Re: The Donovan McNabb Experiment - A Cleveland Browns Dynasty (1999)
Cleveland Browns (1-6) at the Chicago Bears (5-2)
The Chicago Bears must have been kicking themselves like crazy after this one was all said in done. Perhaps it wasn't the best football ever played, and maybe a little sloppy, but with enough bizarre moments, this one was more thrilling than most, including probably the most offense in one game Bears fans will see this season, and they couldn't even walk away with their sixth victory ...
577.
That's the magic number for Chicago.
The Bears would host the Browns for 577 offensive yard affair, and would end up losing the fight, 27-23 CLE. The Bears started off well with a field goal on their first possession. After that the Browns couldn't get anything going, leading of course to another attempt at a score from Chicago. They would work their way down most of the field, playing fundamental football until the very end. The Bears would work their way to the CLE 6-yard line, confident they could secure a ten point lead in the first quarter. Instead, they would open with a 2-yard rush to cut their length from the goal by a third. Next Chicago's quarterback Shane Matthews would fail to hook up with running back Edgar Bennett (who had himself a big day). Then on third, Matthews would make one of his only mistakes of the drive, but certainly a very big one. Back-up safety Earl Little would make the big play, stepping in and picking off a Matthews pass in the end zone, and breaking free to run it back to the CHI 29-yard line. Ironically, Little was forced into the game when regular free safety Corey Fuller had to leave the game with an injury suffered mid-way through the same Chicago possession. But sometimes, injuries such as can be a blessing in disguise.
Unfortunately, the Browns wouldn't make, anything, absolutely anything of the turnover. A 9-yard sack by defensive end Clyde Simmons (who would also leave the game with an injury), and a few missed passes put the Browns now out of field goal range, and were forced to give Chicago the ball back. Heading through the end of the first into the second quarter, the Bears would tack on a second field goal. But the Browns were finally able to score the first touchdown soon after, thanks to a few big plays between Donovan McNabb and receiver David Dunn (who had a big day).
The Browns would then find themselves in the red zone, where they started with a lame 2-yard pass to tight end Irv Smith. Second down and goal saw running back Terry Kirby go nowhere, while third down and goal saw the exact same thing. On the CHI 2-yard line, and down six points, head coach Chris Palmer decided to roll the dice, calling a screen play to the fullback, but pressure would force McNabb to scramble and dive his way into the end zone for the touchdown!
But just as quick as they were up, the Browns were put back down, all thanks to a 61-yard rush from Edgar Bennett on the Bears' next drive, ending in a final three-yard touchdown run to put the Bears up 13-7 CHI. The big blows just kept coming though, as Cleveland responded to that upper-cut with another touchdown of their own, this one starting with a return to the CHI 45-yard line by returner David Dunn, leading to a solid drive finished with a 2-yard McNabb TD pass to Dunn himself. Now up only a point, Chicago had the chance to take the lead heading into the second half, but kicker Jeff Jaeger would blow the easy field goal from 38-yards out as time expired.
The second half would be just as entertaining as the first, with the Browns starting things off with a 43-yard field goal to go up four points. Chicago would respond with another deadly play though, this one a 74-yard completion from Matthews to his number one man, Bobby Engram. This one really brought the lively atmosphere back into Soldier Field!
David Dunn kept working hard though, believing his team could do it, and did another fine job to return that kickoff back to the CHI 45-yard line once again. This gave his quarterback Donovan McNabb some good field position, which he didn't take full advantage of, but was able to get his team a scrappy field goal from 31-yards out after a nice hook-up between McNabb and Dunn this time going 17-yards.
Now tied 20-20, Chicago would hold the ball this next position for over eight-minutes, but would have to settle with another field goal from real close after the Browns defense really stepped up and gave the Bears another good stuffing at the goal line. Chicago went to their man Bennett to get the work done on the offensive side, but a run going nowhere and two failed passing plays to the running back presented Chicago with another fourth-and-goal situation, but Chicago's coaches failed to play as gusty as coach Palmer, and settled with another field goal.
It was only a matter of time before McNabb threw an interception, and he took the time to do so midway through the fourth on the team's next possession. But the defense would get the job done another time, this time with an interception of their own just as the Bears were entering the deadly red zone. This time credit belongs to another back-up safety, this one being fourth-stringer Ray Jackson, who was seeing more real action since starter Corey Fulleler left the game with injury. Even more impressive than the pick was the run back, putting the Browns over from the CLE 20-yard line, to the CHI 18-yard line, with 3:45 left to play. This time Cleveland didn't **** it up, and McNabb was able to sneak Kirby the TD pass down low for a 6-yarder putting the Browns up 27-23 CLE.
But all was not done. Chicago would respond well, as quarterback Shane Matthews made due of his receiving core, and proceeded to march his squad downfield to a continuous chorus of cheers to complement every complete pass. It looked as though Cleveland's defense would give up the game once again, despite playing with heart all day. The defense would end the day giving up 577, but would make things count at the end.
Another goal line stop. That's the story. The goal line stop.
Cleveland's frontline had heard the criticism, and weren't ready to lose their jobs just yet. Instead, the defense would successfully wrap up Edgar Bennett on fourth-and-goal with thirty seconds left, as he went for only three yards, completely laying out the ball but falling just short of the goal line itself, giving Cleveland it's second win of the season, in certainly epic fashion ...
QUOTES OF THE GAME
"Man it's games like that which remind you of why you're out here every day, puttin' this team together and patching up everything that comes up. You could see the heart out there, in our guys, in the defense, but also in that Chicago team. You know I'm not too pleased with how the defense did play-by-play, but they really did the job when it was time to put up the stop ... I couldn't be prouder of those guys right now and just hope they realize they can play this damn good every game ..." - Head Coach of the Browns, Chris Palmer
"Yeah, yeah, that was a real tough loss. Real tough ... I mean I didn't know how many we had while playing, but seeing something like that on the stat sheet, and to not see a 'W' next to your name, it's very strange. It was a weird game, I think, but Cleveland was really tough today ... I know 575 or whatever it was doesn't tell that story, but you can ask anyone of these guys and they'll all say those guys played real tough ..." - Quarterback of the Bears, Shane Matthews
"You know I really think I was feelin' good out there, mane ... I had some serious vision all day, just felt real good dodgin' those guys today ... But yeah, I don't know, by the second half I guess I had some good chemistry goin' with Donovan [McNabb], but I was just tryin' to make those plays mane, seein' Earl [Little] and Ray [Jackson] get those picks, especially that one from Ray at the end, really just had the juices flowin' all night ..." - Receiver of the Browns, David Dunn
...
Cleveland Browns (1-6) at the Chicago Bears (5-2)
The Chicago Bears must have been kicking themselves like crazy after this one was all said in done. Perhaps it wasn't the best football ever played, and maybe a little sloppy, but with enough bizarre moments, this one was more thrilling than most, including probably the most offense in one game Bears fans will see this season, and they couldn't even walk away with their sixth victory ...
577.
That's the magic number for Chicago.
The Bears would host the Browns for 577 offensive yard affair, and would end up losing the fight, 27-23 CLE. The Bears started off well with a field goal on their first possession. After that the Browns couldn't get anything going, leading of course to another attempt at a score from Chicago. They would work their way down most of the field, playing fundamental football until the very end. The Bears would work their way to the CLE 6-yard line, confident they could secure a ten point lead in the first quarter. Instead, they would open with a 2-yard rush to cut their length from the goal by a third. Next Chicago's quarterback Shane Matthews would fail to hook up with running back Edgar Bennett (who had himself a big day). Then on third, Matthews would make one of his only mistakes of the drive, but certainly a very big one. Back-up safety Earl Little would make the big play, stepping in and picking off a Matthews pass in the end zone, and breaking free to run it back to the CHI 29-yard line. Ironically, Little was forced into the game when regular free safety Corey Fuller had to leave the game with an injury suffered mid-way through the same Chicago possession. But sometimes, injuries such as can be a blessing in disguise.
Unfortunately, the Browns wouldn't make, anything, absolutely anything of the turnover. A 9-yard sack by defensive end Clyde Simmons (who would also leave the game with an injury), and a few missed passes put the Browns now out of field goal range, and were forced to give Chicago the ball back. Heading through the end of the first into the second quarter, the Bears would tack on a second field goal. But the Browns were finally able to score the first touchdown soon after, thanks to a few big plays between Donovan McNabb and receiver David Dunn (who had a big day).
The Browns would then find themselves in the red zone, where they started with a lame 2-yard pass to tight end Irv Smith. Second down and goal saw running back Terry Kirby go nowhere, while third down and goal saw the exact same thing. On the CHI 2-yard line, and down six points, head coach Chris Palmer decided to roll the dice, calling a screen play to the fullback, but pressure would force McNabb to scramble and dive his way into the end zone for the touchdown!
But just as quick as they were up, the Browns were put back down, all thanks to a 61-yard rush from Edgar Bennett on the Bears' next drive, ending in a final three-yard touchdown run to put the Bears up 13-7 CHI. The big blows just kept coming though, as Cleveland responded to that upper-cut with another touchdown of their own, this one starting with a return to the CHI 45-yard line by returner David Dunn, leading to a solid drive finished with a 2-yard McNabb TD pass to Dunn himself. Now up only a point, Chicago had the chance to take the lead heading into the second half, but kicker Jeff Jaeger would blow the easy field goal from 38-yards out as time expired.
The second half would be just as entertaining as the first, with the Browns starting things off with a 43-yard field goal to go up four points. Chicago would respond with another deadly play though, this one a 74-yard completion from Matthews to his number one man, Bobby Engram. This one really brought the lively atmosphere back into Soldier Field!
David Dunn kept working hard though, believing his team could do it, and did another fine job to return that kickoff back to the CHI 45-yard line once again. This gave his quarterback Donovan McNabb some good field position, which he didn't take full advantage of, but was able to get his team a scrappy field goal from 31-yards out after a nice hook-up between McNabb and Dunn this time going 17-yards.
Now tied 20-20, Chicago would hold the ball this next position for over eight-minutes, but would have to settle with another field goal from real close after the Browns defense really stepped up and gave the Bears another good stuffing at the goal line. Chicago went to their man Bennett to get the work done on the offensive side, but a run going nowhere and two failed passing plays to the running back presented Chicago with another fourth-and-goal situation, but Chicago's coaches failed to play as gusty as coach Palmer, and settled with another field goal.
It was only a matter of time before McNabb threw an interception, and he took the time to do so midway through the fourth on the team's next possession. But the defense would get the job done another time, this time with an interception of their own just as the Bears were entering the deadly red zone. This time credit belongs to another back-up safety, this one being fourth-stringer Ray Jackson, who was seeing more real action since starter Corey Fulleler left the game with injury. Even more impressive than the pick was the run back, putting the Browns over from the CLE 20-yard line, to the CHI 18-yard line, with 3:45 left to play. This time Cleveland didn't **** it up, and McNabb was able to sneak Kirby the TD pass down low for a 6-yarder putting the Browns up 27-23 CLE.
But all was not done. Chicago would respond well, as quarterback Shane Matthews made due of his receiving core, and proceeded to march his squad downfield to a continuous chorus of cheers to complement every complete pass. It looked as though Cleveland's defense would give up the game once again, despite playing with heart all day. The defense would end the day giving up 577, but would make things count at the end.
Another goal line stop. That's the story. The goal line stop.
Cleveland's frontline had heard the criticism, and weren't ready to lose their jobs just yet. Instead, the defense would successfully wrap up Edgar Bennett on fourth-and-goal with thirty seconds left, as he went for only three yards, completely laying out the ball but falling just short of the goal line itself, giving Cleveland it's second win of the season, in certainly epic fashion ...
QUOTES OF THE GAME
"Man it's games like that which remind you of why you're out here every day, puttin' this team together and patching up everything that comes up. You could see the heart out there, in our guys, in the defense, but also in that Chicago team. You know I'm not too pleased with how the defense did play-by-play, but they really did the job when it was time to put up the stop ... I couldn't be prouder of those guys right now and just hope they realize they can play this damn good every game ..." - Head Coach of the Browns, Chris Palmer
"Yeah, yeah, that was a real tough loss. Real tough ... I mean I didn't know how many we had while playing, but seeing something like that on the stat sheet, and to not see a 'W' next to your name, it's very strange. It was a weird game, I think, but Cleveland was really tough today ... I know 575 or whatever it was doesn't tell that story, but you can ask anyone of these guys and they'll all say those guys played real tough ..." - Quarterback of the Bears, Shane Matthews
"You know I really think I was feelin' good out there, mane ... I had some serious vision all day, just felt real good dodgin' those guys today ... But yeah, I don't know, by the second half I guess I had some good chemistry goin' with Donovan [McNabb], but I was just tryin' to make those plays mane, seein' Earl [Little] and Ray [Jackson] get those picks, especially that one from Ray at the end, really just had the juices flowin' all night ..." - Receiver of the Browns, David Dunn
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