Browns Offense Finds Form
Sep 29, 2008
Author: DawgBones.com

The Cleveland Browns went into Cincinnati on Sunday and got a much needed 20-12 win. It was the Browns first win of the 2008 season raising their record to 1-3. More importantly it gives the team some confidence heading into their week five bye week and keeps the wolves, that want a change at QB and at the head coaching position, at the door for now.

The fact is current Browns head coach Romeo Crennel seems to have tied his success and the teams to embattled and struggling QB Derek Anderson. For three quarters on Sunday it looked like Anderson had started his last game for the Browns.

With 1:12 to play in the 3rd quarter Anderson dropped back to pass. In a moment of clarity or possibly panic he took off running, 11 yards later he had a 1st down and seemed to make his long awaited debut in the 2008 season. From that point on Anderson went 8-9 for 85 yards a touchdown and no interceptions. The Browns offense began to look like the 2007 edition, not the putrid 2008 version.

Some will argue, and with good reason, the Browns played the Bengals. These Bengals were without starting QB Carson Palmer who missed the game due to elbow inflammation. His replacement, Ryan Fitzpatrick, was making his 1st start since his rookie year of 2005. Fitzpatrick struggled, turning the ball over four times, and only getting the Bengals into the end zone once the game was all, but determined. They will also argue that the Bengals defense is horrible, but that would be inaccurate. They are ranked 19th after Sunday's game in yards allowed per game and 17th in points allowed per game. So they are not great, but not as bad as many would want to believe.

The fact is the Browns offense finally seemed to find its groove with 1:12 to go in the 3rd quarter and that is probably because Anderson found his.

The Browns defense continues its solid play. Seemingly, under the radar, the Browns are ranked 10th in the NFL in yards allowed per game and 9th in points allowed per game. Going into the Bengals game the Browns had not forced a fumble, Sunday they forced 2, five turnovers altogether. They added three sacks and five more tackles for loss. The defense held all-pro WR's Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh to nine catches for 78 yards and one TD total. The defense gave up just 211 total yards and helped give the team an 8+ minute advantage in time of possession.

On special teams there was a Joshua Cribbs sighting. Cribbs 44 yard return in the 3rd quarter was his longest of the year and may be an indication that his high ankle sprain may be getting better. Punter Dave Zastudil had another solid day averaging 46.3 yards per kick.

Does Sunday's win make everything better for the Browns? Are they magically going to be a better team now? Probably not, but it may give them a little confidence and that is something they have been sorely missing. They will need all of it and hope for some players to come back from injury during their bye week as the world champion New York Giants come to town in week 6.

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