Browns down champions

In the preseason opener, Cleveland QB Colt McCoy outdueled Aaron Rodgers

Associated Press

Cleveland

Browns quarterback Colt McCoy outshined Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers as Cleveland opened the preseason with a 27-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday.

McCoy, looking comfortable running first-year Browns coach Pat Shurmur’s new West Coast offense, went 9 of 10 for 135 yards while playing three series. He threw a 27-yard TD pass to Josh Cribbs, and led Cleveland on a second scoring drive, capped by Peyton Hillis’ 3-yard scoring burst.

Rodgers threw a touchdown pass before swapping his helmet for a baseball cap in the first quarter.

After establishing himself as one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks with his performance against Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl, Rodgers was eager to get back under center following an offseason made longer by the lockout. He got off to a rough start, but finished 6 of 8 for 74 yards and threw a 21-yard TD pass to Greg Jennings.

Rodgers looked good.

McCoy looked even better.

The second-year QB, whom the Browns hope can finally end a decade-long search for an offensive leader, was pinpoint accurate and in control. He completed all four passes as the Browns drove for their first score — McCoy’s pass to Cribbs, the dynamic return man whose role in Shurmur’s offense is yet to be determined.

Cribbs streaked down the right sideline and hauled in McCoy’s pass over cornerback Pat Lee, who started in place of veteran Charles Woodson. Packers coach Mike McCarthy decided to rest Woodson, a 14-year veteran who broke his collarbone in the first half of the Super Bowl.

McCoy’s performance — his only incompletion was a batted-down pass at the line — must be comforting to Shurmur, the former St. Louis offensive coordinator. Earlier this week, Shurmur said he expected the matchup with the vaunted Packers to reveal “we have a long way to go.”

Maybe not as far as he feared.

The Browns’ starters played the Packers’ to a draw.

Green Bay led 17-14 at halftime, scoring with 27 seconds left in the second quarter on Matt Flynn’s 3-yard TD pass to tight end Spencer Havner, who ran under a tipped ball.

The Browns tied it early in the third on a 46-yard field goal by Jeff Wolfert and took a 24-17 lead when linebacker Titus Brown scooped up a fumble and went 43 yards for a TD.

Wolfert’s 44-yarder with 1:52 left capped the scoring.