CLEVELAND — Rising high above downtown Cleveland on an unusually warm autumn night, the Terminal Tower was bathed in bright orange lights Sunday, a glowing tribute to a team that has this football-obsessed city fired up.
For the first time in 26 years, the beloved Browns are 4-1.
Showing resiliency, depth and maybe their legitimacy as a playoff contender, the Browns held on to beat the Indianapolis Colts, 32-23, on Sunday for their fourth straight win under unflappable first-year coach Kevin Stefanski, who in five games already has surpassed former Cleveland coach Hue Jackson’s win total over three seasons.
It’s still early, and a visit to the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers is up next. But the Browns, who haven’t been in the postseason since 2002 and didn’t win a single game three years ago, are growing more confident each week.
“We’re a different unit this year,” offensive lineman Chris Hubbard said Monday. “We’re a very hungry team.”
Cleveland passed what was hyped as a test to prove its veracity in the matchup against the Colts, who came in with the NFL’s top-ranked defense.
The Browns built a 27-10 lead and then survived a comeback — and quarterback Baker Mayfield shook off sore ribs — to get past Indianapolis with several unsung players making key contributions down the stretch.
Safety Ronnie Harrison returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown in his first start. Hubbard, who made 29 starts at right tackle the past two seasons, went in at guard for the first time in a regular-season game after Wyatt Teller went out with a strained calf. Hubbard delivered a key block to spring running back D’Ernest Johnson, playing only because Pro Bowler Nick Chubb is hurt, on a game-icing 28-yard run in the final minutes.
There were others: backup safety Sheldrick Redwine came in when Harrison went out with a concussion and made a late pick, and wide receiver Rashard Higgins, who had been inactive twice this season and seemingly buried on the depth chart, caught a TD pass.
It was a total team effort by a team on the rise.
A different team.
“I have been here for 0-16, and just to see everything turn around, it is amazing,” Higgins said. “Night and day.”
Stefanski is pushing all the right buttons. His play-calling and clock management have been exemplary the past two weeks, and he and coordinator Alex Van Pelt have devised sound game plans that accentuate Mayfield’s strengths outside the pocket.
Bigger still, Stefanski has connected with his players and earned their trust. They have bought into his weekly “go 1-0” motto.
“He knows the way,” Higgins said. “He is showing us the way.”
The secondary took another hit with Harrison going into concussion protocol and cornerback Greedy Williams being placed on injured reserve with a nerve issue in his shoulder. The Browns are vulnerable to long passes and likely will be challenged deep by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Cleveland’s kickoff coverage remains a major problem. The Colts busted off a 101-yard TD return, with Isaiah Rodgers averaging 42.4 yards on five returns.
Myles Garrett belongs in the early defensive player of the year conversation. He made a game-swinging play for the fourth week in a row Sunday. The dominating defensive end’s pressure caused Colts quarterback Philip Rivers to panic and commit intentional grounding in the end zone, giving Cleveland a safety and a 29-20 lead.
This week, Garrett, who has six sacks, plays in Pittsburgh for the first time since his helmet-swinging attack on Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph last year.
Heinz Field has been a house of horrors for the Browns. They have lost 16 straight in Pittsburgh, with their most recent win coming on Oct. 5, 2003.
Categories: NFL | Sports | Steelers/NFL
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Browns are 4-1, looking like contenders heading to Pittsburgh - TribLIVE
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