Giant gorilla taken off Anderson’s back

By Neal Coolong  |   Tuesday, October 14, 2008  |  Comments( 4 )

Cleveland Browns
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No one will be calling for Brady Quinn to put down the clipboard and save the Browns' season this week.

Quarterback Derek Anderson completed 18 of 29 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns in a spirited 35-14 Browns win over the defending Super Bowl champion Giants on Monday. The return of Ryan Tucker to right tackle helped solidify an offensive line that hadn't been performing this year and the Browns racked up 454 yards against one of the best defensive teams in the game.

Commentary: Staring at a 1-4 record and a national TV audience, Anderson and the Browns not only provided a jolt to their fan base after a disappointing start, they gave the whole league reasons why the Browns aren't far from the dominant offensive unit they were last year. Anderson hit wide receiver Braylon Edwards for two huge plays -- one for 49 yards and another for 70 -- and used his stud receiver for half his passing yards and half his touchdown throws.

Anderson played without fear or intimidation against his toughest opponent this year without his main target, tight end Kellen Winslow, and put up perhaps the best performance of his career. Anderson's surgeon-like dissection of the Giants' secondary opened up the running game, as back Jamal Lewis rushed for 88 yards and passed Earl Campbell for 25th all time with 9,428 yards.

The Browns trail the 4-1 Steelers for the AFC North title race, but with one game between the teams remaining, and an offense that looks like it may be hitting its stride, they're very much alive in a league prone to provide upsets each week.

Fan Pulse: Fans posting on the Browns Board are still buzzing over the team's season-changing win Monday night.

Fantasy Football Impact: Anderson and Edwards were both the redheaded stepchildren of a lot of fantasy owners through Week 5, but their performances Monday night thrust both of them into must-start roles this week when the Browns travel to Washington.

Injury Watch: Winslow was released from the Cleveland Clinic Sunday, where he had been hospitalized with an undiagnosed ailment. He did not play Monday, and his status for Week 7 is unknown.
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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one...
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