Browns notes: Defense turns up the heat to make Bengals’ backup quarterback sweat
Brian Dulik | The Chronicle-Telegram
CINCINNATI — The Browns’ defense did its best to make Ryan Fitzpatrick’s first NFL start in three years a miserable experience Sunday, coming up with three interceptions, forcing two fumbles and sacking Fitzpatrick three times in a 20-12 win.
“He is the backup quarterback, so I think he got frazzled a little bit and just started chucking it,” safety Mike Adams said. “We took advantage of that.”
Defensive backs Adams, Terry Cousin and Eric Wright all picked off Fitzpatrick, who last threw a pass in a regular-season game on Dec. 4, 2005. Linebackers Alex Hall and Kamerion Wimbley each forced a fumble and had a sack, while nose tackle Shaun Rogers also planted Fitzpatrick on the artificial turf.
Their handiwork helped limit the Bengals to 211 yards of total offense — just 43 by running back Chris Perry on 17 touches — and a lone trip into the red zone. It was a far cry from their typical output under Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer, who missed the game with a sore right elbow.
“There were some plays I wish I could have back,” said Fitzpatrick, who committed four of his team’s five turnovers. “We made some mistakes and it didn’t work out.”
The biggest plays made by the Browns were provided by Adams, Wimbley, Hall and Cousin.
Adams’ came first when he intercepted a Fitzpatrick pass at the Cleveland 7 in the second quarter, thwarting the Bengals’ bid to break a 3-3 tie.
Next up was Wimbley, who crushed Perry on a handoff one play after the Browns had taken a 10-6 lead in the fourth. The ball popped loose and Adams pounced on it at the Cincinnati 20, setting up Jamal Lewis’ touchdown run 1:52 later.
As time wound down, Hall simultaneously recorded a sack and forced fumble that led to a Phil Dawson field goal, while Cousin put the victory on ice by picking off Fitzpatrick with 14 seconds to go.
“We used the same game plan we practiced all week,” said Adams, who played against then-Rams quarterback Fitzpatrick while with the 49ers in 2005. “If Palmer was in there, we would have gotten after him as much as we went after Fitzpatrick.
“Once you get things rolling, it’s like a snowball thing. It started piling up for us today.”
Injury update
Browns fullback Lawrence Vickers was struck in the face with a beer bottle after blocking for Lewis on the team’s final TD. It occurred in the South end zone, just in front of the stands the Bengals call The Jungle.
“He was pretty mad, I know that,” quarterback Derek Anderson said.
• Left guard Eric Steinbach sat out practice all week with a shoulder injury that finally responded to treatment Saturday, allowing him to start in Cincinnati.
“I rehabbed the (heck) out of it,” he said. “I guess you could call it a miraculous recovery, but a little adrenalin definitely helped.”
• Right tackle Kevin Shaffer exited with a concussion in the third quarter and will undergo tests today.
• Wide receiver Joshua Cribbs suffered a large carpet burn on his right forearm, but did not require stitches. He also reported no problems with his lingering ankle, shoulder and hamstring problems.
“The more I played today, I felt better and better,” said Cribbs, who had a season-long 44-yard kickoff return.
Run yourself ragged
One week after Lewis called the Browns’ offensive game plan “pathetic” after getting only 12 carries in Baltimore, he had a season-best 25 rushes for 79 yards against the Bengals. He gained 38 yards on Cleveland’s first four plays, but was limited to 41 more on his final 21 tries.
“It kind of surprised me we came out that way, but it was good,” Lewis said. “It was tough sledding later on because I know (Bengals coach Marvin Lewis), and I knew he wasn’t going to let me keep running like that.”
Cleveland also set season highs in rushes (40) and yards (134) as six players carried the ball at least once, including Jerome Harrison and Cribbs.
“Romeo told us we were going to run early and run often, and we stuck with that all day,” Steinbach said.
Out of action
The Browns’ inactives were wide receiver Donte Stallworth (quadriceps), linebackers Willie McGinest (knee) and Beau Bell (knee), tight end Martin Rucker (knee), guard Ryan Tucker (hip), safety Sean Jones (knee) and guard Scott Young. Ken Dorsey was their third quarterback.
• Cincinnati was without Palmer, safeties Herana-Daze Jones (hamstring) and Dexter Jackson (thumb), cornerback Johnathan Joseph (ankle), running back Kenny Watson (hamstring), wide receiver Andre Caldwell and defensive tackles Pat Sims and Jason Shirley.
Contact Brian Dulik at (330) 721-4059 or brisports@hotmail.com.
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Filed by Brian Dulik | The Chronicle-Telegram September 29th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 3% |
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