Bills Replay
A cavalcade of big plays in prime time
Where do we begin?
Do we look at the interceptions thrown by Trent Edwards? What about the runs by Marshawn Lynch and Jerome Harrison? How about Leodis McKelvin's kickoff returns?
Monday Night madness returned to Buffalo as big plays reigned thorough a stirring contest between the Bills and Cleveland Browns.
But in the end, the Browns made the biggest plays and left Ralph Wilson Stadium with a 29-27 victory.
The Bills rediscovered a running game and both of their touchdown-scoring drives were led by the legs of Lynch and Fred Jackson. They also got a huge game from McKelvin on kickoff returns.
But the Browns made their share of plays, from the three interceptions of quarterback Edwards to impressive touchdown runs by Josh Cribbs and Harrison.
Here's a breakdown of some of the big plays:
Edwards' rough start
On the first of his three first-quarter interceptions, the Bills send three receivers (Lee Evans, Roscoe Parrish and Stevie Johnson) to the left side of the formation. TE Robert Royal, lined up on the right side, finds a hole across the middle of the Browns' coverage. Edwards takes the shotgun snap and fires, but NT Shaun Rogers, while being triple teamed, reaches up and deflects the pass that falls into LB Kamerion Wimbley's hands.
Edwards' second interception on the Bills' next possession was the result of him locking onto WR James Hardy. Edwards had plenty of time in the pocket as the Browns rushed three men, which they did most of the night. But Edwards clearly was staring down Hardy. Problem was, LB Andra Davis was sitting in the short zone in front of Hardy and was in position for an easy pick.
The third interception was another poor decision by Edwards on a third-and-1 pass. He had Lynch wide open in the right flat and Johnson is free over the middle, but Edwards tries to squeeze a pass to Royal, who was well-covered. CB Brandon McDonald stepped in front of Royal and made the pick. It didn't help that Rogers drove three blockers into Edwards' face or that DE Corey Williams shed RT Langston Walker and brought outside pressure and knocked Edwards down just as the ball is released.
"When you turn the ball over a little bit it's tough," said Edwards, who has eight interceptions in the last four games. "You start seeing things that you're not really seeing and you start doing things that you're not normally used to doing."
Great efforts lead to TDs
A 16-yard run by RB Jamal Lewis gave the Browns a first down at the Bills' 2-yard line. On the next play, Cribbs motions from right to left and gets the handoff from QB Brady Quinn. FB Charles Ali goes low to take out DE Ryan Denney. LBs Kawika Mitchell and Keith Ellison overpursue and get pushed outside by TE Steve Heiden and LT Joe Thomas. Cribbs cuts inside through the hole, leaps over CB Terrence McGee, who tries to make a diving tackle, and lands in MLB Paul Posluszny's arms in the end zone for the touchdown.
The Bills answered with a score of their own, which was set up by runs of 19 and 17 yards by Jackson. He got great blocks on those two plays, but Lynch did it all by himself on his 18-yard touchdown catch. Pressure up the middle by Rogers, who split C Duke Preston and LG Derrick Dockery, flushed Edwards out of the pocket. He dumps the ball off to Lynch, who is open at the 15 near the far sideline. Despite being surrounded by several Browns, he weaves through the sea of bodies and isn't touched until reaching the 3. From there, he lowers his head, plows through a tackle and scores standing up.
Taking it to the house
• The Browns take a 23-13 lead on Harrison's 72-yard run. It's a well-executed play. Harrison takes the pitch and follows Ali and Thomas, who pulls to the outside. Cribbs motions toward the formation and blocks down on Mitchell and Heiden engages Denney. CB McKelvin charges toward the line of scrimmage and is taken out by Thomas, while Ali stuffs Posluszny. Harrison cuts inside of Heiden's block and runs by an overpursuing Ellison. FS Ko Simpson slid too far outside and is out of position as Harrison sprints past him. Harrison got one more downfield block from WR Braylon Edwards on McGee, but Harrison didn't need it.
• It takes more than a great returner on kickoffs. It also requires great blocking. The Bills got both on this play. Fielding the ball at his 2-yard line, McKelvin follows his wedge of blockers to the left. From the outset, McKelvin has a crease because Corey McIntyre, Spencer Johnson, Jackson, Bryan Scott, John Wendling and Marcus Buggs get good initial blocks. George Wilson provides a block at the 33 to get McKelvin more yards. Jon Corto hustles across the field to take out a defender chasing the last guy with a shot to make the tackle from behind. McKelvin easily beat K Phil Dawson and is off to the races.
• Lynch capped a big night with another impressive run. From the Browns' 29, Lynch heads up the middle and then spots an opening outside to his right, where Walker, RG Brad Butler and Preston have walled off defenders. Lynch gets wedged in between Walker and Butler but keeps pumping his legs and finally pops through. He runs by three defenders and gets another block from Johnson. Lynch gets dragged down at the 1, from where Edwards scores two plays later.
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