Browns lose to Rams ... close, oh so close.

Cleveland, Ohio--

 

Tim Couch( 6/9 98 yds.and 1 TD) and Jamel White ( 16 rushes/ 101yds. and 39 yds receiving and 1 TD) keyed a second half surge that brought the Browns to within 6 points of the powerful St. Louis Rams, but a dropped pass and a sack ended the Browns fleeting hopes for a win with just over a minuite left in the game on Monday Night Football.

 

The City was all lit up and the Browns faithful were in a playoff-like frenzy as Cleveland was showcased by Al Michaels and John Madden. There were all kinds of sideshows, from a actual wedding in the "Dawgpound" to LeBron James visiting the set of MNF at halftime (complete with white fur coat).

 

On the field, the Browns defense, lead by Brant Boyer (15 tackles) and Orpheus Roye ( 3 batted down passes and a sack ) played remarkably well and held the vaunted Rams offense to just 9 points on 3 field goals in the first half...that is until Kelly Holcomb threw 2 picks to Aeneas Williams within 62 seconds of each other, the first returned 46 yds. for a TD and the other setting up another Rams score. Instead of going to the lockeroom at halftime with a scant 9-7 lead, the Rams went in up 23-7 and it appeared the rout was on.

 

Subbing for an again ineffective Kelly Holcomb (10/17 80 yds. 1 Td and 2 INTs.), Tim Couch  rallied the troops and put together 2 impressive drives for TD's, the first on an 28 yd out pattern to Quincy Morgan to the corner of the endzone, and a 2 yd. dive by Jamel White at the end of a 11 play 83yd drive.

 

Turnovers and injuries cost the Browns 20 points and four players. "You just can't turn over the ball five times in this league and expect to win", Butch Davis said. Meanwhile, Courtney Brown was lost for the season with a torn biceps tendon (Remember Ross Verba?), Chad Beasley with a broken ankle, James Jackson with a dinged knee and kicker Phil Dawson with a broken arm.

 

Rams coach Mike Martz praised the fanatical crowd,mentioning,"We have been in some tough atmospheres, but obviously this was one of the toughest. The weather really wasn't a factor, but the Browns team and this crowd certainly were".

 

73,108 braved the cold and got to see the Browns wear the Brown jersey's and Orange pants for the first time since 1983. The Browns fall to 4-9 and are officially eliminated from the playoffs, while thr Rams improve to 10-3 and clinch a playoff spot, stay even with Philly for home field advantage, and open a 2 game lead on Seattle in the NFC West.