Browns vs Bengals! (Part 2)
As the teams emerged from their locker rooms, the temperature had somehow risen even higher under the baking sun. Marty Schottenheimer knew the conditions favored the more physically dominant Bengals. But his young Browns squad was ready to battle.
"You saw the tape - their D-line is plowing right through us," Schottenheimer bluntly told his offensive line. "It's time to toughen up and give Brady a damn chance!" The beleaguered unit, led by center Matt Birk , nodded silently in response.
On the first drive, Brady came out slinging. A quick out to WR Kevin Johnson picked up eight yards, followed by a designed QB draw for six more as Brady lowered his shoulder. With the offense finding rhythm, possession was turned over to the hulking Bengals defenders.
Cincinnati sought to salt the game away on the ground. But stout run stops by linebackers Brian Urlacher and Steve Foley gave the ball right back to Brady. On third-and-four, left guard Brian Waters locked onto his man and drove him five yards downfield, creating a wide running lane for rookie RB Travis Prentice to burst through untouched for 25 yards.
Brady found TE Mark Cambell over the middle for 18, then dialed up a deep post to Laveranues Coles for 48 more yards inside the five. On third down, Waters held his block for two seconds as Brady floated a touchdown to Coles, giving Cleveland its first lead at 21-16.
The energy was rising in FirstEnergy Stadium. As Corey Dillon returned the ensuing kickoff, the future All-Pro return man Dante Hall exploded through the wedge and stripped the ball, which TE Mark Campbell recovered. The Browns offense needed only three plays from the 25 to double their lead, on a toss sweep to White followed by a play-action bootleg score by Brady. 28-16 Cleveland takes more advantage.
But Akili Smith wouldn't back down. Three passes later he spotted Marco Battaglia over the middle for a 35-yard score. Two-point conversion was good, 28-24 game on again with 7 minutes in the 3rd quarter.
Brady marched the Browns back down, using Waters as a pulling lead blocker on power runs. A 25-yard bomb to Kevin Johnson put them in the red zone. With the Bengals' rush bearing down hard up the middle, Brady recognized blitz and dumped a screen left to Johnson, who high-stepped into the end zone. 35-24 Browns entering the 4th.
Needing two scores, Smith went no-huddle. But relentless pressure from DE "KGB" and DT Chad Clifton gave him no time. On third down, he heaved deep while backpedaling, only to cornerback Jerry Azumah step in front for the interception.
The Browns offensive line, led by Waters' dominant performance, was now controlling the trenches. Prentice rumbled for 12 and 9 yards to start the drive. Facing third-and-one from the Cincy 30, Schottenheimer called for Waters to pull right. The powerful guard engulfed his man and leveled the second level, creating a massive lane for Prentice to walk through untouched into the end zone. 42-24 Cleveland with 8 minutes left.
Cincinnati wasn't done swinging. A few chunk plays got them inside the red zone before Esiason found Cris Collinsworth on a fade for six. Two-point try failed, but tension remained at 42-30.
With under two minutes left, the Bengals forced a punt. Their celebration was short-lived however, as All-Pro returner Andre Hall gathered the kick, broke four tackles, and zoomed 90 yards down the opposite sideline for the dagger touchdown. Browns prevailed 49-30 in the high-scoring rivalry scrap.
In the postgame locker room, Schottenheimer saluted his linemen. "Without Waters, Matt Birk, Clifton and the big uglies up front, none of those Brady bombs or Prentice touchdowns happen. This win is yours boys - enjoy it." The Browns had survived their toughest test yet behind the power of a dominant offensive line.
It will continue...