At some point, you probably realized this Browns season wasn't like any other in recent memory. Even if the 51-45 shootout over the Bengals didn't convince you, or the overtime win over the Seahawks, you had to know something was different when, for once, the ball literally bounced the Browns' way. Erik Cassano continues his countdown of the years top Cleveland sports moments with a look back at Phil's magical kick against the Ratbirds.
10. Mighty Casey Buries The Tigers
9. Cavs Clinch The #2 Seed
8. Trot Haunts BoSox in ALCS Thriller
7. Phil Dawson's lucky bounce forces overtime
November 18
At some point, you probably realized this Browns season wasn't like any other in recent memory. Even if the 51-45 shootout over the Bengals didn't convince you, or the overtime win over the Seahawks, you had to know something was different when, for once, the ball literally bounced the Browns' way.
The Browns were in full character through the first 58 minutes of last month's game against the Ravens: a great offensive showing, combined with a 100-yard interception return by Brodney Pool, put the Browns up 27-14. Then the defense started to give it all back, slowly at first, then quickly as time grew tight.
The Ravens tied the game on a pair of field goals, followed by a 27-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Boller to Devard Darling with 3:31 to play.
Meanwhile, the Browns' offense had suddenly short-circuited, leading to a punt and a drive to set up Matt Stover's would-be game winning field goal, putting Baltimore on top 30-27.
The Browns made one last-ditch scramble to get into field goal range, which they did, but barely. Phil Dawson is known for having an accurate leg, but not incredibly strong, so the odds of him being able to boot a game-tying 51-yarder on a cold, damp Baltimore afternoon were probably 50-50 at best.
But Dawson put all his leg into the kick, clearing the outstretched hands of Raven defenders, wobbling toward the left upright, which it hit, then caromed off what appeared to be the crossbar and back onto the field.
The officials under the goalposts looked at each other, until one finally signaled "no good."
Jubilant Ravens headed to the locker room and jubilant Ravens fans streamed for the exits. All was good on the shores of the Chesapeake, except...
Several Browns players argued with head referee Pete Morelli that the ball had, in fact, cleared the crossbar, hitting the gooseneck extension behind the cross bar.
On-field deliberation among the referee crew followed. The play was not reviewable by replay under NFL rules, so the officials had to come to the right conclusion on the field.
Television replays showed that they did. The ball crossed over the crossbar, making the kick good. The call was overturned, the Ravens were called back onto the field, overtime was played and Phil Dawson connected on a much more sure-footed 33-yarder to seal the game.
And, for once, a screwball ending went the Browns' way.