Browns put ‘D’ back into name

Cleveland’s defense saved a big win and moved the team closer to the playoffs

BEREA (AP) — Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel couldn’t recall his coldest moment during a shivering Sunday in the abominable snow game against Buffalo.

His warmest one? Easy.

“When we stopped them on fourth-and-five,” Crennel said, referring to the Bills’ final play, a screen pass from the 10-yard-line that was sniffed out and snuffed by Cleveland’s defense in the final seconds to preserve the Browns’ 8-0 shutout.

For most of this season, they’ve been the CLEVELAN BROWNS — no D, as in defense.

But the Browns’ beleaguered defense, which has been dwelling at the NFL’s statistical bottom for weeks, finally showed up in the club’s biggest game to date and moved Cleveland within one win of a playoff spot.

With Mother Nature’s frosty fury providing a big assist, Cleveland’s defense held the Bills to 232 total yards, 11 first downs and posted its first shutout since 2005. Crennel rewarded the entire unit with game balls.

“Anytime you can shut anybody out in the NFL it’s huge because everybody has some fire power, everybody can make some plays,” Crennel said. “For our guys to be able to put a goose egg on the board, that’s good. I know that will be good for their confidence and for their psyche. We feel good about the way they played.”

That hasn’t always been the case. The Browns have been waiting for their 32nd-ranked defense to catch up to one of the league’s highest-scoring offenses. Injuries, inexperience and inconsistency have slowed the defense’s development.

However, in the last few weeks there have been signs of growth. Small signs, but signs nonetheless.

“The defense has tightened it up and come together as a whole,” wide receiver Braylon Edwards said. “A lot of times you’ve got a lot of new guys over there. Guys know each other now and understand who they’re playing with. It’s making it a lot easier.”

The Browns (9-5) can clinch a wild-card berth with a win at Cincinnati on Sunday or a loss by the Tennessee Titans (8-6), who host the New York Jets. A conference loss by Cleveland, which hosts San Francisco in the season finale, would complicate things and increase the potential of the Browns missing the playoffs through a series of tiebreakers.

Linebacker Andra Davis spent part of Sunday in the Bills’ backfield making snow angels out of Buffalo running backs.

One of only five Cleveland players left from the club’s 2002 playoff team, Davis recorded four tackles behind the line of scrimmage and was credited by Browns coaches with seven tackles. He also put pressure on rookie quarterback Trent Edwards, who had to rush throws in key third-down situations.

Crennel was pleased for Davis, one of his team captains, who in six seasons has survived some of Cleveland’s darkest football days.

“Andra has been a solid guy for us,” Crennel said. “He’s been a team guy. He’ll do whatever the team needs for him to do. He’s enthusiastic about it. In talking with Andra, he’s just glad that we’re winning and able to win some games. He’s been around here for his entire career and it hasn’t been so good.

“He’s enjoying where we are right now.”

True to his coach’s characterization, the humble Davis passed off praise to his defensive teammates, who have been hearing all season that they’ve been holding the Browns back. The shutout made them all feel better.

“We’re a very resilient group,” Davis said. “We’ve taken our share of criticism and it’s well deserved. But I don’t care what the conditions are, anytime you’re able to pitch a shutout, it’s a great feeling.”