Quinn, Browns fall short

11.06.2008

Quarterback Brady Quinn did what he could on Thursday night to get the Browns a win in his first regular-season start.

He was nothing short of impressive as the Browns fell 34-30 to the Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns Stadium. He finished 23-of-35 passing for 239 yards, two touchdowns - both to tight end Kellen Winslow covering five and 16 yards - and, just as importantly, no interceptions. It was one of the best debuts ever for a Browns quarterback.

He got the Browns going right away. After falling behind 7-0 halfway through the first quarter, the Browns rallied to take a 20-10 halftime lead, scoring their most points in a half since getting 21 almost a year ago - on Nov. 11, 2007 - at Pittsburgh.

Quinn was 11-of-15 passing for 102 yards and the two TDs in the first half, amassing a lofty 131.1 quarterback rating. Beginning early in the second quarter and continuing until early in the third quarter, he completed 10 straight passes.

His five-yard TD pass to Winslow late in the first quarter may have been his best throw of the night. He found the tight end in tight coverage in the back of the end zone, rifling the ball past several defenders - and fellow tight end Steve Heiden, who was near the goal line. It appeared at first as if Quinn was trying to hit Heiden but had instead whizzed the ball past him. But there was Winslow, almost obscured from sight, waiting on the ball.

Quinn was not only accurate with his passing but nimble on his feet. He stepped up in the pocket and then to the side to deftly avoid a sack and deliver a 19-yard pass to Donte' Stallworth early in the third quarter.

Winslow was Quinn's favorite target, catching 10 passes for 111 yards and having the first two-TD game of his career. However, he fumbled the ball away once and had an offensive pass interference call to thwart two hopeful drives.

Quinn was at his best late in the game when the chips were down. The Browns had squandered a 13-point third-quarter lead and trailed 27-23 when they took over at the Cleveland 22 with 9:50 left in the game.

He passed 30 yards to Winslow, 18 to Lewis and five to Stallworth, keying a nine-play drive that was culminated by Lewis' one-yard TD run with 4:57 remaining to give Cleveland the lead again at 30-27.

The Broncos answered that score with one of their own with 1:14 left to go back on top, 34-30.

With 1:10 remaining, Quinn got one last chance, starting at the Cleveland 33. He passed to Winslow for nine yards on the first play, and then threw the ball away on the next play to avoid a sack.

That set up a third and 1, but Quinn threw low to running back Jason Wright on a short crossing route. Then on fourth down, Quinn and Winslow misfired on a pass to the left and the game was over.