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Browns Browns Archive Preview: Broncos at Browns
Written by Jesse Lamovsky

Jesse Lamovsky
Well, it's not exactly Kosar vs. Elway duking it out for AFC supremacy in the late eighties. But this edition of Browns v. Broncos definitely has some appeal, as it's the first professional start for Browns quarterback Brady Quinn ... a day many Browns fans have been anxious for since the team dealt back into the first round to select him out of Notre Dame in the 2007 NFL Draft. Jesse previews tomorrow night's game for us.

Time: 8:15 pm, Sunday, November 6, 2008 

Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium 

Network, Announcers: NFL Network- Bob Papa and Cris Collinsworth 

Line: Broncos by three-and-a-half 

Team W/L Records: Cleveland is 3-5; the Broncos are 4-4 

Coaches: Romeo Crennel is 23-33 in his fourth season with the Browns; Mike Shanahan is 134-82 in his fourteenth season with the Broncos; 142-93 overall. 

Last Week for the Browns: Blew a 14-point third-quarter lead and lost at home in catastrophic fashion to the Ravens, 37-27. 

Last Week for the Ravens: Suffered their third straight loss, 26-17 to Miami. 

All-Time Series: Broncos lead, 16-5. 

Last Meeting: October 22, 2006- The Broncos dominated in front of a disgruntled crowd at CBS, out-gaining the Browns 347-165 and forcing three turnovers in a deceptively close 17-7 win. 

Out or Questionable for Denver: Cornerback Champ Bailey (groin), safety Marlon McCree (ankle) and linebacker D.J. Williams (knee) are out; tight end Tony Scheffler (groin) and running back Selvin Young (groin) are questionable. 

Out or Questionable for Cleveland: Guard Eric Steinbach (ribs) and running back Lawrence Vickers (ankle) are doubtful; defensive end Corey Williams (shoulder) and tight end Darnell Dinkins (hamstring) are questionable. 

What to watch for the Broncos: Denver's defense is 29th in the NFL in total yards allowed, 27th against the pass, 26th against the run, and have been decimated by injuries. The Broncos have awful covered on the defensive side of the ball, and they have a very short week to prepare for Brady Quinn. Cleveland should score a lot of points in this game, and they're going to have to- after getting the ball to Brandon Marshall just twice against Miami, and not at all in the first half, the Broncos will re-double their efforts to get their leading playmaker more involved in the offense- and this is precisely the kind of defense Marshall can get healthy against. If the Browns win, it's probably going to be a shootout.

 

What to watch for the Browns: Brady Quinn. That is all. 

Good Past Win over the Broncos: October 1, 1989- One of the most dramatic regular-season games in Browns history. After being forced to switch ends of the field because of the volume of projectiles being hurled out of the Dawg Pound at Denver players, the Broncos were driving for the winning field goal with less than two minutes left when Mike Johnson stripped Sammy Winder of the ball and the Browns recovered at their own 14-yard line. Cleveland then drove to Matt Bahr's game-winning field goal, which cleared the upright "by a coat of paint." Cleveland 16, Denver 13. Look for a young Randy Lerner celebrating the fumble recovery from 2:52-2:59. 

Bad Past Loss to the Broncos: November 7, 1993- Bernie Kosar's last game in a Browns uniform. Denver won easily, racking up 393 total yards and cruising to a 29-14 decision. Kosar's last pass was an improvised 38-yard touchdown bomb to Michael Jackson. The next day, Bill Belichick released the Cleveland icon. 

Next Week for Both Teams: Denver goes to Atlanta; Cleveland goes to Buffalo on Monday Night. 

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