The Browns wanted to have a better start against the Panthers.
They did. They were only outscored 7-3.
Maybe you can call that baby steps.
After being outscored 27-3 in the first quarter of the first four games, the
Browns doubled their production on a 28-yard field goal by Phil Dawson with 5:30
to play in the first quarter to make it 3-0.
However, the rest of the game they were outscored 13-9 and the Browns lost to
the Panthers, 20-12 to fall to 1-4 as they approach the bye week.
The Browns took advantage of a mistake the Panthers made in a Browns punting
situation. They appeared to be heading for a three-and-out on their first
possession, but a penalty on the punt by the Panthers allowed the Browns to
continue the drive and they turned it into a field goal. The big play on the
drive was a 23-yard reception by Kellen Winslow from Charlie Frye to the
Panthers’ 27 on third down.
However, before the Browns could enjoy their lead too much, Richard Marshall
picked off a Frye pass that went off of Dennis Northcutt’s hands for a 30 yard
score and just like that the Panthers had a 7-3 lead with 3:19 left in the
first quarter.
The Browns were unable to muster much offense and the Panthers finally got
going on their fifth offensive drive. Jake Delhomme found Keyshawn Johnson for a
17-yard touchdown to give the Panthers a 14-3 with 4:28 left in the second
quarter. Brodney Pool was covering Johnson on the play and had pretty good
coverage, but Delhomme placed the ball perfectly.
Julius Peppers sacked Frye with 17 seconds to play in the first half and
recovered the ball in Browns’ territory, but John Kasay missed a 53-yard field
goal as time expired.
On a fumble by Marshall
after a Browns punt was recovered by the Browns, but reversed, the Panthers
capitalized and added a field goal by Kasay with 10:13 left in the third quarter
to make it 17-3.
Trailing 17-3, it was Joshua Cribbs once again, who ignited the Browns with a 61-yard return to the Panthers’ 30. However, the Browns offense stalled
on third-and-inches, as they tried a trick play. The Browns were forced to kick
a 47-yard field goal from Dawson
to make it 17-6 with 8:07 to play in the third quarter.
After a 34-yard punt return by Cribbs, the Browns settled for
Dawson’s third field goal of the game from 22 yards out
to pull within eight at 17-9 with to play with 12:54 to play in the game.
But that was the closest the Browns could get.
The Panthers put the game away with 4:03 to play as Kasay kicked a field goal
from 19 yards to make it 20-9.
Frye threw his second interception of the game as the Browns were driving to
end any thought of the Browns coming back. They did get the ball back and were
able to get
Dawson
to kick his fourth field goal to make it 20-12 with just five seconds remaining.
Rather than kicking an onside kick, the browns kicked long and the Panthers
downed it to close the game.