Jan
4
Written by:
LarryMac
1/4/2010 12:44 PM
The Browns wrapped up a roller coaster season against the Jacksonville Jaguars with the Jaguars battling to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. For the second time in less than a month, the Browns got to play spoiler.
Derek Anderson marched the Browns 44 yards for a field goal on the game's opening drive to take the early lead, but sputtered for the rest of the first quarter, while Jacksonville answered with a field goal of their own on their second drive to tie. The Browns turned to their play maker, Josh Cribbs, who ran in his first rushing touchdown of the season to stake the Browns to a 10-3 lead. The defense followed his example with an Eric Wright interception on Jacksonville's next possession, which the Browns turned into another field goal and a ten point halftime lead. Jerome Harrison blew the game open in the third, with his fifth touchdown run in the last three games, to make it 20-3. The Browns added another field goal to break up two touchdown drives by David Garrard and the Jaguars, holding them at bay for a 23-17 victory - their fourth straight win.
The win was yet another commentary on this team's character, a character that they have developed under first year coach, Eric Mangini - whose status for next year remains uncertain. After posting a dismal 1-11 mark, the Browns wrap up the season 5-11 (one game better than last season) with a win over divisional rivals, Pittsburgh, under their belt.
The Good: Jerome Harrison rushed for 127 yards, his third straight 100+ yard game, and scored his fifth touchdown in those three games. The win marked the longest single season winning streak for the Browns since they won five straight in 1994.
The Bad: The defense seemed to take their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter, allowing two sustained drives by the Jaguars, who scored a meaningless touchdown as time expired to make the final score look a lot closer than it was.
The Ugly: Derek Anderson threw a bad interception, but did enough to win. hat said, he attempted only 11 passes, completing 7 for a scant 86 yards - marking the third time in the Browns four game winning streak that their QB passed for fewer than 100 yards.
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