Sun, Jul 05, 2009
Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn looks for running room with Bills cornerback Terrence McGee trying to get in position to make the tackle on a first-quarter play. Quinn earned his first win as an NFL starter.
Don Heupel / The Associated Press

Football

Monday Night Football: Browns 29, Bills 27

Dawson helps Browns avoid collapse

By John Wawrow
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.18.2008
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — 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 rallied to avoid wasting a 13-point lead for a third straight time.
The Bills (5-5) had a chance to win with a clutch kick of their own, but Rian Lindell missed a 47-yard attempt with 38 seconds left.
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 another sloppy performance, tossing three interceptions in 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-yard line when Braylon Edwards couldn't hold on to a Brady Quinn 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.
Quinn earned his first victory in his second career start. He went 14 of 36 for 185 yards.
Backup running back Jerome Harrison scored on an electric 72-yard run on the first play of the fourth to put the Browns up 23-13.