To open the 2007 season, the Browns managed just a single touchdown against the Steelers in a home opener to forget.
Just one week later, Cleveland's offense erupted in memorable fashion at the ideal time. Locked in a shootout with Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati Bengals, the Browns found the end zone six times and added three Phil Dawson field goals to escape with a wild, 51-45, victory.
"For the first time in a long time, I'm excited to go home and watch our highlights," wide receiver Braylon Edwards told the Associated Press.
Derek Anderson threw five touchdown passes and finished with 328 yards. Jamal Lewis ran for 216 yards and a score and Edwards (146 yards, 2 TDs) and Kellen Winslow Jr. (100, TD) were two of the biggest benefactors on the historic offensive day. It marked the first time since the Browns joined the NFL in 1950 that they had a 300-yard passer, a 200-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers in a single game.
The offensive fireworks were sandwiched between two ordinary quarters. The Browns and Bengals combined for 35 points in the second quarter and 31 in the third, setting up a nail-biting final 15 minutes.
An 18-yard Dawson field goal gave the Browns a 51-38 lead with 5:47 to play. The comfort from it was minimal, and the two-possession advantage didn't last more than a couple of minutes. Palmer connected on his sixth touchdown pass of the game to Glenn Holt to draw the Bengals within six with plenty of time to play.
The Bengals' last shot came with 1:03 left to play. Needing to move 91 yards without any timeouts, they got to midfield but didn't move any farther, as Leigh Bodden intercepted a Palmer pass down the sideline to Chad Johnson to seal the game.
A look back at the 51-45 thriller over the Bengals in 2007.