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| Browns specialist, Joshua Cribbs (#16, white), looks to repeat his '09 performance vs. the Chiefs this weekend. (Cribbs had two 100+ yard KR's in a 41-34 Browns victory in KC, December 2009.) |
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| The Browns look to start out the final quarter of the 2012 season with a win over the Chiefs on Sunday. |
Come Sunday afternoon up in Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Orange & Brown will look across the field at a number of familiar faces. The Browns will be going up against former Head Coach Romeo Crennel, who recorded a 24-40 record in four seasons (2005-2008) as the Browns Head Coach. The Browns will also face a couple Chiefs players, that once wear the Orange & Brown. Starting quarterback Brady Quinn and back-up running back Peyton Hillis.
Quinn, a former 1st round draft pick of the Browns in 2007, was with the Browns for three seasons (2007-2009). Quinn, the "Golden Boy" from Notre Dame and hometown hero (Dublin, OH), was suppose to be the Browns starting QB for years to come. Unfortunately, things didn't quick work out for the Browns & Quinn, with a 52% passing completion, 1,902 passing yard and 10 TD's & 9 INT's, in 14 games of action under center for the Browns. Following the 2009 season, the Browns traded (March, 2010) Quinn to the Denver Broncos, for a couple draft picks, and yes...RB Peyton Hillis.
Hillis' time with the Browns was short & at times sweet. In the 2010 season, Hillis had a breakout season with the Browns, as he accounted for 1,177 rushing yards (270 attempts, 4.4 yards/per) and 11 touchdowns. The bruising back also showed he could catch the ball out of the backfield for the Browns, with 477 receiving yards (61 receptions, 7.8 yards/per) and two more scores. It was an incredible season, as Hillis was the face of the Browns offensive attack in the 2010 season. Fans voted Hillis to be the coverboy for Madden 12, and Browns fans were looking for a repeat performance from Hillis in the 2011 season. Like many before him, Hillis ran into the "Madden curse", and suffered a injury-plagued 2011 season, rushing for just 587 yards and three touchdowns, including 130 receiving yards in 10 games.
The Browns let Hillis test the free agent market following the season, and he landed in Kansas City with the Chiefs on a one-year deal. In a weird number of events, Quinn signed with the Chiefs (following Manning Mania) and Quinn & Hillis were united in KC. Quinn, starting this season as Matt Cassel's back-up, has started a number of games this season, and had a career-game this past week against the Carolina Panthers in a 27-21 win, following the franchises tragedy over the weekend. Quinn went 19 of 23 for 201 passing yards and two touchdowns. Hillis, who is buried on the Chiefs RB depth chart, has had just 193 rushing yards, on 59 carries this season with 1 TD.
The former coach and players will try, like many have done before in recent years, come back to Cleveland and snag a win over the Browns, and seek a little revenge against the franchise that casted them away.
The Browns gained a season-high 475 yards of offense in their 20-17 win over the Oakland Raiders, are looking to see the continuous improvement of rookie QB Brandon Weeden & a defense that has held their opponent to 17 points or less in the past two weeks, forcing a combined 9 turnovers in the two games. HERE WE GO BROWNS, HERE WE GO!
Side note: Since 2001, the Browns are 2-3 vs. the Chiefs, with wins coming in 2006 & 2009.
