Written by: LarryMac
1/2/2009 3:15 PM

Pathetic.  That's as fair and accurate an assessment of this game as is really needed.  When the Browns defeated the Bengals earlier this season, it stood out as one of the ugliest NFL games ever.  How much better was this one?  The Browns 3rd string quarterback, Ken Dorsey, topped the Bengals second-string quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, to lead in passing yards...WITH 64.  The two teams sdquared off on an admittedly blustery northeast Ohio day and the two anemic offenses combined for less than 430 yards.

Leon Hall returned one of his three interceptions 50 yards for a first quarter touchdown and Ryan Fitzpatrick hit Chris Henry for a 20-yard touchdown in the second qurter and that was the sum of the scoring for the two teams.

The rest of the game was made up of Cedric Benson running at will against a battered and tired Cleveland Browns defense for a career-high 171 yards.  The Browns defense, for its part, can take some comfort in the fact that they were still able to keep Benson out of the end zone to keep the team in the game, with the help of a Benson fumble.  A Browns team that, despite its record, has done a good job of protecting the ball this season coughed it up an uncharacteristic four times against the Bengals, thwarting any thoughts of a scoring drive.

Jamal Lewis continued to try to carry the team, rushing for 76 yards and becoming only the 24th player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 career yards in a vain effort.  In a season that simply will not end, Ken Dorsey sustained a concussion and bruised ribs late in the game and had to be relieved by Bruce Gradkowski.  The Browns conclude a horrific home season at 1-7 and head to Pittsburgh to bring this season to an end and hopefully begin the work of putting 2008 behind us all.
 

Trackback Print

Location: Blogs LarryMac's Sports Report LarryMac's 2008 Browns Recap