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Browns outscore Bengals in wild game

Sep 16, 2007 - 10:55 PM By Jeff Brewer PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - It was 2004 all over again.

Led by quarterback Derek Anderson and running back Jamal Lewis, the Cleveland Browns erupted for a 51-45 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The game conjured up memories of the 2004 encounter when the Bengals emerged with a 58-48 victory in the second-highest scoring game in NFL history.

This time, the teams combined for 1,085 total yards in a wild shootout. Cleveland (1-1), which traded Week One starter Charlie Frye to Seattle on Tuesday, racked up 554 yards.

With rookie Brady Quinn waiting in the wings, Anderson became the fifth quarterback in Cleveland franchise history to throw five touchdown passes in a game. Wide receivers Braylon Edwards and Joe Jurevicius each caught two.

"In my own head, I've always had confidence in my abilities," said Anderson, who won his first game as an NFL starter. "If we keep winning games, everything will take care of itself."

Edwards saved Cleveland with a critical first-down catch on 3rd-and-8 at the Browns 44 with 3:11 left. He finished with eight catches for 146 yards.

Anderson also connected six times with Kellen Winslow for 100 yards and one score.

"The odds were against us," Winslow said. "Nobody believed in us."

Anderson completed 20-of-33 passes for 328 yards. He was not surprised by his club's offensive output.

"You guys (the media) might not have seen it, but we've seen it in practice," Anderson said.

In the meantime, Lewis rushed for 216 yards and one score on 28 carries. It marked his ninth 100-yard rushing game against the Bengals and his 31st career.

"It's been a long time since I've been able to break out like that," Lewis said. "It did take me back a little bit. I just wanted to go downhill at them and see what they had. I'm ready to carry the load."

Carson Palmer kept Cincinnati (1-1) in the game, throwing a franchise record six scoring passes on 33-of-50 for 401 yards. His second interception, however, with 23 seconds to play, ended the Bengals' comeback bid.

Cleveland's Leigh Bodden, playing with a sore groin, made the pick at the Browns 27.

"They tried to stick the pass into Chad (Johnson). They had stuck it in on the sidelines a few times earlier," embattled Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel said. "Leigh kept fighting, didn't give up, and made a great interception at the end."

One week earlier, the Browns endured a humiliating 34-7 home loss to Pittsburgh.

"We regrouped as a team and as an organization," Jurevicius said.

"I also have to give a lot of credit to the fans," Crennel said. "After last week, there could have been some no-shows. Hopefully they got their money's worth."

Cleveland's 51 points were most since the team returned in 1999,

"It's very disappointing how we played defensively," Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said. "We didn't play well on third down. We allowed them to rush for over 200 yards and we weren't very sharp."

Palmer's favorite target was Chad Johnson, who caught 11 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns.

"I don't think anybody expected this game to shake out like this," Palmer said. "If anything, it's a good reminder for us that it doesn't matter who you play.

"They talked about the Browns and how they weren't a good football team, but every team in this league is a good team."