Big start, big plays key victoryZac Jackson, Staff Writer
08.22.2009
Joshua Cribbs will sleep well tonight.
Eric Mangini will probably sleep a little better than he did a week ago, too.
With the do-it-all Cribbs doing a little bit of everything, the Browns jumped
all over the Lions early Saturday night. It wasn't all smooth sailing from
there, but the Browns were much better than they were last week and much better
than the Lions for most of the night in what became a 27-10 victory.
The Browns opened the game with a seven-play, 74-yard scoring drive and got
their first points of the preseason when Jamal Lewis scored from 4 yards out to
cap the opening drive. James Davis took off an 81-yard touchdown sprint late in
the third quarter to complete the scoring.
Cribbs finished with 135 all-purpose yards. That doesn't include his 95-yard,
game-opening kick return that was called back by penalty. And all of those came
in the first quarter.
"You obviously appreciate what he can do," Mangini said. "Those are huge
momentum plays."
It was 20-0 after that first quarter. The Lions didn't get a first down until
almost 12 minutes had elapsed and didn't score until the final play of the first
half when a William James interception off a deflection set up Swayze Harris'
51-yard field goal.
The Browns still had more penalties (11 for 85 yards) than Mangini wished to
see, and the turnover was the only reason the Lions were able to get on the
first-half scoreboard. But the coach saw progress.
"It was nice to get the win, and it was nice to see the potential we have if
these guys are able to play good, solid, disciplined and complementary
football," Mangini said. "We left some plays out there, and those things have to
be corrected."
Derek Anderson started and went 6-of-9 for 119 yards in the first quarter
including completions of 39 yards to Braylon Edwards, 24 yards to Mohamed
Massaquoi and 20 to Cribbs. He finished 8-of-13 for 130 yards and was
intercepted by William James in the closing seconds of the first half on a pass
that went off Davis' hands and led to the field goal that provided the Lions'
first points.
"There are a couple throws I wish I had back," Anderson said. "I have to give
J.D. a better ball there.
"Overall I thought things went well. I got in a little rhythm and we got a
little sweat going out there. Guys caught the ball well. I felt good."
Davis woke the Browns from a third-quarter lull when he found a little room off
left tackle, made two Lions miss and took off up the sideline for a first
professional score he won't forget.
"I was just looking for flags," Davis said. "When the guys came down and
celebrated, I figured there weren't any. It was a good way to keep things
going."
Both teams are now 1-1 in the preseason.
Eric Wright intercepted Matthew Stafford on the Lions' first play from scrimmage
and returned it to the 5-yard line, but the Browns started from the 20 after
Wright was penalized for excessive celebration and ended up settling for a Phil
Dawson field goal.
Brady Quinn went 3-of-5 for 29 yards in the second quarter. Lewis finished with
23 yards on 7 carries.
Davis led all rushers with 12 carries for 116 yards.
It was an encouraging night for the Browns' defense as well. The Lions got only
113 yards of total offense in the first half and went 3-of-9 on third down
during that time.
For the game, the Browns outrushed the Lions, 194-102, and won the total yardage
battle, 348-288.
"I liked what I saw from the run defense," Mangini said. "They had some plays
where I thought they piled up more yardage than they should have but if we play
team defense I think we can cut those down."
 


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