Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Cleveland's coach thinks it's still too early to think about the postseason.
BEREA (AP) -- With each win, the Cleveland Browns move a little closer to the playoffs -- and danger.
Sunday's 24-15 victory at New Orleans legitimized the Browns (6-5) as postseason contenders. They beat a good team on the road, and with rookie running back William Green rushing for 114 yards, the Browns actually looked like a playoff team.
But before his club gets too caught up in analyzing tie-breakers, schedules or possible playoff scenarios, Cleveland coach Butch Davis issued a warning to his players.
"I think it's awful early to do any kind of speculation about the playoffs," Davis said Monday. "It's a crusade one week at a time."
But it's hard not to think ahead a little bit.
The Browns, who are 4-1 in their last five games, are just one-half game behind first-place Pittsburgh in the AFC North, and are among a group of 14 teams in the conference with five or more wins.
Maintaining focus
Only six will make the playoffs, however, placing huge importance on each of the Cleveland's last five games.
"We can't look at the standings," cornerback Corey Fuller said. "It's a logjam. The only way you stay in that jam is to keep winning. If you don't, that log of yours will move aside, and you'll make room for someone else."
A year ago, the Browns were also 6-5 before the bottom dropped out on a promising season.
They were plagued by costly injuries in the final weeks and went 1-4 down the stretch.
"We were a 6-4 team heading south with so many guys hurt," Davis said. "Hopefully, we're a 6-5 team heading north."
Getting better
Clearly, the running game -- although still the NFL's second-worst -- is moving in the right direction.
The Browns rushed for a season-high 163 yards, giving them consecutive 100-yard games for the first time since returning to the NFL in 1999.
Green had his three longest runs of the season, ripping off a pair of 17-yarders and a career-best one of 23. He was particularly effective in the fourth quarter when the Browns were trying to run out the clock. On Cleveland's last scoring drive, Green ran eight times for 36 yards, busting off one of his 17-yard gains to set up Phil Dawson's 28-yard field goal with 3:25 remaining.
Cleveland chewed up 6:39 before the Saints got the ball back.
"Those are the kinds of days that you need a running game," said Davis. "It was somewhat of a factor in the Cincinnati game, but it was clearly a factor when you go on the road. Nothing takes the crowd out of it more than being able to run the ball and make first downs."