Week 3: When It Rains, It Pours

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
WEEK 3

CLEVELAND, O.H. - A storm swept through Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon, churning the field into a giant mud bath. Winds of up to 37 mph made any field goal over 40 yards and any pass over 20 an adventure. The warm, torrential downpour blanketed the field with a layer of fog.


Good luck throwing the ball in this weather

"It was like playing in a steam room," said Chaun Thompson (ILB). "You couldn't see more than ten yards out. Half the time, I couldn't tell if it was our guy or the other guy until I was right on top of him."

In spite of the weather, spirits were high going into the game after a rousing home victory over the Vikings in Week 2. It took all of two minutes for that change. On the third play of the game, Kellen Winslow (TE) fumbled the ball to give the Jaguars possession in Cleveland territory. Five plays later, Troy Smith (QB) connected with Garrett Wolfe (RB) to make the score 7-0 Jacksonville less than 5 minutes into the game.

For the next three quarters, the Browns tried to catch up, but in a nightmarish reprise of their Week 1 game against the Steelers, the Browns watched their offense get mired in the mud. In two visits to the red zone, they came away with only 6 points.

The outcome seemed inevitable. It was clear to anyone watching the game that the Jaguars were outplaying the Browns on both sides of the ball. When Jacksonville reached the Cleveland 4 yard line with a 10-6 lead in the 4th quarter, everyone thought the nail was in the coffin.

And then a miracle happened.


All-Pro Thompson saved the game with a pick at Cleveland's 2 ydl

All-Pro linebacker Thompson intercepted a short pass intended for Donald Washington (TE) and returned it 32 yards to Cleveland's 34.

"It was like God gave us a second chance," said Thompson. "When I got to the sideline, I pulled Brady aside. I told him to forget all the things people had been saying about him the last few weeks. I told him that this was his game to win."

The comeback drive was a thing of beauty. Brady Quinn (QB) completed all 7 of his passes and connected with Winslow for the go-ahead touchdown late in the 4th quarter.


Winslow and Edwards celebrate the go-ahead TD

"We couldn't get anything going for most of the game," said Winslow. "Then just as we're about to lose it all, Chaun pulls that pick out of his ass, and Brady goes out there and plays out of his mind."

Winslow paused for dramatic effect. "I guess when it rains, it pours."


Players of the Week

Chaun Thompson (ILB) - 8 Tck, 3 Ast, 0.5 Sck, 1 Int (32 yds), 1 FF
Kamerion Wimbley (OLB) - 11 Tck, 1 Ast, 2.5 Sck, 1 Defn
Vinny Circiu (OLB) - 2 Tck, 1.0 Sck, 1 FF
Jereme Perry (CB) - 2 Tck, 3 Ast, 1 Int


The Good


The Dawg Pound is the heart of Cleveland's defense

1. The linebackers have started calling themselves the "Dawg Pound." Every time they get a sack, they bark and howl like a pack of rabid dogs. Intimidating? Maybe. Moronic? Probably. But as long as they keep making plays, they can call themselves whatever they want. Game MVP honors went to a linebacker for the second week in a row, this time to Kamerion Wimbley (OLB), who had 12 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 1 pass defensed against the Jaguars.
2. For the first time this year, Quinn looked comfortable in the pocket. Granted, it was for all of five minutes, but he brought his "A" game when his team needed it most. Is this a turning point for the inconsistent quarterback? Cleveland can only hope.
3. Cleveland's bread and butter so far this season has been big plays from the defense. The Browns are tied for the lead in sacks, and they are near the top of the league in turnovers. But how long can the defense keep winning games?

The Bad

1. The Browns couldn't get anything going on the ground this week. They ran the ball 29 times for a mere 60 yards (2.07 ypc). That will put your team on the fast lane to three-and-out.
2. The Browns lead the league in fumbles. Somebody needs to teach this team how to hang on to the ball. All of Jacksonville's points came on drives that started in Cleveland territory thanks to fumbles recovered by the Jaguars.

The Ugly


A rash of injuries decimated the receiving corps

1. A rash of injuries decimated Cleveland's receiving corps. By the end of the game, the Browns had only two healthy wide receivers on the roster. Devin Fox (RB) is also out with a knee injury for the next few weeks. Thankfully, the Browns have a bye next week, but the front office will have to cobble together a temporary solution while their receivers recover.

Injury Report

Devin Fox (RB) - Out (hyperextended knee)
Arnaz Battle (WR) - Out (pulled quadriceps muscle)
Eric Parker (WR) - Out (strained elbow tendon)
Aundrae Allison (WR) - Out (concussion)
Brodney Pool (SS) - Probable (compound leg fracture)
Sean Jones (FS) - Probable (broken thumb)