The Cleveland Browns could have spent a day enjoying their hard fought 17-13 win against the Atlanta Falcons, but that didn't happen. Many Browns players didn't even give themselves an hour to enjoy it. That could only mean one thing, the Pittsburgh Steelers are coming to town this week. The Browns were embarrassed at home last Christmas Eve by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Steelers, 41-0.

The fact that the Steelers are coming to town should not dim the light on a very good defensive performance by the Browns on Sunday. Aside from the yards amassed by Falcons QB Michael Vick scrambling, the Browns held the Falcons to a mere 75 yards on 22 carries. Even with Vick's yards the Browns held the Falcons, the league's #1 rush offense, to 50 yards fewer then their season average.

The Falcons were forced to put the game in the hands of Vick and he was unable to respond. The Browns forced Vick into 3 turnovers and a QB rating of 43.4, completing 16 of 40 pass attempts for 197 yards. The Browns decided that they needed to get pressure on Vick and when he stepped up in the pocket, rookie LB Leon Williams would be his shadow. When not stepping up and putting pressure on Vick, Williams was dropping in coverage and tipping some of Vick's passes as they sailed down field. It was the most extensive playing time Williams has had all year and it was truly impressive.

Williams was not alone in making a defensive impact. Veteran ILB Andra Davis played one of his best games of the season and was all over the place. On the day Davis tallied 9 solo tackles and was prevalent in pressuring Vick at times and defending the pass as well. Rookie OLB Kamerion Wimbley recorded the teams only sack of Vick, giving him a team high 5.5 sacks through 9 games. Wimbley's sack total leads the team and he now has recorded a sack in each of the teams road games this year.

The Browns also got exceptional performances from safeties Sean Jones and Brodney Pool. Jones snatched his 5th interception of the year to lead all NFL safeties and Pool was outstanding in pass coverage. Pool was matched up against another Pro Bowl TE in Alge Crumpler, the 2nd Pro Bowl TE he's played the past 2 weeks. Crumpler had 4 catches for 37 yards, this on the heels of Pool and the Browns secondary holding TE Antonio Gates to 2 catches for 22 yards in San Diego. Teams believe that their TE's are secret offensive weapons, it appears that the Browns have a weapon of their own to offset those TE's in Brodney Pool.

Offensively the team did just enough again. QB Charlie Frye showed marked improvement from his play of just 1 week ago. Criticized all week for "locking on" to his receivers, Frye's 1st TD pass came when he looked off of TE Steve Heiden and found a wide open Braylon Edwards to give the Browns a 14-0 lead. Frye was 16-22 for 165 yards a TD and a QB rating of 109.1. Ironically it was Frye's mobility that helped him on Sunday. Although he was sacked 5 times and at times held the ball too long, he also scrambled for 28 yards and kept the chains moving at times. Frye did not throw an interception for the 1st time in a game this year.

TE Kellen Winslow II continues to show he is the best offensive player the Browns have. His 5 catches for 90 yards led all receivers Sunday. His 40-yard grab midway through the 4th quarter led the Browns to their last score and gave them a 17-13 lead that they never relinquished. Winslow now has 56 catches, 12 more then any other TE in the NFL.

The team still continues to struggle running the ball with RB Reuben Droughns. Sunday Droughns averaged 2.6 yards per carry on 21 attempts. Droughns did get his 3rd TD of the year, but then later fumbled right before the half as the Browns looked to expand their 14-0 lead.

The Browns also got a lift form punter Dave Zastudil on Sunday. Forced into punting 10 times due to only 9 Browns 1st downs, Zastudil did not disappoint. Even with 1 punt being deflected and going a mere 29 yards, Zastudil averaged 46.2 yards per punt and really gave them a chance in a game dictated by field position.

The Browns also blocked a punt yesterday when Heiden deflected an offering from Falcons punter Micah Koenen. The block gave the Browns a 1st down on the Falcons 35 shortly before the half. A few plays later Droughns fumbled.

The Browns have all. but forgotten about the win yesterday with the Steelers coming to town. They were embarrassed last season and now have a chance to rid themselves of the bad taste that was left by it. Throw out the records, both teams being 3-6, these two teams don't like each other.

Back to DawgBones.com