Recap: Buffalo vs. Cleveland
By Sports Network
The Sports Network
Phil Dawson's 56-yard field goal gave the Browns the lead with 1:39 to play, and Rian Lindell pushed his 47-yard attempt wide right in the final minute of a frenetic fourth quarter as the Cleveland Browns held on for a 29-27 win over the slumping Buffalo Bills.
Dawson made all five field goals he attempted for the Browns (4-6), who had lost two straight and three of four. Braylon Edwards had eight catches for 104 yards, and Brady Quinn completed 14-of-36 passes for 185 yards and picked up his first career win in his second NFL start.
Marshawn Lynch powered the Bills offense, as he rushed for 119 yards on 23 carries and had a career-high 10 catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Trent Edwards was erratic, throwing three interceptions in the first quarter for the Bills (5-5), who lost their fourth straight after a 5-1 start.
"When you turn the ball over a little bit, it's tough," said Edwards, who has committed 10 turnovers during Buffalo's losing streak. "You start seeing things that you're not really seeing, and you start doing things that you're normally not used to doing."
Edwards completed 16-of-26 passes for 148 yards with a score through the air, and his first career rushing touchdown, a one-yard sneak, gave the Bills their only lead, 27-26, with 2:35 to play.
Joshua Cribbs' 25-yard return set Cleveland up at its 33-yard-line, though, and Quinn hit Braylon Edwards on the next play for a 12-yard gain. Quinn found Kellen Winslow for a 16-yard gain, down to the Buffalo 39. The Browns couldn't draw any closer, though, and after three incomplete passes, Dawson came on for the field goal.
The pressure or November chill didn't affect Dawson, who sent his kick right down the middle for the lead. The 56-yarder was a career-long for Dawson.
"It's frustrating as an offense to not score a touchdown, but he's as clutch as you can be, as consistent as you can be," said Quinn of his kicker. "Phil talked about the weather not being ideal for a kick of that length, but he did a great job of getting it up and getting it through."
Dawson's squib kickoff was returned to the Buffalo 44, and Trent Edwards found Robert Royal for a 22-yard gain to put the Bills in field goal range. Lynch rushed three times to set Lindell up for a 47-yard attempt, but the Bills kicker pushed his attempt to the right with 38 seconds left, and the Bills fell back to .500, and into sole possession of last place in the AFC East.
It was pretty clear early on that Trent Edwards was not at his best. Leodis McKelvin's 38-yard kick return gave the Bills great field position to start the game, but Edwards' first pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and Kamerion Wimbley came down with the ball.
The Bills defense kept Cleveland off the scoreboard, but Edwards' next interception -- a pick by linebacker Andra Davis on the fourth play of the next Buffalo drive -- set up Dawson's 40-yard field goal with 9:29 left.
Edwards threw his third pick later in the quarter, but again the Bills defense kept Quinn and the Browns out of the end zone. Dawson's 33-yard field goal made it 6-0, as Cleveland failed to take full advantage of Edwards' awful first quarter.
Cribbs' two-yard touchdown run, capping a 12-play, 96-yard drive that bridged the first two quarters, put the Browns in front 13-0 with 9:52 left in the first half. The Bills were given a short field thanks to Dawson's 39-yard kickoff, though, and moved 59 yards on six plays. Lynch's 18-yard touchdown on a checkdown pass pulled Buffalo within 13-7.
The Bills moved from their 38 to the Cleveland eight on 13 plays to finish the first half, but had to settle for Lindell's 26-yard field goal as time expired, and a 13-10 deficit at the half.
Dawson and Lindell traded field goals in the third quarter, and the Browns took a 16-13 lead into the fourth.
After a gritty, plodding three quarters, the first minute of the fourth quarter saw momentum shift quickly on two big plays, setting the tone for a 27-point frame.
On 1st-and-10 at the Cleveland 28, Jerome Harrison took a pitch left, broke through the front line and found himself in the open for a 72-yard scoring burst, and a 23-13 Browns lead just 13 seconds into the quarter.
McKelvin continued to haunt the Browns, though, as he took the ensuing kickoff, broke through the wedge, and sprinted 98 yards for the answer. After 14 points scored in 27 seconds, Cleveland clung to a 23-20 lead with 14:33 left.
McKelvin gained 185 yards on his three returns, an average of 61.7 yards per return.
Lindell's ensuing kickoff was shanked out of bounds at the Cleveland 43, and the Browns drove to the Buffalo five before stalling. Dawson's 22-yard field goal gave Cleveland a 26-20 lead with 11:32 to play.
Game Notes
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