This is what fun feels like
What a difference a week makes!
Last week at this time, I couldn't have felt worse about the Browns. They followed up the heartbreaking Steeler defeat by sleepwalking their way through a pummeling courtesy of the Bengals.
With a hot Kansas City team coming into town with their all-world running back Larry Johnson, I anticipated nothing more than another disheartening defeat and one more step closer to head coach Romeo Crennel's dismissal.
A funny thing happened on the way to the Troy Smith sweepstakes, however - the Browns won. And not just won, but pulled off perhaps the most unexpected win since the return in '99.
Coming into Sunday, there wasn't a more shaky position on the Browns roster than quarterback. Not that Charlie Frye doesn't belong in the NFL, but the jury is certainly out on just how good the Akron alum will become in this league. Moreover, behind Frye on the depth chart is nothing but unproven commodities who haven't inspired confidence in Cleveland sportswriters or Browns fans.
When Derek Anderson replaced an injured Frye, I believe I wasn't alone in my morbid curiousity on what would take place next.
The Chiefs pretty much dominated the third quarter, barely giving Anderson a chance to do much of anything. By the time the young QB crouched under center for the Browns' second offensive series of the half, the Chiefs had scored two touchdowns and turned what was a tie game at halftime into a 28-14 advantage.
There was no reason to expect anything more than a steady diet of Larry Johnson to close out the game and the Chiefs would head out of town on their way to the playoffs. Unfortunately for Kansas City, somebody forgot to give Derek Anderson the script.
I was mildly amused as Anderson completed a 10-yard pass to Joe Jurevicius on third-and-5. Three plays later I sat up as a short pass to Jason Wright turned into a 54-yard jail-break down to the K.C. 6.
Moments later Anderson fired a touchdown strike to tight end Steve Heiden to bring the Browns within a score.
Even stranger, the drive seemed to inspire the Browns defense, famous for crapping out at the end of games, now stopped the Chiefs and Johnson, earning the offense a chance to tie the game with 5 minuted remaining.
After solid runs from Josh Cribbs and Jason Wright (how about THAT guy?), Anderson scrambled for 11 yards on second-and-10 and connected a pretty shovel pass to Rueben Droughns that netted 16 more yards down to the K.C. 20 with two minutes remaining.
The red zone has been a problem area for the Browns all season long. Most trips result in either field goals or a turnover. But this time only a touchdown would suffice. A 9-yard pass to Droughns, 8-yard run by Droughns and an Anderson laser to Steven Heiden once again, and suddenly the game was tied.
I have to admit it was strange going to overtime without the feeling of pending doom. But after a Kansas City punt, Anderson remained in complete control connecting with Kellen Winslow on a 26-yard bullet that nearly took the tight end's hands off his forearms. On second-and-15 from the Chiefs 45, Anderson scrambled right, shook off a defender and lumbered down the sidelines for an astonishing 33 yards, setting up the game-winning Phil Dawson field goal.
Only time will tell whether what we saw today from Derek Anderson was a talented young quarterback taking advantage of his first opportunity as a professional, or a Kelly Holcombesque fluke attributable more to luck and circumstances than talent. With Charlie Frye allegedly done for the season, however, it appears we will get more than a sneak peak at what Mr. Anderson will bring to the table as a professional signal-caller.
It won't get any easier for Anderson as the Browns travel to Pittsburgh for a Thursday night battle with the Steelers. How fitting for us Browns fans our best game of the season comes prior to a four-day week with an unusual Thursday game.
I guess celebrating a great win for only three days is better than the alternative.
Last week at this time, I couldn't have felt worse about the Browns. They followed up the heartbreaking Steeler defeat by sleepwalking their way through a pummeling courtesy of the Bengals.
With a hot Kansas City team coming into town with their all-world running back Larry Johnson, I anticipated nothing more than another disheartening defeat and one more step closer to head coach Romeo Crennel's dismissal.
A funny thing happened on the way to the Troy Smith sweepstakes, however - the Browns won. And not just won, but pulled off perhaps the most unexpected win since the return in '99.
Coming into Sunday, there wasn't a more shaky position on the Browns roster than quarterback. Not that Charlie Frye doesn't belong in the NFL, but the jury is certainly out on just how good the Akron alum will become in this league. Moreover, behind Frye on the depth chart is nothing but unproven commodities who haven't inspired confidence in Cleveland sportswriters or Browns fans.
When Derek Anderson replaced an injured Frye, I believe I wasn't alone in my morbid curiousity on what would take place next.
The Chiefs pretty much dominated the third quarter, barely giving Anderson a chance to do much of anything. By the time the young QB crouched under center for the Browns' second offensive series of the half, the Chiefs had scored two touchdowns and turned what was a tie game at halftime into a 28-14 advantage.
There was no reason to expect anything more than a steady diet of Larry Johnson to close out the game and the Chiefs would head out of town on their way to the playoffs. Unfortunately for Kansas City, somebody forgot to give Derek Anderson the script.
I was mildly amused as Anderson completed a 10-yard pass to Joe Jurevicius on third-and-5. Three plays later I sat up as a short pass to Jason Wright turned into a 54-yard jail-break down to the K.C. 6.
Moments later Anderson fired a touchdown strike to tight end Steve Heiden to bring the Browns within a score.
Even stranger, the drive seemed to inspire the Browns defense, famous for crapping out at the end of games, now stopped the Chiefs and Johnson, earning the offense a chance to tie the game with 5 minuted remaining.
After solid runs from Josh Cribbs and Jason Wright (how about THAT guy?), Anderson scrambled for 11 yards on second-and-10 and connected a pretty shovel pass to Rueben Droughns that netted 16 more yards down to the K.C. 20 with two minutes remaining.
The red zone has been a problem area for the Browns all season long. Most trips result in either field goals or a turnover. But this time only a touchdown would suffice. A 9-yard pass to Droughns, 8-yard run by Droughns and an Anderson laser to Steven Heiden once again, and suddenly the game was tied.
I have to admit it was strange going to overtime without the feeling of pending doom. But after a Kansas City punt, Anderson remained in complete control connecting with Kellen Winslow on a 26-yard bullet that nearly took the tight end's hands off his forearms. On second-and-15 from the Chiefs 45, Anderson scrambled right, shook off a defender and lumbered down the sidelines for an astonishing 33 yards, setting up the game-winning Phil Dawson field goal.
Only time will tell whether what we saw today from Derek Anderson was a talented young quarterback taking advantage of his first opportunity as a professional, or a Kelly Holcombesque fluke attributable more to luck and circumstances than talent. With Charlie Frye allegedly done for the season, however, it appears we will get more than a sneak peak at what Mr. Anderson will bring to the table as a professional signal-caller.
It won't get any easier for Anderson as the Browns travel to Pittsburgh for a Thursday night battle with the Steelers. How fitting for us Browns fans our best game of the season comes prior to a four-day week with an unusual Thursday game.
I guess celebrating a great win for only three days is better than the alternative.
posted by Jon Sladek at 9:07 PM
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