TE Jordan Cameron had a big day for the Browns; three receptions for 102 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown. Photo Credit: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images North America.
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Even with LeBron back in town, Cleveland is still Browns’ town.
In front of 67,431 barking and howling fans at FirstEngergy Stadium, and under a bright blue sky, Brian Hoyer, the Browns able field general, matriculated his team down the field with flair and spectacular force, completing 8 of 17 passes for 217 yards with one touchdown, and no interceptions as the Browns cruised to a 31-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3); but more importantly, bumped their arch rivals to the cellar in the AFC North.
The roars for Johnny Manziel have grown fainter with each passing week. The new mantra in Cleveland is no longer Johnny Football, but Brian's Song. And with each pass from this St. Ignatius alum, it's nothing but sweet music to the ears of the Browns faithful.
Interestingly, the way the game started, this had the makings of an all too familiar setting to Browns fans: watching the Steelers run over their team like a runaway freight train.
The Browns, after all, were a unspectacular minus-eight yards of offense in the first quarter. The Steelers scampered down the field for a quick three points, and on another series they looked poised to tack on another 3 before a botched snap went awry.
That's when Hoyer gathered himself and packed some explosive offensive punch, connecting with Jordan Cameron on a 42-yard strike (leading to a five-yard touchdown run by Isaiah Crowell); and then connected with Cameron again who caught a laser over cornerback Cortez Allen and rumbled into the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown.
Before intermission, running back Ben Tate sliced through the teeth of the Pittsburgh defense for a five yard touchdown and a shocking 21-3 Browns lead. By the time both teams headed for the locker room, the damage had been done; the Browns were rolling like a Category 5 Hurricane and the Steelers were its hapless victims.
Billy Cundiff punched through a 41-yard field goal in the third; Tate added another touchdown run (1-yard) in the fourth quarter before the Steelers finally broke through with their first touchdown of the day when Ben Rothlisberger connected on a 26-yard TD pass to Lance Moor with only 2: 36 remaining in the game.
Big Ben really didn't have an answer for the Browns smothering defense; he was sacked twice, threw an interception and completed a pedestrian 21 of 42 passes. The loss was only Roethlisberger's second in 20 games against Cleveland.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin in his post-game press conference, acknowledged ``the Browns executed their game plan much better than we did ours. For that I give them credit.'' Browns head coach Mike Pettine, meanwhile, said the Browns win was huge. ``It was a special day for our team and for the city of Cleveland.''
As impressive as this win was for the Browns (3-2), it didn't come without a crushing loss. Center Alex Mack, a two-time Pro Bowler, who started and played in each of the first 85 games of his career, suffered a broken fibula in his left leg in the second quarter and is likely lost for the season.
A Footnote: Since trailing 27-3 at halftime in the season opener at Heinz Field, the Browns outscored the Steelers 55-13 over the next six quarters.
-Bill Lucey
October 12, 2014
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Week 6: Cleveland Browns: By the Numbers
• Over the past six quarters, Cleveland has outscored its opponents 50-10.
• Having scored only four rushing touchdowns all of last year, The Browns already have eight rushing touchdowns on the season. The eight rushing scores are the teams most through the first five games of a season since 1971, when the team had nine.
• The Browns have scored at least 21 points in every game this season. The last time the team scored at least 21 points in the first five games of a season was 1969, when the team accomplished the feat in each of the first seven games.
• QB Brian Hoyer completed 8 of 17 passes for 217 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions and a 113.0 rating. He improved to 6-2 as a starter for the Browns and 4-1 at home. This season, he owns a 99.5 quarterback rating with seven touchdowns and one interception.
• TE Jordan Cameron recorded three receptions for 102 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown. This marks the Browns’ first 100-yard receiving game of the season and the third of Cameron’s career.
• LB Karlos Dansby recorded a game-high 11 tackles and added his second sack of the season. He has 40 sacks in his career.
• DL Desmond Bryant recorded his first sack of the season and 16th of his career.
• C Alex Mack has started and played in each of the first 85 games of his career. Following a lower leg injury in the second quarter, Mack missed the first offensive snaps of his career, a stretch that consisted of 5,279 consecutive plays.
K Billy Cundiff converted a 40-yard field goal and all four PATs. He is 7 of 9 on field goal attempts the season and 15 for 15 on extra points.
-Compiled by Bill Lucey
Source: The Cleveland Browns
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