Posted on 11/26/2007 8:16:58 AM PST by RockinRight
Quarterback Derek Anderson keeps pushing the Browns toward the playoffs. With the 27-17 victory Sunday over the Texans, Anderson improved to 7-3 on the season and went over .500 for his career at 7-6.
"He's a money player, that's what I call him," said receiver Braylon Edwards. "He made some tremendous throws, especially to Kellen [Winslow]. He calls them seeds and threw a couple of seeds to Kellen. He threaded it through some coverage and the ball was just right there. Kellen just had to stick his hands out."
Anderson fired some laser shots into double and triple coverage, including touchdown passes to Edwards and Winslow for 19 and 7 yards, respectively.
"He was putting it where nobody else could get it," said Winslow, who caught passes of 20, 21 and 22 yards in the second half. "There was one pass where they were in Cover 1. . . He threw it where only I could catch it. It happened just like we did it in practice. To me, it was better than the touchdown."
Anderson completed 24 of 35 attempts for 253 yards, the two TDs and one interception for a 96.5 rating. But it was the pick, on a pass intended for Edwards in the second quarter, that will stick with him. He threw it with a defender wrapped around his leg and cornerback Fred Bennett intercepted it.
"I didn't set my feet," Anderson said. "You're going to a miss a few. Just keep firing. I knew why I threw it. If I would have set my feet and thrown it, Braylon would have had a chance to make a play. I threw it all arm and into the breeze. I'm going to have to throw it essentially 60 yards to get it out there. It was kind of a stupid play. Good thing we won. I'll still be [ticked] about it for a week."
Edwards' toss:
What was Edwards thinking when he whipped the ball into the Dawg Pound after his touchdown?
"It was just some aggression," he said. "The big thing we talk about was jumping on them early, coming out and doing the things necessary to win this game before [there are] two minutes left in the game. So it was kind of like 'Here we are, this is it and we're not going anywhere,' " he said. "I was just excited. I'm not a dancer, but I get excited."
Edwards now has 11 TD receptions and needs just two more to tie the club record of 13 set by Gary Collins in 1963.
Jackson's pick:
Inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson returned to the lineup and made his presence felt immediately with a big pass breakup on the Texans' first drive and a second-quarter interception on a pass over the middle that was deflected by the intended receiver, tight end Joel Dreessen.
The Browns converted the pick into the 19-yard TD pass to Edwards.
"We still have a long way to go, but we're making plays at crucial times," said linebacker Andra Davis. "Brandon McDonald and D'Qwell had crucial picks and Kamerion Wimbley forced that fumble. The coaches are making good calls and we're executing."
Wimbley's force:
Wimbley forced tight end Owen Daniels to fumble after a big 17-yard catch in the third quarter at the Browns' 22 and Cleveland up, 17-10. Leigh Bodden recovered.
"I know he didn't see me coming from behind," Wimbley said. "He slowed down a little and I was just hoping I could knock the ball loose. Fortunately, we had another guy with great awareness to jump on the ball. That put us in great position to go down and score."
Holly's call:
Daven Holly was flagged 26 yards for pass interference against former Browns receiver Andre Davis in the third quarter, but felt it was a questionable call. TV replays showed Davis grabbing Holly's shoulder more than once on the play.
"I don't think it was pass interference," Holly said. "It was great coverage. I was real aggressive on him. He was pushing me in my back and I was looking for the ball. I don't know how they could call it on me. I actually thought they were going to call it on him."
Secondary shines:
The secondary played well all afternoon, especially with timely pass breakups on third down. Sean Jones, Brodney Pool and Bodden all made drive-killing third-down breakups.
Pool drilled Daniels to knock the ball free as soon as it hit his hands at the Browns' 5 in the second quarter. The Texans settled for a field goal.
"They were a dangerous, explosive offense and we made some plays against them," Holly said.
Cribbs' record:
Josh Cribbs' 54 kickoff return yards gave him 1,529 on the season - a franchise record - breaking his own mark of 1,494 in 2006. . . . Tailback Jason Wright left briefly with a neck injury but returned.
Smith's sack:
Shaun Smith, who missed last week with a sprained knee, returned to replace Ethan Kelley (knee) at nose tackle. (Smith had been starting at end before he got injured.) He responded with a third-quarter sack and the Texans were forced to punt two plays later.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670
If this team had even a passable defense we'd be 9-2 right now, but 7-4 is quite good for a team that almost all of us expected to finish LAST this year and we're a strong second, and, with a couple Pittsburgh screw ups possible we might even have a shot at first in the AFC North...however, I know the Brownies and won't hold my breath.
Browns Ping...
It is actually fun to watch this season.
The little bit of watching I could do, I agree!
Too bad I don’t have DirecTV and NFL Sunday Ticket.
the season has been a pleasant surprise but the remainder of their schedule is weak and anything less than a playoff appearance will be a let down. I’ve been a die hard Browns fan since the Leroy Kelly days.
I think we can win 3-4 more games at least. I’d be disappointed but content with 9-7, happy with 10-6, elated with 11-5.
So what are they going to do with Brady Quinn? LOL
Bench him as long as Anderson’s doing well!
I’d say keep him though - if Anderson gets hurt, we might need him.
Assuming Anderson continues to do well, the Browns better offer him some cash next year or we’re gonna lose him.
They could trade him for defensive personnel......
Quinn, yes. Not Anderson.
That’s who I meant.
I’d agree. On one hand I’d like to have a GOOD backup QB...but we don’t really know how good Brady Quinn would really be in the NFL, since he hasn’t played. If he gets to play once or twice this season we’ll see how valuable he is and whether he’s more valuable as a trade or as a backup QB.
I hate to agree with Bill Livingston of the PeeDee (who is normally such an antihomer he advocated the league force Bernie Kosar into the regular draft when the Vikings would get him), but his column on DA Sunday was spot on. In pressure situations, he sometimes gets very inaccurate.
It’s best to tender him for one more year and see what happens.
-Eric
Go Browns!
I’ve only seen a few but what I have seen is good.
It’s amazing to me that neither Quinn or Smith have yet to play a series but yea Anderson why mess with success! Troy benched behind Boller and Mcnair the two big name college qb’s in the 06 draft learned that hype doesn’t make you a starter in the NFL!
“If this team had even a passable defense we’d be 9-2 right now,”
It’s amazing considering that they lead the league in most points allowed.
Apparently they can tender him for next year for about $2.5M, and other teams can sign him only if they give us a first and third round pick.
-Eric
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