Cutler rallies Broncos to 34-30 comeback win past Quinn,
Browns
Jay Cutler turned Brady Quinn’s big night into his own
prime-time showcase.
Cutler passed for a career-high 447 yards, throwing three touchdown passes in
the fourth quarter Thursday night—the last an 11-yarder to Brandon Marshall with
1:14 remaining—to rally the broken Denver Broncos to a 34-30 win over the
Cleveland Browns that spoiled Quinn’s highly hyped debut as an NFL starter.
The Broncos (5-4) entered the fourth quarter trailing 23-13, but Cutler,
borrowing a page out of John Elway’s comeback playbook, brought Denver back. He
recorded his fifth career fourth-quarter comeback victory despite losing two
more running backs to injuries and only having his fullback to carry the ball.
Cutler threw a 93-yard TD pass to rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal, a 28-yarder
to tight end Daniel Graham and then finished off the Browns like so many Denver
teams have done in the past with his toss to Marshall in the corner of the end
zone.
The Broncos have beaten Cleveland eight straight times and been the Browns’
longtime nemesis, beating them three times in AFC title games.
Cutler finished 24-of-42 with three TDs and one interception. He piled up 204
yards passing in the fourth quarter.
Quinn threw two TD passes to Kellen Winslow and went 23-of-35 for 239 yards...more
Scoring Summary
DEN - CLE
1st Quarter
7:03
DEN
TD
Ryan Torain rushed to the right for 1 yard gain (Matt
Prater made PAT)
7 - 0
3:38
CLE
TD
Brady Quinn passed to Kellen Winslow down the middle for
5 yard gain (Phil Dawson made PAT)
7 - 7
2nd Quarter
12:45
CLE
FG
Phil Dawson kicked a 24-yard field goal
7 - 10
10:29
CLE
TD
Brady Quinn passed to Kellen Winslow to the left for 16
yard gain (Phil Dawson made PAT)
7 - 17
5:48
DEN
FG
Matt Prater kicked a 35-yard field goal
10 - 17
1:09
CLE
FG
Phil Dawson kicked a 52-yard field goal
10 - 20
3rd Quarter
10:21
CLE
FG
Phil Dawson kicked a 33-yard field goal
10 - 23
5:37
DEN
FG
Matt Prater kicked a 30-yard field goal
13 - 23
4th Quarter
13:30
DEN
TD
Jay Cutler passed to Eddie Royal to the left for 93 yard
gain (Matt Prater made PAT)
20 - 23
9:50
DEN
TD
Jay Cutler passed to Daniel Graham to the left for 28
yard gain (Matt Prater made PAT)
27 - 23
4:57
CLE
TD
Jamal Lewis rushed to the right for 1 yard gain (Phil
Dawson made PAT)
27 - 30
1:14
DEN
TD
Jay Cutler passed to Brandon Marshall to the left for 11
yard gain (Matt Prater made PAT)
34 - 30
Team Statistics
DEN
CLE
First Downs
26
20
Passing
15
10
Rushing
10
9
Penalty
1
1
Third Down Efficiency
6-11
6-14
Fourth Down Efficiency
1-1
1-2
TOTAL NET YARDS
564
399
Total Plays
71
64
Average Gain Per Play
7.9
6.2
NET YARDS RUSHING
123
160
Rushes
28
29
Average Per Rush
4.4
5.5
NET YARDS PASSING
441
239
Completions-Attempts
24-42
23-35
Yards Per Pass Play
10.3
6.8
Times Sacked
1
0
Yards Lost to Sacks
6
0
Had Intercepted
1
0
PUNTS
1
2
Average Punt
29.0
44.5
PENALTIES
3
3
Penalty Yards
30
20
FUMBLES
0
1
Fumbles Lost
0
1
TIME OF POSSESSION
27:48
32:12
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
Romeo Crennel waited as long as he could, but the Cleveland
Browns coach felt he had to change his team's direction - and as a result,
finally changed quarterbacks. Brady Quinn will make his much-anticipated debut
as a starter when Cleveland hosts the Denver Broncos on Thursday night, with the
Browns fighting to maintain their playoff hopes and the Broncos clinging to a
slim lead atop the AFC West. Crennel said after Sunday's 37-27 loss to Baltimore
that he wasn't planning on demoting Derek Anderson, but the team announced the
switch Monday, setting up Quinn's long-awaited chance to prove himself in the
NFL...more
Pick:
This is set to be an
exciting match-up with Brady Quinn getting his debut as a starter. It will be an
interesting match-up, and look for the Cleveland faithful to go crazy with a
new-found energy for their new hero. Browns 30 - Broncos 21
Video: Tim Hasselbeck on the Browns decision to start Brady
Quinn
12.8
23.3