Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Angel Food Ministries helps stretch grocery dollars
Poor machine maintenance blamed for fire at Akron business
Retired firefighter who broke color barrier among those being honored
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Two blowouts, one night
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 13-47
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Bowling season starts today
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Marla Ridenour Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Monday, Nov 26, 2007
CLEVELAND: Browns free safety Brodney Pool said it was the hardest hit he's made since he knocked himself out against the Cincinnati Bengals.
But his second-quarter tackle on Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels that jarred the ball loose and forced a field goal packed more than just a powerful punch. It sent the message that the Browns' defense was ready to shoulder its share of the load.
Quarterback Derek Anderson, running back Jamal Lewis and tight end Kellen Winslow were still the stars in the Browns' 27-17 victory on Sunday. Lewis posted his second 100-yard game as a Brown, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown. Anderson threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns. Winslow caught 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
But the Browns' defense, ranked last in the league, came up with the big plays when it needed them. Some other examples:
With the Texans leading 7-0 in the second quarter and facing second down at the the Browns 35, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson intercepted a Matt Schaub pass intended for tight end Joel Dreessen.
The Browns led 17-10 in the second quarter and the Texans had reached the Browns 39 when linebacker Kamerion Wimbley forced Daniels' fumble after a 17-yard catch and cornerback Leigh Bodden recovered. Texans coach Gary Kubiak challenged that Daniels was down by contact, to no avail.
''It's a shot in the dark,'' Kubiak said. ''If your stadium's doing it the right way, they aren't going to show you the replay if you're the visiting team. You just go off your player thinking his knee was down. If you're wrong, you're wrong.''
Rookie cornerback Brandon McDonald, filling in for the injured Eric Wright, had two crucial stops. He broke up a third-down pass intended for receiver Jacoby Jones at midfield in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, he grabbed his first interception to set up the Browns' final touchdown.
''We're bending, we're not breaking,'' Wimbley said. ''We're letting them get down there, we're not letting them score touchdowns. In the beginning, we'd give up some big plays in the run and pass. We're making big plays now.''
Browns coach Romeo Crennel still wasn't happy. His team surrendered 314 yards, but it held the Texans to 2-of-10 on third down and notched three takeaways.
''Our guys play hard, they make plays when they have to,'' Crennel said. ''If we hadn't given up that last touchdown, I would say it was a pretty good defensive performance.''
The Browns (7-4) won their fifth consecutive game at home for the first time since the 1994 season. Aided by the Cincinnati Bengals' 35-6 victory over the Tennessee Titans, the Browns also gained control of their playoff destiny. If the season ended today, they would earn one of two wild-card slots along with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
''I told you guys we were going to turn some heads this year,'' Winslow said. ''We can only get better. There was like 21 points we could have had on the board.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
CLEVELAND: Browns free safety Brodney Pool said it was the hardest hit he's made since he knocked himself out against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
