BROWNS Couch riding a roller-coaster season

For the time being, the critics are quiet.
BEREA (AP) -- If it were a thrill ride, Tim Couch's fourth NFL season would compare with the biggest, baddest roller coaster at any amusement park.
With his year now cresting another hill, Cleveland's quarterback is preparing himself for the next stomach-dropping dip, unexpected hairpin turn or dark tunnel.
In just eight weeks, Couch has endured an elbow injury, the wrath of critical Browns fans and questions about his leadership.
He's survived it all, and lived to call another play.
"In the NFL there are going to be a lot of ups and downs for a quarterback," he said. "Some weeks you're on top of the world, and you feel like this thing has finally turned the corner.
"And then, this game will humble you and you'll come out the next week and throw three interceptions. It's happened to every quarterback in this league."
Couch is riding high right now.
Recent performance
Last Sunday, he had one of the best performances of his career, rallying the Browns (4-4) from an 18-point deficit by throwing two touchdown passes -- and a desperation two-point conversion -- in the second half as Cleveland beat the New York Jets 24-21.
Couch finished 33-of-49 for 307 yards and threw his two TDs on improvised plays. In the second half, he went 19-of-27 and had several balls dropped.
On his first TD, Couch avoided pressure by rolling to his right before leading tight end Mark Campbell with a perfectly thrown ball into the end zone.
His second scoring pass was ever better.
About to be sacked, Couch spun out of trouble and sprinted toward the left sideline. He then zipped a sidearm pass through traffic to wide receiver Andre Davis.
His two-point conversion was straight out of a sandlot game.
As Couch was being lifted and planted into the Giants Stadium turf by end Josh Evans, he somehow threw the ball in the direction of Dennis Northcutt, who fought off two Jets defenders to catch it.
Couch is still amazed it worked.
"I knew I was getting hit, but I didn't know I was as parallel to the ground as I was," he said. "I don't even know how I got rid of it."
The play typified Couch's topsy-turvy season.
Tough times
It began with him missing the first two games with an elbow injury, and was followed by his emotional locker room breakdown after a home loss to Baltimore.
He tearfully derided Browns fans for first booing and then cheering after he sustained a concussion.
The critics are quiet now. In the past two weeks, Couch has completed 67 percent of his passes, thrown three TDs and hasn't had an interception in consecutive games for just the second time in his career.