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Home > Blogs > Dawging the Browns > Archives > 2008 > October > 14
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Best win in franchise history
If you go out on the limb and call Monday night’s 35-14 win over the undefeated Super Bowl-champion New York Giants the best in franchise history, your perch is fairly sturdy, I’d say.
OK, let’s amend that to “new-franchise” history. The old team had its moments, although they are becoming fuzzier and more distant.
Here’s my list of the Browns’ top 10 victories since they rejoined the NFL in 1999:
1. Browns 35, Giants 14, Oct. 13, 2008. Fairly obvious choice, considering the stage, the opponent and how nothing like this was even remotely expected.
2. Browns 33, Steelers 13, Oct. 5, 2003. Quarterback Tim Couch’s best moment as a pro. Memorable, too, because the Browns haven’t beaten the Steelers since, and it was a Sunday nighter on ESPN.
3. Browns 24, Falcons 16, 2002. This one put them into the playoffs, with help from a Miami Dolphins win. And they haven’t been back. Famous for radio play-by-play guy Jim Donovan’s call of “Run, William, Run!” as William Green shakes loose for the clinching touchdown.
4. Browns 33, Ravens 30 OT, Nov. 18, 2007. Magic-footed Phil Dawson boots a 33-yard field goal in OT, just minutes after his 51-yarder ties it at the end of regulation. That kick is initially ruled no good as it doinks off the left upright, down onto the crossbar and back onto the playing field. But replay shows the ball actually hits behind the crossbar and is good, sending the game into OT.
5. Browns 51, Bengals 45, Sept. 16, 2007. Derek Anderson throws five TD passes in the game that sets the tone for the new franchise’s best season to date.
6. Browns 8, Bills 0, Dec. 15, 2007. In a blizzard, the Browns keep their playoff hopes alive without scoring a touchdown only to see them dashed the next week at Cincinnati.
7. Browns 24, Ravens 14, Oct. 21, 2001. First victory by the new Browns over the old Browns, back when the rivalry was a little hotter.
8. Browns 21, Saints 16, Oct. 31, 1999. Couch throws up a prayer and Kevin Johnson answers it in the end zone for the new franchise’s first victory after 0-7 start. Lasting image: Saints coach Mike Ditka sprawled face-first on the Superdome turf.
9. Browns 27, Ravens 17, Nov. 18, 2001. First win in Baltimore. Browns go 7-9 in Butch Davis’ first season.
10. Browns 31, Chiefs 28, Dec. 3, 2006. Anderson is pressed into service and does enough to plant the seed that he might be pretty good. Browns lose final four to finish 4-12.
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So, where do they go from here?
So much to like about Monday night’s 35-14 win over the Super Bowl-champion New York Giants, but I like this the best:
The Browns did not punt. They did not turn the ball over. And they did not allow a single sack to a team that prides itself on planting quarterbacks in the ground.
No Browns fan, player, coach or equipment manager could have asked for anything better than what played out at Cleveland Browns Stadium before a national audience.
And for the organization itself, what a huge sigh of relief. It’s a new season now.
That’s the difference between 1-4 and 2-3. At 1-4 you’re buried in the basement with the Bengals for all practical purposes. At 2-3 you’re tied for second place with the Baltimore Ravens, whose offense still stinks, and you keep the heat on the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.
Regular-season wins six weeks into the season simply do not get any more significant than the Browns’ latest. I think Braylon Edwards is still on the ESPN set talking about it. I’ve never seen the guy happier.
Call it a fluke if you will, but I would disagree with that because this is what we saw most of last season, when the Browns went 7-1 at home and featured an offense that could only be described as prolific.
Last season wasn’t a mirage, after all, it seems.
Good to see Derek Anderson crack 300 yards passing and seemingly regain his lost confidence. Good to see Edwards catch almost everything that came his way. Good to see offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who has been in a play-calling slump (is that possible?) of late, make use of Jerome Harrison and Joshua Cribbs in ways that kept the defense guessing.
And it was good to see Ryan Tucker back at right tackle mauling people again and receiver Donte Stallworth on the field for the first time.
Flipped on ESPN this morning and, predictably, the emphasis was more on how poorly the Giants had played. Sure, they played poorly, but the Browns had more than a little to do with that, don’t you think?
Now it’s on to Washington, where the home team won’t be in a good mood after losing a heartbreaker to previously winless St. Louis.
It’s probably not the best time to be playing the Redskins, but after Monday, you’ve got to think the Browns’ confidence is soaring and that they believe they can have success against anybody.
