Browns missed opportunities

LANDOVER, Md. — Cleveland had but a few feet to six points. In most instances, it’s a foregone conclusion; goal line situations are plentiful, but goal line stands are rare.

So when the Washington Redskins’ defense held firm on seven straight plays, it became the defining series that got the Redskins back on track on Sunday.

That, finally, the eighth play resulted in a touchdown was of little consequence; it merely provided an unusual final score. The Browns had already used too much time, and pulling out a victory was too high a hurdle.

London Fletcher was the key man in the key series in Washington’s 14-11 win that day. Redskins linebacker and emotional leader on his side of the ball, Fletcher made the first two tackles that set the tone. With Washington up by 11, Cleveland moved the ball inside the Redskins’ 5 on an 18-yard catch by running back Jamal Lewis.

On first and goal, Fletcher said he was fully expecting a handoff to the 245-pound Lewis. He was correct on that part, but was wrong on his guess that Lewis would attempt to plunge over the goal line. So when Fletcher leapt, he landed on Lewis’ back; still, he was able to make the stop.

On second and goal, Fletcher saw a block coming from the outside – a “nasty” split, he called it. He fought through it and caught up to Charles Ali in the flats, tackling Ali for a 2-yard loss. On third and goal, Browns quarterback Derek Anderson threw high and missed Jason Wright; Fletcher was in the vicinity there, too.

On fourth and goal, Anderson’s pass was knocked down at the line of scrimmage by Demetric Evans. Four tries, no points. The lead was still 11 with just under six minutes to play.

“If they get a touchdown there,” Fletcher said, “maybe the game goes a little different.”
Clinton Portis fumbled on the next play, negating the yardage of a long run. Two plays later, the Browns were back in the same position.

On second and goal, defensive tackle Kedric Golston made the first hit on Lewis, stopping him short of the goal line. On third and goal, Anderson faked a handoff to fullback Lawrence Vickers and pitched outside to Lewis; cornerback Carlos Rogers dove at Lewis’ feet and linebacker H.B. Blades completed the tackle.

On fourth and goal, Anderson faked a handoff and rolled to his right. Evans pressured, but Joshua Cribbs had gotten past Rocky McIntosh’s coverage and was alone in the end zone. But it hardly mattered. The Redskins’ defense had already done its job. By the time the Redskins received the kickoff and tried to run out the clock, only 2:49 remained. Washington needed only to kill as much time as possible — it did — and hope its defense could hold a final time.

It did. On their final drive, the Browns moved more slowly and never got near the red zone. Phil Dawson’s 54-yard field goal try sailed wide right, and the victory was secure.
For this week anyway, the Redskins’ defense won a game. But life in the NFL means any celebration — Fletcher couldn’t remember a time in his 11-year career with two goal line stands — is necessarily short lived.

“The next team, if they happen to get down there, they’ll see that,” safety Chris Horton said. “Then they know how we play down on the goal line. They might try to come back with the same thing.”

This Sunday, Washington will face the Detroit Lions.

Brian Hunsicker covers the Redskins for Media General’s News & Messenger.