Pro Football
Anderson Rallies Cleveland To 1st Win
The Associated Press
Published: September 29, 2008
CINCINNATI - Quarterback Derek Anderson's one good moment was enough to save the Cleveland Browns' season. Maybe his job, too.Published: September 29, 2008
With reserve Brady Quinn ready to take over at any time Sunday, the embattled Anderson did just enough to rally Cleveland to a victory over an 0-4 Bengals team missing its starting quarterback.
Anderson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards that put the Browns (1-3) ahead to stay in the fourth quarter, his best play on an afternoon that had few of them. Even that moment came with an asterisk: A Bengals penalty wiped out a potential interception on the drive.
Anderson finished 15 of 24 for 138 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Cincinnati's Carson Palmer rested a sore passing elbow that forced him to miss a game for the first time since 2004.
Cleveland30017-20Cincinnati0606-12 First Quarter
Cle-FG Dawson 25, 9:29.
Second Quarter
Cin-FG Graham 42, 10:22.
Cin-FG Graham 45, :08.
Fourth Quarter
Cle-Edwards 4 pass from Anderson (Dawson kick), 13:05.
Cle-Lewis 1 run (Dawson kick), 11:06.
Cin-C.Johnson 4 pass from Fitzpatrick (pass failed), 7:46.
Cle-FG Dawson 29, :32.
A-65,541.
CleCinFirst downs1914Total Net Yards261211Rushes-yards40-13416-69Passing127142Punt Returns2-101-9Kickoff Returns3-584-122Interceptions Ret.3-391-12Comp-Att-Int15-24-121-35-3Sacked-Yards Lost1-113-14Punts4-43.04-43.3Fumbles-Lost2-12-2Penalties-Yards9-526-55Time of Possession34:0225:58 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Cleveland, Lewis 25-79, Harrison 4-20, Wright 5-18, Anderson 4-11, Vickers 1-6, Cribbs 1-0. Cincinnati, Fitzpatrick 4-41, Perry 12-28.
PASSING-Cleveland, Anderson 15-24-1-138. Cincinnati, Fitzpatrick 21-35-3-156.
RECEIVING-Cleveland, Winslow 5-54, Edwards 3-22, Steptoe 2-24, Lewis 2-15, Wright 1-10, Vickers 1-8, Harrison 1-5. Cincinnati, Houshmandzadeh 6-50, Perry 5-15, C.Johnson 3-28, Kelly 3-21, Chatman 2-32, Utecht 2-10.