Posted on 12/16/2007 5:08:30 PM PST by Chi-townChief
Once out of the snow, the Cleveland Browns slid closer to a spot in the AFC playoffs.
Jamal Lewis plowed for 163 yards and Phil Dawson somehow kicked two field goals through harsh, wintry winds as the surprising Browns improved their postseason chances with an 8-0 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
In blizzard-like conditions better suited for the Iditarod sled-dog race, the Browns (9-5), who never figured to be playing meaningful games in December when the season started, picked up one of their biggest wins since returning as an expansion franchise in 1999.
Cleveland needed a win and a loss by Tennessee to secure at least a wild-card berth. Only half of that scenario happened, but the Browns will clinch their first playoff appearance since 2002 with a win at Cincinnati next week.
The Bills (7-7) were all but eliminated from making the postseason.
Buffalo looked more like a warm-weather team as the elements -- along with Cleveland's defense -- prevented the Bills from scoring.
It was Cleveland's first shutout since 2005 and just the Browns' third since 1999.
Unable to throw the ball with swirling winds off Lake Erie gusting over 40 mph, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson handed it 33 times to Lewis, and the Atlanta native slopped his way down the field like a kid who grew up in the Midwest.
Lewis, who signed a one-year, incentive-stuffed free agent deal with Cleveland in March, moved over 1,000 yards with his fourth 100-yard game this season.
The Bills rallied in the final minutes, driving the ball to Cleveland's 10-yard line with 15 seconds left. But on fourth down and out of timeouts, rookie quarterback Trent Edwards threw underneath to running back Fred Jackson, who was wrapped up by several Browns defenders.
When the final seconds ticked off, Browns fans tossed snow in the air in celebration.
Dawson's second field goal, a 49-yarder with 1:22 left in the first half, gave the Browns an 8-0 lead.
Dawson kicked it low and left, letting the wind bring the ball back between the uprights. After clearing the crossbar, it struck the goal post's support neck -- the same spot he hit on a deflection a few weeks ago in Baltimore to force overtime.
Dawson's 35-yard field goal -- at the opposite end of the stadium -- gave the Browns a 3-0 lead in the first.
Cleveland's other points came on a safety in the second quarter when a snap sailed over the head of Bills punter Brian Moorman, who chased the ball to the end zone and then kicked it into the stands before the Browns had a chance to recover.
The snow began falling -- it was actually blowing sideways -- about 1½ hours before kickoff and by game time, Browns Stadium had been transformed into a giant snow globe. The weather didn't turn away long-suffering Cleveland fans, who have waited years to see the Browns finally play an important game again.
With winds off Lake Erie gusting up to 40 mph, throwing the ball was nearly impossible and both teams had to rely on their running games to move the ball. But even that was tough as players struggled to get traction on the slippery, snow-covered field.
Surprisingly, despite the nearly unplayable conditions, there were zero turnovers in the first half.
OOPS - NOW BOWL = SNOW BOWL
Is the game now? Or is it an Over Bowl?
Sorta.
GO BROWNS!
I loved it when I was a kid in Cleveland!!! (of course, now I can’t stand snow) And the snow always came in sideways. We don’t see that too often in Chicago.
Chargers Win!
Raiders Lose!
Cowboys Lose!
Only way it could have been any better was if the Patriots and Bill Belicheat lost.
Like the song says, "You can't always git what you want!"
(runs!)
And the Ravens ruin Miami’s perfect season!!!
If the weather was REALLY that bad in Tampa, I’ll take it. LOL
It had an old time feel to it. Snow, football, guys gutting it out.
I always liked playing football in the snow, since I’m so damn slow. Snow is an equalizer when it comes to speed!
Congrats to Romeo Crennell, he seems to be a nice man. I was among the many who thought he wouldn’t make it through the bye week. Now they’re talking about him for coach of the year... go figure.
One other thing... the Ratbirds got Billick and a Super Bowl, and it all went their way. The Browns hired Savage away from Baltimore and now the Ratbirds seem to have hit hard times. Wonder if Savage was key to their talent evaluation in Baltimore. Just a delicious bonus.
You want snow? I will send you some your way from my neck of the woods! :-)
LOL
“If the weather was REALLY that bad in Tampa, I’ll take it. LOL”
Well I miss the snow on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Other than that a sunset like that is frequent.
I must admit that I was really sorry when the Chargers allowed Camarillo to leave. He's pretty under-rated.
Now if we could just trade Norv Turner. Would love to see Bill Cowher as the Chargers coach...and Ron Rivera is the Chargers defensice co-ordinator.
hiya BG..nah, we had “winter” here today... high of 62, although it definitely didn’t feel it....
hey drift...shhhh
you don’t want everyone down here do ya’?
Traffic is bad enough...LOL
I read the title and I thought of the Rush parody "We're fierce, we're feminists, and we're in your face."
Don't scare me like that.
Football as it was meant to be played. Do away with roofs and fake grass.
Play the Superbowl in Green Bay!!
“you don’t want everyone down here do ya’?
Traffic is bad enough...LOL”
A little snow is not so bad. We have lots of drinking water, and no hurricanes. Not only that, in the summer time we can occassionaly leave objects in the car that don’t get cooked down to a pile of goo.
Don’t worry some of us will stay put.
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