Browns send Green Bay packing
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Complete stats, page 7
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - When Cleveland rookie Braylon Edwards scored the first touchdown of his young career he was ready to dance.
Too bad the former Michigan star forgot the steps he'd practiced after his 80-yard touchdown catch Sunday that helped the Browns beat Green Bay 26-24.
''When I got into the end zone, I was so overcome with joy my mind went blank,'' Edwards said. ''I forgot everything my boys had showed me and I had to break down and celebrate with my teammates - the guys who helped me get there.''
No worries.
It's been all about teamwork in Cleveland since Romeo Crennel arrived in the offseason to resurrect the downtrodden franchise.
Crennel got a Gatorade bath and the game ball from Trent Dilfer, who hit tight end Steve Heiden on a 62-yard pass with 1:50 left to put the game out of reach at 26-17.
''We've been working on communication. The day-in and day-out grind of putting so much time and effort out there,'' said Dilfer, who finished 21-of-32 for 336 yards and three touchdowns. ''To see the fruits of your labor is really gratifying.''
Last year, the Browns (1-1) won just one game on the road. Edwards says Crennel kept them disciplined for their first road trip together.
''The biggest thing Coach Crennel preached all week is it's Lambeau, but at the same time it's another field, another postal code,'' he said. ''Treat it like it's another chance to win.''
The win ruined several milestones for the Packers (0-2). Reggie White's No. 92 jersey was retired, Brett Favre broke John Elway's single-stadium NFL touchdown record of 180 and Favre joined Elway and Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks to throw for 50,000 yards, going 32-of-44 for 342 yards.
''When you try to do something for somebody, it just never seems like it works out,'' Packers defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila said of White.