Moment 5: Run William, run

12.24.2006

Each Sunday of Browns home games, check out Matchup Magazine, the official game day magazine of the Browns, for one of the team's 60 Memorable Moments.

Below is a taste of Zac Jackson's article on today's moment, the team's victory over the Falcons to qualify for the playoffs in 2002. Get the full article in this week's program.

If you weren't able to attend Sunday's game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Matchup is now available online at clevelandbrowns.com.

To purchase it, access the Browns' team shop here.

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Good and bad, thrilling and sad, last-second losses and unforgettable victories.

The 2002 Browns experienced and provided a little of everything. And the final regular season game - a 24-16 victory over the Falcons - was a microcosm of the season. The Browns lost their starting quarterback to a broken leg, rode a heroic performance from a rookie running back and kept their playoff chances alive with a last-minute goal line stand.

It was a fitting end for a team that had played pivotal games with two quarterbacks, suffered through the loss of their owner just weeks before, had 12 of 16 games decided in the final two minutes or overtime and needed to win seven of its final 10 games to finish 9-7 and stay alive in the playoff race.

Happens all the time, doesn't it?

The December 29, 2002 win over the Falcons is remembered mostly for William Green's 64-yard touchdown run off right tackle with 3:53 to go that capped the scoring. Green ran for a career-high 178 yards and two touchdowns on the day.