Chapter 10: Chapter #10 First season game!
It was a good day for good football, like every day.
A palpable buzz surrounded FirstEnergy Stadium as the teams took the field on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Led by the quarterback Tom Brady, the retooled Browns offense broke the huddle looking to make a statement in their first real game under head coach Marty Schottenheimer.
On their opening possession, the Browns drove methodically down the field. Brady found rookie wide receiver Laveranues Coles over the middle for a 16-yard gain on 3rd down to keep the chains moving. "This Cleveland offense is clicking on their first drive," commented Joe Buck on the FOX broadcast.
A few plays later, Brady rolled right and hit tight end Mark Campbell on a corner route for a 15-yard touchdown. The stadium erupted as the Browns took an early 7-0 lead.
But the Jaguars responded swiftly, going 75 yards on 6 plays capped by a 30-yard bomb from David Garrard to Jimmy Smith. Just like that, it was tied at 7-7 as the momentum swung back in Jacksonville's favor.
Undaunted, the Browns offense came right back. Fullback Marc Edwards gashed the Jaguars defense with runs of 12 and 15 yards. Then on 3rd and 4, Brady lofted a perfect pass down the sideline to Laveranues Coles for a 35-yard gain.
"Coles is playing up to the hype as one of the breakout candidates coming into this season," remarked Buck's broadcast partner Troy Aikman. A few plays later, Brady found Mark Campbell again from 5 yards out to retake the lead 14-7.
However, the Jaguars answered once more before halftime. Garrard engineered a 10-play, 80-yard drive that he capped off with a QB sneak to tie it up at 14 heading to the locker room.
As the teams came back out for the third quarter, all eyes were on how the Browns would respond. They responded emphatically, with rookie linebacker Brian Urlacher intercepting a Garrard pass and returning it 40 yards for a momentum-shifting touchdown.
But Jacksonville was persistent. Midway through the fourth, Garrard led another scoring drive to close within 21-20 as the Dawg Pound crowd began to fret. This was Cleveland's first real test under their new regime - could they hold on?
With under two minutes left and the Browns facing a 3rd and long, Brady dropped back and delivered a perfect 15-yard strike across the middle to Dante Hall for the first down. A few plays later, placekicker Phil Dawson booted a 42-yard field goal to extend the lead to 24-20.
On Jacksonville's ensuing possession, pressure up the middle by Browns defensive tackle Chad Clifton forced a Garrard fumble. This time it was the first overall pick Brian Urlacher who scooped it up and rumbled 30 yards to the end zone, sealing the victory.
Pandemonium ensued as the hometown fans celebrated their team's convincing 27-20 win. The Dwight Clark era had begun in triumphant fashion, passing its first test with flying colors. In the locker room, players doused their coach with Gatorade, elated at putting the league on notice that a new day had dawned in Cleveland.
The buzz around Cleveland was at a fever pitch the morning after the Browns' thrilling victory. Local radio stations and sports talk shows were flooded with calls from energized fans.
On ESPN's Mike and Mike show, analyst Mike Golic weighed in: "This was a signature win for the Browns. They passed their first big test with flying colors and really made a statement to the whole league."
Co-host Mike Greenberg agreed: "Cleveland controlled this game from start to finish. That offense is clicking behind Tom Brady and the defense really clamped down late. I'm buying into the hype that this Browns team is for real."
Over at WFAN in New York, Joe Benigno said: "I'll admit, I was skeptical of all the playoffs talk coming from Cleveland in the preseason. But after seeing how they took care of business against a tough Jaguars squad, I'm a believer. Marty Schottenheimer has them playing at a championship level already."
Local newspapers were buzzing as well. In his column for the Plain Dealer, longtime writer Terry Pluto wrote: "This new look Browns squad passed its first exam with an A+. They showed poise in crunch time and the leadership of Brady and Schottenheimer is abundantly clear. Expectations should rightfully be rising after this impressive debut."
The Akron Beacon Journal touted: "The Schottenheimer era is off to a rousing start. This team came ready to play and backed up all the preseason hype with their performance on the field. Cleveland is officially back in the playoff hunt."
Even major national publications took notice of the Browns' arrival. In its Monday morning edition, USA Today ran a feature headlined "Browns Mean Business in AFC North."
Sports Illustrated's Monday Morning QB column stated: "After over a decade stuck in neutral, the Browns might finally be changing gears under Schottenheimer. With the way they dominated Jacksonville, a special season could be brewing in Cleveland."
By week's end, it was evident the narrative had shifted dramatically around this Browns franchise. After years of futility, Marty Schottenheimer and company had catalyzed belief that better days were indeed ahead in Northeast Ohio. Their statement win in the opener was only the beginning.
To be continued...
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone