Trending
CINCINNATI — It was simply too much prosperity for one team to handle.
When confronted with a ‘win and you’re in’ scenario, the Browns were visited by the ghost of seasons’ past.
Sunday’s bitter 19-14 loss here may have cost them a playoff berth. For sure, it makes for an unsettling week on the lakefront.
“(After today), we have to depend on another set of scenarios. That’s not where we wanted to be,” shrugged wideout Braylon Edwards. “We wanted to win here, then go home and celebrate (the playoffs) with our fans. But we didn’t get it done. It’s not a good feeling.”
What appeared a relatively harmless 6-0 halftime deficit turned disastrous over a minute, 27-second span in which Derrick Anderson was twice intercepted, virtually gift-wrapping two Bengals’ touchdowns.
Anderson, one of the NFL’s feel-good stories of 2007, exhibited the look of a shell-shocked rookie facing reporters moments after the game. “A couple of those (picks) were just bad decisions. The wind may have effected the other two a little,” Anderson disclosed. “I feel like I let my teammates down in our most important game of the year.”
Considering they pitched a second half shutout, the Browns generated enough possessions to overcome such odds. But a six-minute drive to open the third quarter again ended in adversity when Anderson’s intended end zone toss for Kellen Winslow was deflected into the hand of Cincinnati safety Chindum Ndukwe. It was the second INT for the Bengals’ rookie out of Notre Dame.
“We had a chance to make some plays and didn’t execute. That’s part of football,” theorized Browns’ coach Romeo Crennel. “It’s disappointing because we hand (it) in our hands today.”
The loss was particularly painful for Crennel, within an eyelash of silencing critics calling for his ouster following a season-opening 34-7 loss to Pittsburgh. “We made some uncharacteristic mistakes today. You’ve just gotta roll with them and move on,” he advised. “The only thing we can concentrate on now is winning next week (home vs. San Francisco) and going from there.”
The Tennessee Titans, narrow winners over the Jets Sunday, can supplant Cleveland as playoff qualifiers by winning this weekend at Indianapolis.
“When you have to depend on someone else, it’s pretty much a helpless feeling,” Edwards declared. “We’ve come so far this season. To have it (possibly) slip out of our hands is difficult.”
REALITY CHECKING
BROWNS’ Hall of Famer Jim Brown reflected on the season to date inside a subdued lockerroom. “The bottom line is, this team has overachieved,” Brown observed. “I don’t recall anyone talking about (making the playoffs) after we lost to Pittsburgh in week one. Sure, it’ll hurt if we can’t (get there) at this point, but the franchise is on solid ground for many years to come, in my opinion…”
Brown called the off-season acquisition of running back Jamal Lewis a major component. “This guy is a great runner. He’s bullish and doesn’t go down on the first hit. We really need to bring him back….”
CLEVELAND outgained the Bengals 380-270 and dominated time of possession (33:06-26:54). Though Bengals’ QB Carson Palmer attempted just 21 passes, Cleveland’s pass rush was virtually non-existant…
EDWARDS made two TD receptions, establishing a franchise record for touchdown receptions in a season (14), previously held by Gary Collins since 1963…Cleveland’s Joshua Cribbs added to his league-leading numbers for kickoff return yardage, totaling 115 via four attempts, a 28.8 yard average per runback…
IF THE Bengals can prevail this Sunday at Miami, they’ll finish the season having won three of their last four starts. Palmer, in his fifth pro season, regressed somewhat in 2007. Entering week 17, the former USC all-American has thrown for 3,815 yards but has suffered 19 INTs. Anderson, meanwhile, has amassed 3,634 through the air with 18 picks…
THE BENGALS extended their home sellout streak to 35 with an announced turnout of 66,023…