For first time in decade, Cleveland Browns win home opener

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Mike Pettine received a Gatorade bath and looked forward to smoking a cigar. Brian Hoyer wanted to hold onto the feeling as long as possible.

Seemingly cursed for so long, the Browns finally have something in September to celebrate.

For the first time in 10 years, they’re 1-0 at home.

Hoyer, annoyed that he had to come off the field for rookie backup Johnny Manziel, directed an 85-yard drive to set up Billy Cundiff’s 29-yard field goal with three seconds left, giving Cleveland a 26-24 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Cundiff’s kick helped the Browns (1-1) snap a nine-game losing streak in home openers, gave Pettine his first NFL coaching win and Cleveland its first in a home opener since 2004 .

“I graduated high school that year,” Hoyer said. “It’s a long time coming, and our fans deserve it.”

Manziel made a perfunctory NFL debut with a handful of plays, but had no major impact. The Browns didn’t need any magic from Johnny Football.

Hoyer delivered.

He was marvelous in the clutch, moving the Browns from their own 4 to the New Orleans 11, and Cundiff took it from there. Hoyer completed several big passes on the final drive, including one on fourth down to tight end Gary Barnidge and a 28-yarder to Andrew Hawkins with 13 seconds to go.

“The play of the game was Gary catching the ball across the middle on the last drive,” Hoyer said. “If he doesn’t do that, it’s over.”

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes to tight end Jimmy Graham and moved past Hall of Famer John Elway into fourth place on the NFL’s career passing list.

The Saints (0-2) dropped their fifth straight regular-season road game.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.