The defense can't hold back a desperate opponent in the final minute ... again ... but the Panthers' veteran kicker drills the ball off the left upright as time expires.
View full sizeAbe Elam and the Browns were more relieved than celebratory after escaping Jimmy Clausen's last-ditch drive in Sunday's 24-23 Cleveland victory.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Observations, opinions and some facts on the fourth quarter:
• Defensive end Charles Johnson is having a whale of a game lined up over John St. Clair.
• Peyton Hillis' 14-yard reception sets up fourth-and-1 at Panthers' 25. Browns call time with 11:40 to go. With three tight ends on the field, Hillis runs behind Robert Royal and Joe Thomas and is stopped for no gain. First time all year Hillis is stopped when needing one yard for a first down.
• Have no fear. Jimmy Clausen is sacked again by Abe Elam. That's two for the blitzing safety.
• Browns defense is doing that fourth-quarter thing again. Jonathan Stewart's 31-yard run takes Panthers to Browns' 25. Sloppy tackling.
• Clausen just throws the ball into the dirt after making one read on third down. John Kasay's third field goal over 40 yards gives Panthers their first lead, 23-21, with 7:01 to go.
• Delhomme, running from trouble, shovels to Hillis for 12 yards. Why are they still throwing?
• On third-and-10, Hillis bails out Delhomme with a nifty move on Jon Beason to get the first down. Then Delhomme hits Mohamed Massaquoi for 13 yards on a slant, and Brian Robiskie for nine on the same play. It's at the Panthers' 24.
• Hillis is stopped for no gain. Delhomme tries a quick sneak and is also stopped. Fourth-and-1 at the 24. This time Eric Mangini sends out Phil Dawson for a 41-yard field goal. Ryan Pontbriand's snap is high, but Dawson drills it through for 24-23 lead.
• Sheldon Brown makes a nice stop on a swing pass to Goodson. Marcus Benard is slow to rise and both teams get a breather with 2:17 left as the Browns call a time out.
• Browns show blitz, but react fast enough to stop a draw to Goodson after four yards. Third down at 2:00.
• No pressure on Clausen, who hits Dante Rosario crossing over the middle for the first down. At the 46, Clausen looks for Rosario, but misfires badly and Joe Haden collects his fourth interception of the season.
• Game isn't over as the Panthers still have all three of their timeouts. Hillis off left tackle for three. Can the offensive line deal with a stacked defense to get the first down that wins the game?
• Nine men in the box, so Hillis doesn't get much past the line of scrimmage on second down. Browns almost have to run in order to get Carolina to burn their last timeout.
• Hillis keeps plugging, burning time on the longest four-run run ever. There's 1:08 left and the Browns could go for the first down at fourth-and-two, but Reggie Hodges comes in looking for a coffin corner. Well played, sir ... Hodges gets the ball to spin right and out of bounds at the 4.
• With 59 seconds, Clausen swings the ball to Goodson, who eludes a tackle and gets to the 16. Clausen is chased from the pocket and throws it away -- directly into Rob Ryan's stomach. OK, so it's a decent-sized target.
• Clausen barely gets the ball away and short-hops Steve Smith. So far, Smith hasn't done much damage. On third down, Clausen finds Goodson once again, and the third-string running back manages to make Chris Gocong, Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown all miss in advancing to midfield. After a spike, the Browns call time out with 12 seconds. Not much time for the Panthers to get 20 yards without getting the ball to the sidelines.
• So, the Browns -- rushing just three -- let Brandon LaFell beat Sheldon Brown and Abe Elam to the sidelines for a 27-yard gain as LaFell tumbles out of bounds. Replay official wants to see it again with five seconds remaining ... was the catch good? Did he get out of bounds before Brown touched him?
• Play stands and John Kasay has another 42-yard attempt -- he's made twice from 43, once from 42 and was wide from 46. This one is off the left upright ... and the Browns wobble off the field with their fourth win.