Nov
14
Written by:
LarryMac
11/14/2008 4:20 PM
All the focus this week was on Brady Quinn's first NFL start. Would he live up to the hype? COULD he? Would this change be the spark that the Browns needed to right their ship?
Brady Quinn came out to the thunderous applause that you'd expect from a Browns fan base that has been calling for him since last season. He was efficient and productive, moving the team well with a game plan that had been toned down to account for the lack of time that he'd had to practice with the first team and overall it worked well. He spread the offense, completing passes to eight receivers and connected in the first quarter with Kellen Winslow on the first of their two touchdown passes.
The Browns defense kept a battered Denver offense in check, locking down the tattered remains of a backfield that had already lost Michael Pittman and Andre Hall for the season. Ryan Torain left the game in the third with a sprained knee and backup to the backup to the backup running back, Selvin Young, left later with a groin injury leaving the Broncos with only fullback Peyton Hillis in the backfield and the Browns up 23-13 after three quarters. Broncos QB Jay Cutler then put the team on his back and the Browns defense took the rest of the night off, watching Cutler torch them for 204 yards passing in the fourth quarter alone (he passed for a ridiculous 447 overall). With their fullback as the primary ball carrier the Browns opted not to pin back their ears and blitz, instead watching as Cutler touched them up for a 93 yard touchdown pass early in the quarter - it was all downhill from there.
After their earlier success, Brady Quinn and Kellen Winslow proved unable to stop the bleeding late, as Winslow watched a late fourth down pass go between his hands to seal the deal, after ending a Browns' previous possession with a fumble.
After the game, running back Jamal Lewis accused some members of the team of quitting during the game. That's what happened here, but a good number of these players seem to have quit weeks ago. This team continues to spiral out of control and wasted a good start from a player that the Browns faithful have been waiting a year and a half to see. He deserved better and so do the Browns fans.
Tags: