Tuesday, November 18, 2008
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo’s Rian Lindell missed a 47-yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining to cap a wild fourth quarter and the Cleveland Browns defeated the Bills, 29-27, Monday night.
The Browns led 16-13 after three quarters before the teams combined for three touchdowns and two field goals by Phil Dawson, the second a 56-yarder with 1:44 remaining that made it 29-27.
The Bills’ ensuing drive started on their 44-yard line and they quickly moved into field goal range before Lindell’s kick went wide right.
Jerome Harrison’s 72-yard touchdown romp gave the Browns a 23-13 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Buffalo’s Leodis McKelvin quickly answered with a 98-yard kickoff return.
Dawson’s 22-yard field goal with 11:35 remaining made it 26-20, but the Bills took the lead on Trent Edwards’ 1-yard sneak with 2:35 to go.
Brady Quinn, making the first road start of his career, was just 14-of-36 for 185 yards. Braylon Edwards had eight catches for 104 yards but also had several drops. Harrison rushed for 80 yards on just three carries, and Jamal Lewis rushed 18 times for 65 yards.
The Browns outgained Buffalo, 337-334, in total yards, and was plus-four in turnover margin.
Edwards was 16-of-26 for 148 yardsn and a touchdown, but he threw three interceptions, all in the first quarter, as the Browns led 13-0.
Marshawn Lynch rushed 23 times for 119 yards, and caught 10 passes for 58 yards for Buffalo.
Trailing 13-10 at halftime, the Bills threatened to take the lead on their first possession of the third quarter. Edwards hit Steve Johnson for 21 yards to the Browns 32. But two plays later, Fred Jackson fumbled while struggling for extra yardage and Ahtyba Rubin recovered for the Browns.
Joshua Cribbs scored on a 2-yard run for the Browns.