Week 7: Improbable Streak Continues

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 19, 2009
WEEK 7

CLEVELAND, O.H. - The improbable streak continued in Week 7 as the Cleveland Browns traveled to San Diego to beat the Chargers 28-17 for their fifth consecutive win and the best start in franchise history. Fans in the Forest City don't know what to make of this unexpected boon from the gods of football, but few believe it will last. Three seasons of broken promises and shattered hopes have whittled the ranks of the Cleveland faithful. Average attendance at home games has dropped from over 63,000 in the inaugural season to 55,000 so far this year.


LT had only 13 yards on 4 carries as the Chargers chose to attack through the air

But rather than being discouraged, the players seem to find inspiration in this vote of no confidence from their fan base. "It's on us," said Kellen Winslow (TE). "The past three years, we let everyone down. Ourselves, our coaches, and most importantly our fans. Now we got to prove to them that we deserve their support." After being elected an offensive team captain this year, Winslow has emerged as a vocal leader both on and off the field, and he seems to have struck a chord with the team and with Cleveland fandom.

"We call him Moses now," joked Braylon Edwards (WR). "Some of us still don't know what to make of all these wins. We're just not used to winning. But Moses over there, he's always believed we had it in us. He keeps talking about going to the Promised Land. I think that's his code for you-know-what after coach banned us from using the 'p' word."

Perhaps the Browns shouldn't get too used to winning just yet. On Saturday night, they travel to Kansas City to play the Chiefs, who are 3-point favorites, for the Browns' first nationally televised match-up of the season. This will be Cleveland's toughest game since losing on the road to Pittsburgh in Week 1.


Players of the Week


The Chargers launched an aerial assault on the Browns secondary, but Bodden would have none of it, defensing 8 passes and setting a new league single-game record

Brady Quinn (QB) - 23 of 30 for 254 yds (8.47 ypa, 3 TD)
Devin Fox (RB) - 29 for 137 yds (4.72 ypc)
Kamerion Wimbley (OLB) - 3 Tck, 1 Ast, 2.0 Sck, 1 Defn
Leigh Bodden (CB) - 9 Tck, 8 Defn*
Derrick Johnson (CB) - 3 Tck, 1 Ast, 1 Int, 2 Defn
Sean Jones (S) - 5 Tck, 1 Ast, 1 Int, 1 Defn

* New league single-game record


The Good


Reporters swarmed Quinn, Cleveland's new media darling, at the Browns practice facility

1. Brady Quinn (QB) won Game MVP honors for the second week in a row and is well on his way to having the best season of his young career. After only six games, Quinn has already surpassed the total number of touchdowns he threw last year and tied the number of touchdowns he threw in his rookie year. For two weeks now, Quinn has looked like the quarterback that Cleveland hoped he would one day become. In spite of themselves, fans can't help but start hoping once more that perhaps he is indeed the future of this franchise.
2. The Browns had their best offensive game in franchise history, setting a new franchise single-game record with 433 yards of offense. Devin Fox (RB) and Kenneth Darby (RB) helped to control the pace of the game with an effective one-two punch from the backfield, carrying the ball 38 times for 179 yards (4.71 ypc).
3. Only three weeks ago, thanks to a rash of injuries, the Browns had only two healthy wide receivers on their roster. The front office turned to free agency to cobble together a quick fix, but what was intended to be a mere stopgap played very effectively as a unit against the Chargers. Ben Obomanu (WR), waived by New England in Week 2, grabbed his first touchdown pass as a Brown this week. Eric Parker (WR) grabbed the other two and has proven to be exactly what the Browns needed - a way to make opposing secondaries pay for double covering Edwards.
   
   "We expected no less of Eric," said director of player personnel Howie Craig. "By going out there and playing the way he did against his former team, he has proven something we knew all along. He is a consummate professional and a team player. We are happy to have him in a Browns uniform."
4. Once again, the Dawg Pound earned itself a mention in our good column. Kamerion Wimbley (OLB) is having the best season of his career, recording 2 more sacks to bring his season total to a career best 5 sacks.

The Bad

1. The fumble bug bit again. Thankfully, all but one of them were recovered. The outcome of this game, however, could have been very different if those balls had bounced the wrong way. Two of the fumbles were recovered by the Browns deep in their own territory. Please, for the love of all that is good in football, hang on to the ball.
2. Special teams play was once again a drag. Ernest Wilford (WR/PR) couldn't get any mileage on his punt returns and was rewarded for his uninspiring efforts with a goose egg. Look for Derrick Johnson (CB) or Parker to resume punt returning duties on Saturday.

The Ugly

1. There was nothing especially ugly about this game, but we keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Fairy tales don't have happy endings in real life, right? We hope the Browns prove us wrong.