Browns Need Every Point In 24-23 Win

Phil Dawson’s 41-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, coupled with John Kasay’s miss of a 42-yard effort as time expired, helped the Cleveland Browns earn a 24-23 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Jake Delhomme, playing against his former team after spending the last seven years in Carolina, finished 24-of-35 passing for 245 yards, but threw a pair of interceptions — one returned for a touchdown by Captain Munnerlyn — for Cleveland (4-7), which dropped a 24-20 decision at Jacksonville last Sunday and have won three of its last five.

Peyton Hillis for rushed 131 yards and three scores, and caught six passes for 63 yards in the victory.

Jimmy Clausen returned to the lineup after sitting out last weekend with a concussion and connected on 16-of-28 passes for 195 yards and Jonathan Stewart ran for 98 yards on 12 carries for the Panthers (1-10), who have dropped five in a row since winning their only game of the season against San Francisco on October 24. Kasay booted three field goals in defeat.

Jimmy Clausen connected on 16-of-28 passes for 195 yards and Jonathan Stewart ran for 98 yards on 12 carries for the Panthers (1-10), who have dropped five in a row since winning their only game of the season against San Francisco on October 24. Kasay booted three field goals in defeat.

After Dawson booted the go-ahead field goal with 2:42 left, Joe Haden picked off Clausen at the Cleveland 44 and returned it inside Carolina territory at the 44.

The Browns then called three straight run plays with Hillis, causing the Panthers to spend all three time outs. Reggie Hodge’s punt pinned Carolina back to its own five with 59 seconds to play. However, a 32-yard catch-and-run by Mike Goodson moved the ball to the 48 with 12 seconds to go. Clausen then hit Brandon LaFell for a 28-yard gain to the 24 and after a replay confirmed the catch, Kasay came on hit the left upright as time expired.

With Carolina trailing 21-13 at the half, Kasay missed from 46 yards out on the Panthers’ first offensive try of the second, before Munnerlyn jumped a sideline route on Delhomme’s pass intended for Mohamed Massaquoi and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown to make it a one-point game.

Following an exchange of punts, Cleveland was on the move at the Carolina 25 early in the fourth and facing a 4th-and-1, Hillis was stopped short of the marker and the Panthers took over.

Carolina converted a 3rd-and-12 from their its own 23 when Clausen hit Dante Rosario for 14 yards and Stewart rushed two straight plays, the latter for 31 yards to the Cleveland 25. After three minimal gains, Kasay came on and booted a 43-yard field goal for a 23-21 Carolina lead with 7:01 to play

Cleveland, though, answered on its ensuing possession with three. Delhomme, who completed all five of his passes on the drive hit Hillis with a 12-yard gain to convert a 3rd-and-10 to the Carolina 46, then connected with Massaquoi for 13 more. The drive stalled at the 24, but Dawson’s 41-yard effort put the Browns back in front for good.

Goodson’s 26-yard touchdown run on Carolina’s opening possession gave his team an early lead, but Cleveland answered with a score on its first offensive try when Hillis ran around left tackle and dove just inside the left pylon for the score to even things.

Following a three-and-out, the Browns went ahead 14-7 on Hillis’ five-yard dive that finished off a seven-play, 64-yard drive.

Cleveland was denied on its next offensive set when Evan Moore fumbled at the Carolina three, but the Panthers again went three-and-out and the Browns tacked on another seven.

Hillis’ six-yard run — his third score of the day - capped a six-play, 60 yard drive for a 21-7 game with 9:12 before halftime.

However, Carolina got three back on Kasay’s 43-yard field goal with nearly 3:19 remaining, then after a short Browns’ drive, Kasay hit from 42-yards out with 47 seconds to go and the Browns took a 21-13 lead into the locker room.

Cleveland will visit Miami next Sunday, while Carolina plays at Seattle…The Panthers had won all three of their previous meetings with the Browns…Goodson rushed for 55 yards and a score, and caught eight passes for 81 yards.

Cleveland Browns Gameday Inactives Against Carolina

Here are the Cleveland Browns’ gameday inactives:

QB Colt McCoy
RB Thomas Clayton
WR Demetrius Williams
TE E. Alex Smith
DL Jayme Mitchell
DL Brian Sanford
LB Scott Fujita
CB Eric Wright

The big news is that WR/KR Joshua Cribbs is active.

Jake Delhomme Set To Face Carolina Panthers

Berea, OH (Sports Network) - Jake Delhomme will be the starting quarterback Sunday when the Cleveland Browns face his old team, the Carolina Panthers.

Rookie Colt McCoy is bothered by an ankle injury he sustained last week against Jacksonville. McCoy had started each of the last five games.

Delhomme spent seven seasons with Carolina before signing with Cleveland in March. He began this season as the Browns' starting quarterback, but suffered a high ankle sprain in the opener against Tampa Bay and has appeared in just one game since, aggravating the injury in Week 5 against Atlanta.

"He's done a good job this week and I'm excited about him playing against a team he's had a lot of familiarity with," said Browns head coach Eric Mangini on Friday.

Delhomme completed 20-of-37 passes for 227 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in his lone start this year. He then spelled an injured Seneca Wallace against the Falcons on October 10 and threw for 97 yards with two picks on 13-of-23 passing.

Wallace, who started four games after Delhomme was hurt, was also in the mix for starting this week's game. He injured his ankle against Atlanta, leading to McCoy's emergence as the starter.

"Ideally, you'd like to have one guy for 16 games if you could," Mangini added. "We just really haven't it."

McCoy has thrown for 975 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions while leading the Browns to two of their three wins this season.