Browns-Redskins Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Last week in the past for Browns and 'SkinsThe Browns have a short week -- but also a new lease on life -- after Monday's win over the previously undefeated defending-champion Giants. The Redskins, ironically, were tripped up by the then-winless Rams last week, losing on a last-second field goal. But Washington still has road victories over NFC East foes Philadelphia and Dallas to its credit. Tough division competition puts pressure on the Redskins to get back on track, but they have a good blend of proven veterans and young talent, all of whom have bought into coach Jim Zorn's optimism. Are these teams headed in differenT directions, or were last week's performances an anomaly?

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
CLE	4-12	232	350	1-7	3-5	1-5	3-9
WAS	8-8	265	296	4-4	4-4	3-3	7-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Cleveland Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Quinn 53.1 1339 8 7 Anders... 44.5 888 3 10

Washington Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Campbe... 64.5 3618 20 15 Collin... 52.2 144 0 0

Cleveland Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Harris... 194 862 4.4 5 Lewis 143 500 3.5 0

Washington Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Portis 124 494 4.0 1 Campbe... 46 236 5.1 1

Cleveland Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Massaq... 34 624 18.4 3 Harris... 34 220 6.5 2

Washington Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Moss 70 902 12.9 3 Randle... 50 530 10.6 0

Full Player Stats: Cleveland | Washington

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	CLE	249.0
	WAS	320.0
Yards Passing	CLE	148.8
	WAS	189.1
Yards Rushing	CLE	100.3
	WAS	130.9
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	CLE	356.5
	WAS	288.8
Pass Yds Allowed	CLE	204.6
	WAS	193.4
Rush Yds Allowed	CLE	151.9
	WAS	95.4

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Series tied 1-1
Oct 3, 2004	CLE 17, @WAS 13

The Cleveland Browns may have revived their season with an upset of the defending Super Bowl champions. Now they have a chance to generate more momentum when they try to knock off a tough NFC East team for the second straight week.

The Browns look to build on their big victory and even their record when they face the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on Sunday.

A popular pick to win the AFC North this season after going 10-6 and just missing the playoffs last year, Cleveland (2-3) was a major disappointment through its first four games, getting outscored 78-46 and losing its first three contests before knocking off lowly Cincinnati on Sept. 28.

The red-hot New York Giants came to Cleveland for the Browns' first Monday night game in five years, and few gave the hosts much of a chance of winning. Instead, Cleveland turned in its best performance of the year, winning 35-14 to deal the Giants their first loss in five games this season.

"This springboards us into our second season," said receiver Braylon Edwards, who caught five passes for a career-high 154 yards and two touchdowns. "The first three losses are over. We have 11 games left to play like we did tonight."

Derek Anderson, who before last week was on the verge of losing his starting job, went 18-for-29 for 310 yards -- 225 in the first half -- as Cleveland was able to insulate him from New York's usually ferocious pass rush. Anderson wasn't sacked in the game and faced very little pressure.

The Browns racked up 454 yards of offense, and didn't punt for the first time since 1995. Coach Romeo Crennel, however, didn't want to overstate the importance of the win.

"We still have a lot of work to do," he said. "The season is still a long season and just because we won one game it doesn't put us in the playoffs. We're not even .500."

Crennel's team committed 10 penalties for 55 yards, a problem that has plagued the Browns all season. Cleveland has been called for 52 penalties, tied for fourth-most in the NFL.

Still, Crennel had to be happy with the stunning all-around performance by the Browns. Eric Wright was named AFC defensive player of the week for returning an interception 94 yards for a touchdown, one of three Cleveland interceptions of Eli Manning, who was limited to 192 yards passing.

Now the Browns will try to duplicate that effort against Washington (4-2), a team that was on the wrong end of an equally shocking result last week.

Coming off back-to-back road victories over Dallas and Philadelphia, the Redskins returned home to face winless St. Louis with a chance for their fifth straight win. Washington's offense, though, committed its first three turnovers of the season, and Josh Brown kicked a 49-yard field goal on the last play to give the Rams a 19-17 victory.

Washington was playing as a huge favorite for the first time under coach Jim Zorn, and it showed. Running back Clinton Portis said the Redskins overlooked the Rams, who were supposed to be the first of three easy wins in the soft part of the schedule.

"The headlines got good. The guys started high-fiving," Portis said. "We hadn't thought ahead all season long until this week. ... The previous four games, the focus was there."

Zorn's team will try to recapture it after blowing a late lead last week. Portis' 2-yard run with 3:47 left put Washington ahead 17-16, but Marc Bulger hit Donnie Avery for a 43-yard gain on third-and-13 to move the Rams into field-goal range.

"I don't think we saw ourselves as an elite team, strutting ourselves, walking in and saying 'We are so awesome,'" said Zorn, whose offense committed four false starts that killed those plays. "I just think we tried to win the game. We played hard. ... I don't think we overlooked this team at all, and I don't think we're going to overlook any team."

The Redskins seem all but certain not to take the Browns lightly after the results in each team's last game. Cleveland could look even more formidable offensively than it did entering Monday's game, as tight end Kellen Winslow returned to practice Friday and may play after sitting out against New York with an undisclosed illness that put him in the hospital.

Washington, meanwhile, will have running back Shaun Alexander in uniform after signing the 2005 NFL MVP on Tuesday. Alexander, cut by the Seahawks in April, rejoins Zorn, Seattle's quarterbacks coach for seven years before taking the Redskins job. Alexander will back up Portis, the league's leading rusher with 643 yards.

The Redskins also cut Durant Brooks, who ranks last in the league in punting, and replaced him with former Seahawks punter Ryan Plackemeier. Plackemeier won a competition among four free agents flown in to audition at Redskins Park on Tuesday morning.

The Browns have dominated the series with the Redskins, leading 33-9-1, but the teams haven't met since 2004 and only twice in the past 17 years.

Granderson: New Orleans' rally unique

Super Bowl XLIV was not about the Aints becoming the Saints but about the people of New Orleans. The nation didn't rally behind this football team because it was a long-suffering franchise.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Newly reinstated WR Stallworth cut by Browns

The Cleveland Browns terminated the contract of wide receiver Donte' Stallworth Monday.

Scouts Inc.: AFC offseason needs

You can think of this as the ultimate primer for the NFL offseason, or at least the AFC offseason: Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. breaks down all the squads in the AFC and tells you their top three needs to address, be it via the draft or free agency.

Browns Insider: Mangini sees errors, but also progress, as Quinn, Anderson learn new offense

Browns coach Eric Mangini explained Tuesday why the quarterbacks have looked a little ragged this week and last week during voluntary practices.

Witnesses for the defense: Ex-Jets spreading the word to help Browns learn Mangini's ways

The Browns haven't made a tackle yet this year, of course -- or missed one -- but certain characteristics of their defense are emerging in their off-season workouts.

Dumb move by Mangenius

By essentially forcing the rookies to take a 10-hour bus trip to work a camp at his old high school in Connecticut this weekend, head coach Eric Mangini only succeeded in adding to the Browns' reputation as an NFL laughingstock.

How to Lose Friends and Irritate People, Eric Mangini Edition

It's not going to matter if Eric Mangini goes 11-5 with the Browns and Rex Ryan goes 5-11 with the Jets, but .. In a comparison of the two in the off-season, Ryan seems to be winning, 62-0. Most of it is Mangini's own doing.

Mangini Not Making Friends In Cleveland

Eric Mangini irked Browns rookies by "asking" that they help out at a football camp in Hartford, Conn.

Thomas's Return 'On Schedule'

Randy Thomas is sitting out OTA practices this month after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery recently, according to head coach Jim Zorn.

Redskins Take First Look at Line After Jansen

"I feel like I have the ability to be a starter," said Stephon Heyer, center, shown here taking on Scott Burley in drills during yesterday's workout as offensive line coach Joe Bugel looks on.

Kelly Full-Go At Practice

Malcolm Kelly pulled in a pass on a slant pattern, adjusting his body mid-route because the throw was slightly behind him.

Back In Action

The Redskins resumed OTAs on Monday, with more than 75 veterans and rookies returning to the practice fields at Redskins Park.

Heyer Aims To Be Worthy Heir

Late yesterday morning, Stephon Heyer performed the duties offensive linemen perform at this time of year.