leon Williams close in.
CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer practiced Wednesday and Thursday, so backup Ryan Fitzpatrick was caught off guard when he was the one to take the first-team snaps Friday. Fitzpatrick had reason to feel surprised. Palmer had started 51 straight games, and even with poor offensive line play that allowed Bengals opponents to sack him nine times in three contests while bloodying his face on more than one occasion this season, Palmer expressed his desire to play. Fitzpatrick didn't have reason not to believe him.
"Carson is an iron man," Fitzgerald said. "He gets dinged up in games, but you'll never know it. He never misses a lift. Even if he's sore, he never misses a practice."
On Sunday, though, the medical staff decreed Palmer wouldn't play against the Browns, citing the inflamed right elbow he suffered in last week's loss to the Giants. That opened the door for Fitzpatrick -- who, making his first start since 2005, struggled to run Cincinnati's offense effectively during Cleveland 's 20-12 win.
With Palmer -- who owns a 6-2 lifetime record against the Browns -- on the sideline designated as the emergency third quarterback, Fitzpatrick completed 21 of 35 passes for 156 yards, a touchdown, three interceptions and a lost fumble.
Fitzpatrick said he wanted to spark an offense that has been abysmal most of the season, but instead, Cleveland smoked him while exploiting his inexperience.
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