Browns push Rams to limit in 26-20 loss

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Browns coach Butch Davis finally got the complete effort he was looking for all of this season, but the Browns failed to get the victory.
Playing in their first Monday Night contest since 1995, the Browns rallied from a 23-7 halftime deficit and threw a scare into the St. Louis Rams before losing 26-20 before 73,108 at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
"I told the team after the game that it was the best effort we've put forth this season," said Davis. "These guys just refused to surrender.
No letdown
"The character of this team was challenged tonight, a lot of guys got hurt and a lot of guys stepped in and stepped up," he added.
The loss dropped the Browns into the cellar in the AFC North with a 4-9 record, while the Rams clinched their fourth playoff berth in five years, improving to 10-3 on the year.
Jeff Wilkins, the former Youngstown State and Austintown Fitch High standout, kicked four field goals to spark the Rams, who also got an outstanding performance from free safety Aeneas Williams, who had two interceptions, one he returned for a touchdown, and a sack.
"In this league you can't win if you turn the football over and that's what we did tonight," Davis said. "This team has fought through more adversity than any team in the league this season."
Rams quarterback Marc Bulger completed 22-of-36 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown and one interception and was sacked three times, while running back Marshall Faulk rushed for 102 yards on 24 carries, but it was the defense on both sides that made the difference in the game.
Browns starter Kelly Holcomb played the first half and was 10-of-17 for 80 yards, one touchdown, but he had two key interceptions, while Tim Couch came off the bench in the second half, completing 6-of-9 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. The two quarterbacks were sacked a combined five times.
Early field goals
The Rams challenged the Browns early in the first half, getting deep into Cleveland territory, but came away with only three Wilkins field goals of 28, 26 and 29 yards.
Wilkins lined up for a 40-yard field goal attempt early on the Rams' first possession, but holder Dane Looker pitched to Wilkins, who ran 7 yards for a first down and later settled for a 26-yarder.
Cleveland took the lead on the next series as Holcomb drove the Browns 72 yards for a touchdown that came on a 2-yard pass to Keith Heinrich, but that was all the offense the Browns could muster in the half.
With St. Louis leading 9-7 and 1:52 remaining in the half, the Browns tried to get back on the board, but Holcomb threw wildly out into the flat and Williams picked it off at the Cleveland 46 and returned it all the way for a touchdown.
On the next series, Holcomb again threw wildly and again it was Williams who picked if off and returned it to the Browns 20.
Two plays later Bulger hit Isaac Bruce with a 16-yard scoring pass for a 23-7 halftime lead.
The best the Rams could do in the second half was a 37-yard field goal by Wilkins, while Couch took the Browns on a pair of touchdown marches.
The drives
The first came after a poor punt that gave the Browns the ball at the Rams 42 and Couch ended that drive with a perfectly thrown pass to Quincy Morgan from 28 yards out.
The second scoring drive covered 83 yards in 11 plays with Jamel White scoring on a 2-yard run. White finished the game with 101 yards on 16 carries after taking over for the injured James Jackson in the second quarter.
The Rams had one other scoring opportunity, but Wilkins failed to convert on a 37-yard field goal attempt late in the final period.
Cleveland had one more chance to pull out the win, but Couch was sacked on fourth down ending the drive and the Browns hopes.
mollica@vindy.com