NFL | WEEK 3 Holcomb rallies Browns to 13-12 win over 49ers

Despite injuries, the quarterback guided Cleveland to its first win.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SAN FRANCISCO -- Bruised and battered, with two aching ankles that will need X-rays, beleaguered quarterback Kelly Holcomb channeled the spirit of local legend Joe Montana for an amazing rally that may have saved the Cleveland Browns season.
Trailing 12-7 and staring at an 0-3 start that would have turned the postseason into an all-but-impossible dream, Holcomb rallied the Browns Sunday at 3Com Park by completing 11 of 13 passes late in the fourth quarter for a 91-yard scoring drive.
Holcomb's final completion was an 11-yard toss high into the end zone to wide receiver Andre Davis that clinched Cleveland's 13-12 upset of the San Francisco 49ers.
"What can we say about the heroic, gutsy performance by Kelly Holcomb?" Browns coach Butch Davis said.
Plenty.
Credited defense
After completing 25-for-38 passes for 222 yards and two scores to Andre Davis, Holcomb deflected credit to the defense that limited the 49ers' potent offense to four field goals.
"They played an unbelievable game," Holcomb said. "To hold those guys to just 12 points like they did, to just field goals, that's pretty amazing. They bent a little but they didn't break.
"As an offense, we hung in there all day," said Holcomb, who overcame three sacks and a fourth-quarter interception for his first win since replacing Tim Couch as starter.
Butch Davis said the coaching staff only considered yanking Holcomb because of injury.
Holcomb downplayed his playing hurt.
"It's part of the game," said Holcomb after hurting his right ankle on a first-half sneak and the other in the third quarter. "Injuries are going to happen -- you just have to suck it up and keep going."
With 6:10 remaining, the Browns took possession at their own 9. Holcomb completed 10 consecutive passes, including five to wide receiver Kevin Johnson, to march to the San Francisco 11.
"Kevin Johnson's consistent," Davis said. "The kid just makes plays and makes them in traffic."
Johnson out of game
Holcomb threw two incompletions into the end zone. On the second one, Johnson was knocked out of the game by a hard hit by safety Tony Parrish.
In came Davis, who jumped high in the center of the end zone for the winning score with 29 seconds to go.
"I don't know how high I jumped," Davis said, "but I'm looking forward to seeing the [television highlights]. They were playing a cover-2 defense and we were able to find a hole and get it in there."
Butch Davis said, "What I really respect and admire about Andre Davis coming in there and stepping up and catching one of the most critical passes of the season."
Holcomb said his goal was to keep the ball away from the 49ers defenders.
"You don't want to give the defense a chance to get their hands on it and knock the ball, so I was just trying to get it high to Andre, and he went up and got it."
Holcomb's grand finale came against the NFL's leaders in sacks and takeaways.
"San Francisco is a really good team defensively -- they put a lot of pressure on you, they have a lot of speed," Holcomb said. "It's just satisfying to know that when we had to do it, guys stepped up."
Stay a game behind
The win kept the Browns (1-2) a game behind AFC North Division leaders Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
"We took a step in the right direction -- we didn't want to come home 0-3. These guys are good. They had a heartbreak loss last week and they had some bitterness in their mouths, too.""
The 49ers (1-2) dropped their second straight game despite a 12-0 lead with 14:56 to play.
"When you have opportunities in the red zone like we had opportunities in the red zone, you have to get sevens, not threes," 49ers coach Dennis Erickson said.
The 49ers trail Seattle by two games in the NFC West Division.
One week after Ravens running back Jamal Lewis shredded the Browns defense for the NFL single game record, the 49ers were limited to 75 yards on 24 carries.
Quarterback Jeff Garcia completed 21-of-35 passes for 198 yards.
"Jeff had some scrambles, made some plays and he's a hell of a football player," Butch Davis said, "but for the most part our defense did a really good job of keeping him in the pocket and pressuring him."
williams@vindy.com