Field goal sends Browns to win
Dawson’s boot clinches 29-27 victory
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:57 AM PST
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| Cleveland Browns’ Jerome Harrison (35) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday. The Browns won 29-27. |
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Turns out the Cleveland Browns aren’t quitters after all. And they have Phil Dawson to thank for this wild win.
Dawson capped a five field-goal outing by hitting a career-long 56-yarder with 1:39 remaining to secure the Browns’ 29-27 win over the reeling Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
Cleveland snapped a two-game skid and avoided wasting a 13-point lead for a third straight time.
The Bills (5-5) had a chance to win with a kick of their own, but Rian Lindell missed a 47-yarder with 38 ticks left.
It was a morale-boosting win for the Browns (4-6), who appeared on the verge of completely unraveling after running back Jamal Lewis accused his teammates of quitting during a 34-30 loss to Denver.
‘‘We got tired of what happened the previous two weeks, getting a lead and losing it in the fourth quarter,’’Braylon Edwards said. ‘‘As a team, we rallied.’’
Buffalo has lost four straight and five of six, looking nothing like the team that got off to a 4-0 start.
Trent Edwards endured a sloppy performance, tossing three interceptions on Buffalo’s first four possessions.
Edwards’ 1-yard sneak gave the Bills a 27-26 lead with 2:35 left in the fourth, but Cleveland responded with a six-play, 28-yard drive that stalled on the Bills 39 when Edwards couldn’t hold on to Brady Quinn’s pass at the right sideline.
Without hesitation, Browns coach Romeo Crennel sent out Dawson, who calmly got off an easy kick that started toward the right goal post, before curling in to split the uprights.
