Browns experience offensive explosion against Bengals

Football Betting Lines

09/18/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Brady Quinn era might have to wait a little longer in Cleveland.

After a disappointing opening-week loss to Pittsburgh, the Browns capped a strange week with an unbelievable 51-45 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Following their 34-7 loss to the Steelers, the Browns became the first team since the AFL/NFL merger to trade their season-opening quarterback before Week 2, when they shipped Charlie Frye to Seattle for a sixth-round draft pick.

Derek Anderson was named the starter and Quinn, one of Cleveland's two 2007 first-round picks, was elevated to the backup. With Quinn expected to lead the Browns' offense at some point this season, all Anderson did on Sunday was throw for 328 yards and tie a franchise record with five touchdowns.

"We knew that the capabilities were there," said Browns head coach Romeo Crennel of Anderson on Monday. "So it just came to the front on (Sunday)."

Offseason acquisition Jamal Lewis also played a huge role, compiling 215 yards on the ground, including a 66-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. It was Lewis' best game since he rushed for an NFL single-game record of 295 yards against Cleveland on September 14, 2003 as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Besides opening up holes for Lewis, Cleveland's offensive line, one week after giving up six sacks, didn't allow a single Cincinnati defender to get to Anderson.

Despite compiling 554 yards and the most points since Cleveland returned to the league in 1999, the game was still in jeopardy late in the fourth quarter as Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer led his team into Browns' territory. However, with 20 seconds remaining, cornerback Leigh Bodden made a diving interception near Cleveland's sideline and managed to stay inbounds at the 27- yard line, giving Crennel just his second win against an AFC North opponent (2-12).

Surprisingly, this wasn't the highest scoring game between Cleveland and Cincinnati. On November 28, 2004, Rudi Johnson rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns as the Bengals defeated the Browns, 58-48.

DYNAMIC DUO

Anderson made good use of two of Cleveland's up-and-coming offensive threats: wide receiver Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow.

Edwards, a third-year pro out of Michigan, caught eight passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Taken with the third overall pick in the 2005 draft, Edwards is coming off a 2006 season in which he had 61 receptions for 884 yards and six touchdowns.

Winslow, meanwhile, had six catches for 100 yards on Sunday, including a 25- yard touchdown right before halftime that gave Cleveland a 27-21 lead at the break.

Winslow, the sixth overall selection in the 2004 draft, was healthy for the first time last year. The Miami-Florida product, who played in just two games his rookie season after breaking his right leg and missed the entire 2005 season after tearing his ACL in an off-season motorcycle accident, caught 89 passes for 875 yards and three touchdowns in 2006.

DEFENSELESS DEFENSE

Sunday's thrilling victory over Cincinnati hid the fact that Cleveland's defense is still a work in progress.

The Browns have now given up 79 points through the first two games this season, including 896 total yards and 10 touchdown passes. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger established a career-high with four touchdowns, while Palmer set a Bengals' franchise record with six touchdowns.

"We struggled a little bit defensively," said Crennel. "We knew it was going to be a challenge going in. (The Bengals) offense is a high-powered offense. They got receivers, they got a runner, they got a quarterback. We knew it was going to be tough."

Regardless of who is under center for Cleveland, the Browns will struggle this season if they can't defend the pass.

UP NEXT

The Browns will hit the road for the first time next week when they travel to Oakland to square off with the Raiders.

One of Cleveland's four wins last year came against Oakland on October 1. The now-departed Frye threw for three touchdowns in that game as the Browns won 24-21.

Crennel is 2-0 against the Raiders, and the Browns have won six of their last seven games against Oakland.