Manning shakes off interceptions, Broncos beat Browns 26-23

Signs of improvement were visible on Sunday, but the loss still cuts deeply.

“At the end of the day, no matter how well you play you have to find a way to finish these games and that’s what we are trying to get to”, he said. Manning relied nearly entirely on checkdowns to his backs and receivers in the flats. McCown had his streak of 300 yard passing games snapped.

This was a day where the Browns’ defense showed up for the first time this season.

After Vick completed only 3 of 8 passes for six yards, he exited the game with a hamstring injury early in the third quarter and was replaced by Jones, who was 8 for 12 for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

Travis Benjamin caught nine passes for 107 yards and continues to be a threat on punt returns.

The veteran frequently missed receivers and made costly mistakes. But his second pick with 44 seconds left in regulation cost the Browns as they were driving for a potential game-winning field goal. All McCown and the Browns had to do was play positive and safe football.

An undefeated team teetered.

Running back Robert Turbin gained 27 yards on 10 carries in his Cleveland debut. If the Broncos couldn’t run at Cleveland, then when?

Colin Kaepernick passed for a season-high 340 yards and two touchdowns, leading San Francisco past Baltimore.

Once again, the defense delivered.

“There are always teachable moments in any game, regardless of how you perform”, Williams said.

The only negative for the Broncos is the rate at which defenders continue to fall. The Browns’ backs did not disappoint. He and the rest of the offense could barely manage any yardage for the entire first half, making Denver’s 10-0 lead seem nearly insurmountable. That’s definitely a reason for optimism.

Just down 9th Street, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame offers an explanation of the Broncos’ offense. If the Broncos are to make something special of their season, it will be because their defense takes them there. He threw for two touchdowns. Broncos drove all the way down and kicked a 29 yard field goal. Beat in coverage was veteran cornerback Tramon Williams.

Last December, questions about Manning’s fading arm strength heated up after he threw four interceptions when the Denver Broncos suffered a 37-28 loss to the Bengals in Cincinnati. CB Joe Haden (concussion) and S Tashaun Gipson (ankle) were inactive…. Unfortunately, the Browns failed to capitalize on offense. The Broncos only rallied thanks to their top-ranked defence, which came up huge in overtime.

Now the defense. There is no pressure on the quarterback at all.

Ronnie Hillman is exhausted of answering questions about Peyton Manning’s struggles.

Hillman was able to rush the ball for Denver on Sunday – he did it 20 times for 111 yards. Boldin caught five passes for 102 yards while Smith caught three passes for 96 yards and a 76-yard touchdown. The secondary also played lights-out.

The Browns needed only to make meek progress. It’s time to make a lot of adjustments on both sides of the ball.

And pour one out for the poor Browns. The Broncos enter their bye week with a hearty dose of self-awareness about what needs the most attention. But offensive coordinator John DeFillippo did not try it again this week against Denver. But Jordan Norwood almost fumbled away that chance. “We’ve been losing by three points or less”. If you want to run outside, use Johnson or Crowell. The team totaled four sacks and two interceptions.

Interim Miami coach Dan Campbell won his first game as the Dolphins physically dominated the Tennessee Titans at the scrimmage line to carve out a 38-10 win at Nissan Stadium. Instead, the offense squandered the chance with an terrible series. The vaunted running game has yet to rear its head and the quality of the receiving corp is lacking- except for “Big Play” Gary Barnidge. He has been one of the players to lift the team. The 30 year old faked a corner route to the back corner of the end zone before cutting inside behind Denver’s safeties. McCown was intercepted then as he was by Bruton on Sunday. That gave Cleveland a 20-16 lead in a hectic fourth quarter.

Cleveland responded to draw within two points as McCown and Barnidge connected for the second time of the game with a 14-yard strike. “It is frustrating, being at home and being that close and to come up short”. It’s telling that Von Miller only had one tackle today.

And the hurts keep coming: Jeremy Maclin was knocked woozy.

Little has changed in the Mike Pettine era. “They made more plays down the stretch”, linebacker Karlos Dansby said. Lack of a pass rush has been a problem all season and is one reason the Browns are 2-4. Remember Butch Davis, the last coach to lead the Browns to the playoffs? They should be happy because their record could easily be 3-3.

Not all of the blame falls on Pettine.