Dawgbeat

Season Preview: The Games

by Eric Brown

07/31/2007

GAME 1
VS Pittsburgh

The Browns jump out to a fast start on a Leigh Bodden interception returned for a 39 yd touchdown that was tipped by Dqwell Jackson. The Browns then go 77 yards on 13 plays capped by a Jamal Lewis 3 yard run. The Steelers counter with a 21 yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger to Holmes. The Steelers cut the Browns lead to 14-10 at halftime with a field goal just before the half. The second half drags on as both teams sputter in the third quarter and the 14-10 Browns lead stands. In the fourth quarter charlie Frye connects with Winslow for a 43 yard seam pass in which Polamalu slipped on the new CBS turf. The big play gives Cleveland the ball inside the red zone and ultimatley leads to a Dawson field goal. Browns lead 17-10. The Steelers drive the ball back down the field and cut the lead to 17-13 on a Reed field goal. In the closing drive a Sean jones interception seals a Cleveland victory, only their second on opening day since the Browns return. BROWNS 17-13

GAME 2
VS CINCINNATI
The loss of David Pollack and Odell Thurman and Tory James are apparent as the Browns offense is able to move the ball on the ground (145 yards) and through the air (242 yards). Still the Bengals offense is too much for the Browns on this afternoon and the Bengals beat the Browns 24-21. BENGALS 24-21

GAME 3
AT OAKLAND
The Raiders head coach, Lane Kiffin, bright and talented has his team ready to play and they give the Browns quite a fight for the first two quarters and the teams go into halftime tied at 10. However, Josh McCown shows why the Raiders drafted Russell as the Browns secondary picks off three second half passes, all in Raider territory, leading to two Jamal Lewis touchdown runs and a Dawson field goal. BROWNS 27-10

GAME 4
VS BALTIMORE
The Browns are able to dominate an inexperienced Baltimore offensive line holding McGahee to 80 yards and sacking McNair 5 times. The Baltimore offense sputters all day, and on a final attempt to take the lead late in the fourth quarter Andra Davis makes a key interception in the end zone. Browns in their first back to back game since well, anyone can remember.  BROWNS 13-10

GAME 5
AT NEW ENGLAND
The Browns travel to New England and face a potential AFC champion in the New England Patriots. The Browns fight the Patriots hard all day but end up on the short end of the stick this day. Tom Brady picked the Browns underneath for 234 yards and Maroney is able to gain 100 yards against the Browns defense, the first running back to accomplish the feat in 2007. NEW ENGLAND 20-10

GAME 6
VS MIAMI
A very important game for the Browns as the Dolphins need a victory to remain afloat in the AFC East. The Browns make Trent Green look his age and regret not wanting to play in Cleveland sacking him 5 times and intercepting him twice. Jamal Lewis has his second 100 yard rushing game of the season running for 122 yards. BROWNS 21-14
The Browns feel high and mighty turning into the bye wek at 4-2.

GAME 7
AT ST.LOUIS
Things don't go so well in Week 8 as the Browns pass defense gets torched for 338 yards by Mark Bulger. This is a game the Browns want to forget as the Rams beat them in all areas of the game. ST.LOUIS 31-10

GAME 8
VS SEATTLE
The Browns again are outmatched by perennial playoff contender Seattle. Hasselback throws for 208 and alexander runs for 127 as the Seahawks easily take care of the Browns. SEATTLE 24-13  The hot seat just got hotter for Crennel.

GAME 9
AT PITTSBURGH
The Steelers, struggling at 3-5 find the Browns to no longer be pushovers and find it hard to move the ball through the air or on the ground, managing just 268 total yards. Roethlisberger throws two interceptions and the Browns kick a field goal to win in overtime. BROWNS 17-14

GAME 10
AT BALTIMORE
The schedule doesn't get any easier as the Browns face another division opponent, the Ravens. McNair does not play and Kyle Boller fills in admirably in the first half helping the Ravens jump out to a 17-7 lead. the second half though reveals the true boller as he fumbles once and is intercepted twice leading to 14 unanswered Cleveland touchdowns.
BROWNS 21-17 The hot seat is cooling off for Romeo as the Browns are an unexpected 6-4 and are in the hunt for the playoffs.

GAME 11
VS HOUSTON
The Browns come home to a struggling Matt Schaub and the Houston Texans. A kickoff return by Josh cribbs leads off the blowout and the Browns score the most points they will all season. Charlie Frye continues his steady but unspectacular season with 277 yards and two touchdowns. BROWNS 38-17 On a side note the Browns are now 7-4 and Frye has 14 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions.

GAME 12
AT ARIZONA
In a game that is billed as a potential future Super Bowl Matchup, the 8-3 Cardinals are no match for a Cleveland team that leads the NFL in interceptions. Matt Leinart is picked off by the Cleveland secondary three times and sacked 3 more times. The Cardinals never get on track and the Browns win another one. BROWNS 24-9  At 8-4 the Browns are fighting for the playoffs and possibly the divison as the Bengals are 9-3, Ravens 7-5 and Steelers 5-7.

GAME 13
AT NEW YORK JETS
The Browns struggle against the NY Jets and Thomas Jones is able to run fo 135 yards as the Jets, not an offensive powerhouse themselves sneak by the Browns for a win. NYJETS 13-10

GAME 14
VS BUFFALO
With a dominating win against Buffalo the Browns put themselves in position to secure a wildcard berth with just one win in the final two weeks. Charlie Frye has his best game of the season and the secondary continues its solid play with two interceptions of Losman. Frye throws for 288 yards and three scores. BROWNS 27-14

GAME 15
AT CINCINNATI
The Bengals 10-4 and the Browns 9-5 play a key December matchup that turns ugly quickly for the Browns. The Bengals jump out to a 17-0 lead and never look back as they put the Browns playoff hopes on the back burner. BENGALS 31-17

GAME 16
VS SAN FRANCISCO
A succesful season is completed when a late fumble by Frank Gore is recovered by Sean Jones at the Browns 17 yard line securing a 17-14 victory and their first playoff berth since 2002. BROWNS 17-14

The Browns surprise the NFL and record a 10-6 record behind the running of Jamal Lewis who finishes the season with 1436 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Charlie Frye once considered nothing more than backup potential played solid throughout the season ending with 19 touchdowns against 16 interceptions.

Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow had succesful seasons with Edward catching 72 passes for 1082 yards and 7 touchdowns. winslow, while not as productive as 2006 still has 70 receptions for 776 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Defensively, Sean Jones had an all pro season recording 8 interceptions and Leigh Bodden had 5. Eric Wright, Brodney Pool and Daven Holly each had four followed by Gary Baxter's three as the Browns led the NFL in interceptions with 36. The Browns pass rush all did not embarrass itself as they sacked the quarterback 46 times led by Kamerion Wimbley with 12 , Antwan Peek 9, McGinest, Robaire Smith, and Orpheus Roye 4. Leon Williams and Andra Davis added three apiece and Dqwell Jackson and Brodney Pool 2.

The Browns had 5  pro bowlers in Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards, Eric Steinbach, Sean Jones, and Kamerion Wimbley. Joe Thomas and Eric Wright made the all rookie squad.

In the 2007 playoffs the Browns met the New York Jets in an AFC wildcard game in New York. In that game the Browns were able to avenge a regular season loss by defeating the Jets 20-16 behind two Jamal Lewis touchdown runs.

In the divisional playoff against Indianapolis, however, the Browns succesful season came to an end as the Colts defeated the Browns 24-14.