Tim Couch kept Browns close, but he had no help

He threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted in the final minute.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- Minutes after losing Sunday's game, Browns quarterback Tim Couch nearly lost his cool, getting in a verbal sparring match with an unhappy fan in the stands.
"I should have kept my mouth shut," Couch said. "But I had just thrown an interception and I was in a bad mood."
Still, Couch's performance should have given Browns fans plenty to be happy about.
Couch, filling in for injured starter Kelly Holcomb, completed 23-of-36 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. He was one of the lone bright spots on a day when there was plenty of blame to spread around.
"I'm not upset with my performance," said Couch. "Other than that last throw, I felt like I played pretty well."
Costly interception
Couch, who lost his starting job to Holcomb following a well-publicized quarterback battle this summer, threw an interception to Bengals cornerback Jeff Burris in the final minute.
But on a day when he got little help from his line -- and even less from his running game -- Couch managed to keep Cleveland close.
"Tim Couch did a good job and it was by no means his fault," said wideout Kevin Johnson, who caught five passes for 89 yards. "He came out and played hard and stayed within himself. He took what the defense gave him."
Holcomb, who has a hairline fracture in his right leg, could miss Sunday's game against the Steelers. Couch said he'll accept whatever role he's given.
"I'm not trying to get into a quarterback debate," Couch said. "I'll just play when I'm called upon."
Couch surpassed 10,000 career passing yards in the loss and ranks fifth all-time in team history with 10,092 yards. He also moved into third all-time in career completions with 928, passing Frank Ryan (907).
"Except for the interception, I think he played very well," Browns coach Butch Davis said of Couch. "He seemed confident. We just didn't make enough plays around him."
No running game
Especially in the running game.
William Green ran 16 times for 47 yards as the Browns managed just 69 yards rushing. Through four games, Cleveland has been out-rushed 565 to 256.
Davis isn't sure why his team has been unable to run the ball.
"It's a good question," Davis said. "In some ball games, it's insignificant because you're trailing, but we've obviously got to do a better job."
The pass protection wasn't much better. Couch was sacked twice, but was also hurried 16 times and was knocked down 11 times.
"We just have to get some things together," Browns running back Jamel White said. "We know what kind of offense and defense we have. We need to go out there and be confident in ourselves, and know that we can get together."