SB Nation Cleveland - Offensive In Every Way: Browns Lose Error-Fest 13-6https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48841/cleveland-fave.png2010-12-12T15:38:37-06:00http://cleveland.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16353342010-12-12T15:38:37-06:002010-12-12T15:38:37-06:00Browns Miss Opportunity After Opportunity, Fall To 5-8
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<p>Orchard Park, NY (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/players/3219/ryan-fitzpatrick">Ryan Fitzpatrick</a> passed for the only touchdown of the game in the first half to help the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/teams/buffalo-bills">Buffalo Bills</a> earn a 13-6 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/teams/cleveland-browns">Cleveland Browns</a>.</p>
<p>Fitzpatrick was 14-of-23 for 142 yards while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/players/1876/fred-jackson">Fred Jackson</a> had 29 carries for 112 yards for the Bills (3-10), who snapped a two-game losing streak. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/players/1880/rian-lindell">Rian Lindell</a> kicked two field goals and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/players/109627/david-nelson">David Nelson</a> caught a score for the second straight week.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/players/2148/jake-delhomme">Jake Delhomme</a>, making his third straight start, threw for just 86 yards on 12- for-20 passing and had an interception with a lost fumble for the Browns (5-8), who came into the game riding a two-game winning streak. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/players/34972/peyton-hillis">Peyton Hillis</a> totaled 108 yards on 21 carries, but fumbled the ball three times, losing one.</p>
<p>The Browns started the game with the ball and began the drive at their own 40. They managed to get down to the Buffalo one-yard line, but opted for a 19-yard field goal from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/players/2640/phil-dawson">Phil Dawson</a> on fourth down for a 3-0 lead just under five minutes in.</p>
<p>The Bills went ahead with a drive that spanned the first and second quarters. Starting at their own 11, they covered the field in 14 plays eating up over eight minutes with Fitzpatrick capping the drive on a sharp pass over the head of two defenders and into the arms of Nelson for an 11-yard score with 9:28 to play in the half.</p>
<p>Cleveland responded with a long drive of its own as the team went 73 yards over 11 plays and took up 5 1/2 minutes of the clock, but again came away with three points. The drive stalled at the eight-yard line and a 25-yard boot from Dawson pulled the Browns within 7-6 with 3:53 left.</p>
<p>That gave Buffalo plenty of time for a 30-yard field goal from Lindell with 14 seconds left in the half to make it a 10-6 game at the break. The drive featured a 35-yard reception from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/players/34883/jonathan-stupar">Jonathan Stupar</a> that got the ball across midfield.</p>
<p>The third quarter passed scoreless with neither team able to break midfield. They exchanged punts to begin the fourth, but a turnover allowed Buffalo to expand its lead.</p>
<p>Facing a 3rd-and-3 at his own 27, Delhomme had the ball knocked out of his hand as he attempted to throw it. A Buffalo player jumped on the ball, but it was ruled incomplete. However, the Bills asked for a replay and the call on the field was overturned, giving the Bills the ball at the Cleveland 23.</p>
<p>However, Buffalo was only able to manage three points with the short field as Jackson was stuffed on third down from the two-yard line and a 19-yard field goal from Lindell made it a 13-6 game with 7:56 to play.</p>
<p>After an exchange of punts, Cleveland got the ball back at its own 47, but Delhomme was picked off by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../nfl/players/34865/leodis-mckelvin">Leodis McKelvin</a> and the Bills killed off the rest of the clock for the win.</p>
<p>The Browns had won the previous three games against the Bills...Cleveland plays at Cincinnati next Sunday, while the Bills will travel to Miami...Buffalo totaled 323 yards, including 192 on the ground, compared to just 187 yards for Cleveland. The Bills also controlled the clock for over 36 minutes...Cleveland had just nine first downs in the game.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2010/12/12/1871870/browns-miss-opportunity-after-opportunity-fall-to-5-8AncientMariner2010-12-12T14:02:44-06:002010-12-12T14:02:44-06:00Bills Maintain 10-6 Lead Over Browns Entering Final Period
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<p>Buffalo took the third-quarter kickoff and stalled near midfield, and the Bills’ first punt of the day gave the Browns the ball at the Cleveland 22 with three-and-a-half minutes gone in the quarter.</p>
<p>Buffalo got the ball back quickly, starting this time from their 17, and began moving the ball once again. By this stage of the game Buffalo had nearly twice as much time of possession as the Browns did — sooner or later that will wear a defense down and allow a big play on offense.</p>
<p>The Bills’ drive continued. and again, the defense stiffened near midfield, and once again Buffalo was forced to punt, pinning the Browns deep in their end of the field at the nine-yard line.</p>
<p>Run…run…incomplete pass…three-and-out and a punt? Not so fast — a Bills penalty gave the Browns a new set of downs. Peyton Hillis fumbled on a second down play, but it was recovered by Cleveland — Hillis’s second ball on the ground of the day. Undeterred, Hillis got a first down on the next play as the Browns’ fortunate drive continued.</p>
<p>The quarter ended with the Browns with the ball at their 26.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2010/12/12/1871672/bills-maintain-10-6-lead-over-browns-entering-final-periodAncientMariner2010-12-12T13:18:41-06:002010-12-12T13:18:41-06:00Browns Trail Bills At The Half 10-6
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<p>Buffalo began the second quarter on the move, and moved steadily into Cleveland territory in what was becoming a time-consuming drive. Ryan Fitzpatrick capped the drive with an 11-yard strike to David Nelson, and the Bills had the lead at 7-3, capping an 89-yard march down the field.</p>
<p>So Browns, how is that kick-a-field-goal-at-the-Buffalo-one-on-the-opening-drive working out for ya?</p>
<p>The Browns started after the kickoff at their own 19. A Hillis run started the drive, then Jake Delhomme hit Mohamed Massaquoi for 34 yards into Buffalo territory. After another Hillis run, Delhomme hit Brian Robiskie for another first down at the Buffalo 24. Mike Bell gave Cleveland another first down with a short run to the 13. The drive stalled at the eight, and Phil Dawson drew the Browns within 7-6 with a 25-yard field goal with 3:56 left in the half.</p>
<p>Buffalo immediately went to work again, driving quickly into Cleveland territory and reaching the 23 at the two-minute warning. The Bills got a first down at the eleven with just over a minute left before halftime, and Buffalo took a time out at the five with 36 seconds left. and then a penalty and a sack pushed the Bills back to the eleven. Buffalo took another time out with 22 seconds left, facing a third-and-ten. The drive stalled on an incompletion, but Ryan Lindell restored Buffalo’s lead to four at 10-6 with a 30-yard field goal.</p>
<p>With only 14 seconds left to work with, the Browns caught a break on the kickoff when Buffalo was penalized for 15 yards, giving Cleveland the ball at the Bills’ 45. Unfortunately, the Browns were unable to capitalize, with a Hail Mary pass batted down near the goal line, and the half ended with Buffalo on top, 10-6</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2010/12/12/1871592/browns-trail-bills-at-the-half-10-6AncientMariner2010-12-12T12:35:55-06:002010-12-12T12:35:55-06:00Browns Lead After One on Chip-Shot Field Goal, 3-0
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<p>After a nice kickoff return and excellent field position at their 45, the Browns immediately went to work — or, rather, to Peyton Hillis. Seven Hillis runs for 49 yards and a Mike Bell run for five yards got the Browns to the Buffalo one-yard line before the Bills’ defense stiffened, and Cleveland had to settle for a demoralizing field goal after a 54-yard opening drive that took almost five minutes off the clock.</p>
<p>I don’t know about you, but I am thinking I would have gone for it there. Just saying that if you settle for a field goal you give the Buffalo defense a big boost.<br>
We will see how that turns out later.</p>
<p>After a Buffalo first down, Ryan Fitzpatrick was sacked and fumbled at the Buffalo 36. Eric Wright recovered for the Browns and returned the fumble to the 25, setting the Browns up deep in Bills’ territory. On the first play — Peyton Hillis fumbled right back to Buffalo, whose return set the Bills up at the Buffalo 31.</p>
<p>Buffalo quickly pushed to the Cleveland 38, but fell short on a third-down pass to the 35, and eschewed a field goal try. A fourth-down Fitzpatrick pass was incomplete, giving the Browns the ball back after having dodged a bullet.</p>
<p>The Browns then went three-and-out, with their first two pass attempts of the day, one of which was completed by Jake Delhomme. Cleveland was forced to punt, and the Bills set up shop again at their own 11-yard line with 2:42 left in the quarter.</p>
<p>The quarter ended with the Bills on the move and with a first down at their 40.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2010/12/12/1871518/browns-lead-after-one-on-chip-shot-field-goal-3-0AncientMariner2010-12-12T10:14:36-06:002010-12-12T10:14:36-06:00Cleveland Browns (5-7) at Buffalo Bills (2-10) -- Browns Find Themselves In a Strange Place: Favored To Win
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<p>(Sports Network) - Favorite. It's a role the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/cleveland-browns">Cleveland Browns</a> aren't exactly accustomed to.</p>
<p>In fact, in a season during which they've managed just five wins in 12 games, it's usually been as an underdog that the Eric Mangini-led team has made its biggest impact.</p>
<p>A Week 4 win came against a 2-1 Cincinnati team coming off a playoff season. A Week 7 victory came at defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans. A Week 9 triumph came against current AFC front-runner New England. And a Week 13 road win over Miami all but eliminated the preseason dark-horse <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/miami-dolphins">Dolphins</a> from a shot at the 2010 postseason.</p>
<p>But while visiting 2-10 Buffalo this Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Browns</a> will unquestionably be expecting good things.</p>
<p>"There are two emotions in this league." Cleveland quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/2148/jake-delhomme">Jake Delhomme</a> said after last week's 13-10 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a>. "Pure joy from winning and the misery of losing. It's good to be on this side."</p>
<p>Delhomme, in his first year with the Browns after seven straight in Carolina, is expected to make his third consecutive start this week while rookie <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/108600/colt-mccoy">Colt McCoy</a> continues to recover from a high ankle sprain suffered in a Nov. 21 loss at Jacksonville.</p>
<p>McCoy had taken over the starting job in October after both Delhomme and original No. 2 option <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/2344/seneca-wallace">Seneca Wallace</a> were slowed with ankle sprains. Delhomme started Cleveland's Week 12 home victory against Carolina and last week's defeat of the Dolphins, completing 48-of-69 passes for 462 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions of those two games.</p>
<p>"I don't think I'm the dumbest guy in the world," Delhomme said. "I know what the future is with the Browns. I think a lot of us have seen [McCoy's emergence]. I came here as a 35-year-old knowing I probably won't be here for 10 years. I've enjoyed every minute I've been here."</p>
<p>As for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/buffalo-bills">Bills</a>, they're just trying to stay healthy as well.</p>
<p>Buffalo will face the Browns with a new center and a new right guard after <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/2157/geoff-hangartner">Geoff Hangartner</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/71117/kraig-urbik">Kraig Urbik</a> sustained knee injuries during last weekend's 38-14 loss at Minnesota.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/71167/eric-wood">Eric Wood</a>, who returns after missing two games because of an ankle injury of his own, will shift from right guard to center, and backups <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/108575/ed-wang">Ed Wang</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/109960/cordaro-howard">Cordaro Howard</a> will combine to fill the guard vacancy.</p>
<p>"The moving parts up there always makes it tough," <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Bills</a> quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/3219/ryan-fitzpatrick">Ryan Fitzpatrick</a> said. "We have to take advantage of these practices and meeting- room time. It's all about communication and getting everybody on the same page, and from there hoping we get the job done."</p>
<p>Elsewhere on the injury report, cornerback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/1885/terrence-mcgee">Terrence McGee</a> returned to practice Wednesday after missing two games with a nerve problem behind his knee that has cost him eight games on the season.</p>
<p>"We've gotten over a couple of humps," Bills head coach Chan Gailey said. "Whether we are where we want to be right now, I can promise you we're not because our record says we're not. [But] do I think we're getting better? I think we're getting better."</p>
<p>SERIES HISTORY</p>
<p>Cleveland holds a 10-5 advantage in its all-time regular-season series with the Bills and has won the last three meetings between the teams, the most recent being an uneventful 6-3 decision in Buffalo during Week 5 of last year. The Browns also recorded a 29-27 victory at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008, with the Bills' last defeat of Cleveland a 37-7 home rout back in 2004.</p>
<p>In addition to their regular-season history, the franchises met in a 1989 AFC Divisional Playoff, won by Cleveland at home by a 34-30 count.</p>
<p>Mangini owns a 4-3 lifetime record against the Bills, including a 3-3 mark during his three-year run directing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/new-york-jets">New York Jets</a> from 2006-08. Gailey has never previously faced either Cleveland or Mangini as a head coach.</p>
<p>WHEN THE BROWNS HAVE THE BALL</p>
<p>Cleveland has run the ball with some authority in recent weeks, raising its average yardage to 111.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks 14th out of the league's 32 teams. The rest of its figures are in the bottom tier, however, including points per game (19.1, 26th), total yardage (305.4 ypg, 27th) and passing yardage (194.0 ypg, 27th). The Bills have been equally forgettable across the board, with a league-worst run defense that's yielded 170.9 yards per week and a 29th-best scoring defense that allows 27.8 points a game. Their total yardage allowed of 378.1 per game is 26th of 32 teams, though run-happy opponents have managed just 207.2 passing yards per game, putting Buffalo at a dubious No. 10 overall.</p>
<p>Quarterback Delhomme had season bests in completion percentage (70.6) and passer rating (97.3) in last week's win at Miami. He'll lean hard on running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/34972/peyton-hillis">Peyton Hillis</a>, who's 38 yards shy of joining Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly as the only Browns to run for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns in a season. Tight end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/1712/benjamin-watson">Benjamin Watson</a> caught a career-high 10 passes against Miami and joined Ozzie Newsome and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/2695/kellen-winslow">Kellen Winslow</a> as the only players at his position in franchise history to have at least 10 receptions in a game. Watson tied a career-high with two touchdowns against the Bills while with New England in September of last season. On special teams, kicker Phil Dawson's game-winning boot at Miami was the 14th of his career.</p>
<p>The Bills intercepted Minnesota's Brett Favre and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/3152/tarvaris-jackson">Tarvaris Jackson</a> a combined four times last week, including two by cornerback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/2988/drayton-florence">Drayton Florence</a>, who returned one pick 40 yards for a touchdown. Safety Donte Whitner also had his first interception of the season, and fifth of his career, against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/minnesota-vikings">Vikings</a>. Elsewhere, linebacker <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/16662/paul-posluszny">Paul Posluszny</a> leads the team with 111 tackles.</p>
<p>WHEN THE BILLS HAVE THE BALL</p>
<p>Buffalo has excelled in few spots offensively through 12 games, registering no better than No. 17 in the league in any category. The run game has that high- end spot with an average 107.9 yards per week, while the pass offense and its 203.9 yards per game is 23rd. Total yardage of 311.8 per game is 26th overall and the point-scoring clip of 20.2 per week is 22nd. Cleveland has done its best work in limiting overall damage, as a 12th-best scoring defense of 19.9 points per game attests. Foes have gained 119.1 yards per game on the ground (20th overall), 231.3 yards per week through the air (20th) and an average of 350.4 total yards (22nd).</p>
<p>Fitzpatrick has played better at home than on the road, passing for eight touchdowns against three interceptions for an 81.1 passer rating in Orchard Park. He is the fifth Bills passer to reach 20 scoring passes in a season and the first since <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/3390/drew-bledsoe">Drew Bledsoe</a> in 2004. A touchdown pass against the Browns would give him 14 straight games with at least one. In the backfield, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/1876/fred-jackson">Fred Jackson</a> averages 5.3 yards per carry at home in December for his career. Among the receivers, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/1866/lee-evans">Lee Evans</a> is 66 yards shy of joining Andre Reed and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/2741/eric-moulds">Eric Moulds</a> as the only Buffalo players to reach 6,000 for a career. In his past four games, he is averaging 25.6 yards per catch. Also, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/34862/steve-johnson">Steve Johnson</a> is two touchdown catches shy of tying Bill Brooks (11, 1995) for the most in a season in franchise history. Lastly, undrafted free agent <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/109627/david-nelson">David Nelson</a> caught his first career touchdown pass last week.</p>
<p>Cleveland cornerback and 2010 first-round draft choice <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/108687/joe-haden">Joe Haden</a> (No. 7 overall) has at least one interception in four straight games, making him the first Brown to do so since Ernie Kellerman in 1968. Fellow corner <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/16702/eric-wright">Eric Wright</a> had an interception in his last game at Buffalo, and safety <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/3400/abram-elam">Abram Elam</a> has a pick in two of his last three contests.</p>
<p>FANTASY FOCUS</p>
<p>Hillis is the one fail-safe option for Cleveland against a run-averse Buffalo defense, while Watson is a middling play along with kicker Dawson among Browns players. For the Bills, runner Jackson and receiver Johnson could be worthwhile, and Evans is a contributor in terms of big plays. Elsewhere, neither defense is a reliable choice.</p>
<p>OVERALL ANALYSIS</p>
<p>A Lake Erie-area game in December likely means difficult weather elements and a paucity of big-play chances. In such a spot, a running game is vital. And armed with Hillis in the midst of a career year, the Browns seem best equipped to produce in such a scenario. Look for him to reach triple-digits even if the score -- and the temperature -- struggles to make the teens.</p>
<p>Sports Network predicted outcome: Browns 17, Bills 10</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2010/12/12/2326205/cleveland-browns-5-7-at-buffalo-bills-2-10-browns-find-themselves-inAncientMariner