Numbers tell the tale

09.16.2007

The Browns had one of their most impressive days offensively in team history Sunday during a 51-45 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Here are some statistics of note posted during the game:

• The team's 51 points is the most sinceit scored 52 on Dec. 12, 1964 against the New York Giants. The club scored 51 in a shutout win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10, 1989.
• The club's 554 net yards of offense in the game were the third-most in team history and the most since the team had 558 on Nov. 10, 1986 against the Dolphins. The team record is 562 set in 1981.
• 5 touchdown passes for Derek Anderson tied the team record shared by Kelly Holcomb, Brian Sipe, Bill Nelson, and Frank Ryan. His 328 yards were the most for a Brown since Trent Dilfer threw for 336 against the Packers on Sept. 18, 2005. Anderson doubled his career TD pass total in the game.
• Jamal Lewis' 216 rushing yards on 27 carries are the most for a Browns back since Jim Brown's 223 on Nov. 3, 1963 and the club's first 200-yard rushing performance since Greg Pruitt in 1975. It was Lewis' 31st career 100-yard rushing performance and his third career 200-yard rushing game. It was the seventh 200-yard rushing game in Browns history.
• The team's 226 rushing yards were the most for the club since racking up 264 against the Bengals on Dec. 28, 2004.
• Braylon Edwards' 146 receiving yards were the most for a Brown since Dennis Northcutt's 165 against the Ravens on Oct. 6, 2002.Edwards set career highs for both receptions and receiving yards.
• Kellen Winslow notched his first career 100-yard receiving performance. It's the first time the Browns have had two 100-yard receivers in a single game since Edwards and Steve Heiden against the Packers in '05.
• The last time a pair of Browns receivers each surpassed the 100-yard mark and allotted more than 246 yards was when Gary Collins and Hall of Famer Paul Warfield marked a combined 287 yards on 11 catches against the St. Louis Cardinals on Dec. 17, 1966.

ANOTHER BIG DAY--Lost in the offense's big success Sunday was another big day for kick returner Joshua Cribbs. Cribbs returned 5 kicks for 183 yards(36.6 avg.), including an 85-yarder that set up a Browns touchdown.

Cribbs broke a 97-yard return during the second quarter that was called back for holding.

Thanks to Cribbs' returns, the Browns started drives on their own 34, 37, and 42-yard-line and the Cincinnati 11-yard-line.

"When you get field position like that a lot of things open up in your playbook and then momentum is on your side," center Hank Fraley said.

Cribbs battled shortness of breath and dehydration, threw up on the sidelines,and sat out a kick return during the second half, but returned soon after.

The 183 yards were the most by a Brown in the kick return game since Richard Alston set a team record with 212 yards on 10 returns against the Bengals on Nov. 28, 2004.

With 2,879 career kick return yards, Cribbs passed Eric Metcalf for second place on the team's all-time list Sunday.He needs 415 yards to pass Dino Hall and take over the club's all-time mark.

INJURY REPORT--Safety Brodney Pool suffered a mild concussion Sunday when he jarred Bengals receiver Glenn Holt on a 22-yard pass from Carson Palmer. Pool did not return and was replaced by Mike Adams who himself suffered a wrist injury earlier in the game.

Pool was called for unnecessary roughness on the play for helmet-to-helmet contact. Holt also was injured, but returned to the game.

BODDEN, PEEK, ZASTUDIL PLAY -- After missing portions of practice throughout the week, cornerback Leigh Bodden (groin), linebacker Antwan Peek (foot), and punter Dave Zastudil (back) were active for the game.

Bodden sat out practice Friday after suffering an injury Thursday. There was fear he'd miss another meeting with rival Chad Johnson, but Bodden started Sunday and recorded the game-clinching interception. He also marked 4 tackles and a pass breakup, and recovered a Rudi Johnson fumble.

Peek was injured during the club's Week-One game against the Steelers and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. On Friday, he practiced on a limited basis. He was credited with 2 tackles and forced the Rudi Johnson fumble.

Zastudil missed the club's season opener against Pittsburgh but practiced on a limited basis throughout the week in preparation for Sunday's game.

Zastudil was largely able to rest his back Sunday. He was forced to punt only twice during the game, averaging 43.0 yards and dropping a big one inside the 20 prior to the Bengals' final offensive drive.

Meanwhile, punter Paul Ernster, defensive back Gary Baxter (knees), running back Jerome Harrison, linebacker Willie McGinest (back), offensive lineman Isaac Sowells, offensive lineman Kelly Butler, and receiver Travis Wilson were inactive for the Browns.

Ken Dorsey was the club's third quarterback.

SHORTHANDED CATS -- There were three lineup changes for the Bengals prior to Sunday's game, two of which were along the offensive line. Starting at center in place of Eric Ghiaciuc (thumb) was Berea native and former Ohio State Buckeye Alex Stepanovich, while Andrew Whitworth started in place of Levi Jones at left tackle. Starting in place of Rashad Jeanty (shin) at linebacker was Lemar Marshall.

Inactives were Ghiaciuc, Jeanty, safeties Chinedum Ndukwe (hamstring) and Ethan Kilmer (knee), defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene, receiver Antonio Chatman (hamstring), and defensive end Frostee Rucker (hamstring). Jeff Rowe was the third quarterback.

QUICK HITS-- A second-quarter extra point gave kicker Phil Dawson 677 career points, tying him with Matt Bahr for fourth place on the Browns' all-time list. Dawson finished the game with 15 points and 685 points in his career... The Browns have a positive history of bouncing back after suffering a loss in Game One of a season. After Sunday's victory, the club is now 18-8 after losing its first game. Since 1999, the team is 4-3 in Week Two after suffering a loss in Week One...Andra Davis and Dawson attended the game's pregame coin toss for the Browns. For the Bengals, it was Dexter Jackson, Herana-Daze Jones, John Thornton, and Bobbie Williams...Attendance for the game was 72,801.