Browns won one of their first 12 games in 2009 -- a memorably futile 6-3 conquest of the Bills. Numerous links to current Browns news, too.
Derek Anderson was the Browns quarterback -- he was 2 of 17 passing -- in Cleveland's 6-3 win at Buffalo last season.Cleveland, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have a long way to go to become an elite NFL team.
They are certainly better than a year ago, though, and many fans believe they're better than their 5-7 record indicates.
The Browns have an opportunity to inch within a game of the .500 mark on Sunday, when they visit the 2-10 Buffalo Bills.
Cleveland's general improvement can be measured against its most recent visit to Buffalo, last Oct. 11.
The Browns went into the game 0-4. Afterward, they would go on a seven-game losing streak, for a 1-11 record. Cleveland finished 5-11.
Plain Dealer game stories on every regular season and playoff game in Browns history, prior to this season, are on cleveland.com's Browns History Database.
From Plain Dealer reporter Tony Grossi's story on the Browns' win more than a year ago:
They prevailed over the Buffalo Bills, 6-3, in a game that had as many total points as Browns dropped passes (nine) and Buffalo false-start penalties (nine).
If you thought it was painful to watch on TV, consider the hearty faithful of 70,526 predominantly Bills fans in Ralph Wilson Stadium who paid to witness it. Anger and despair poured out of the building after Buffalo's final, desperate play ended in a fumble after three laterals.
"We lost to the worst team in the NFL at home," an elderly fan said departing the stadium.
Another one, younger and angrier, declared, "Both teams are a disgrace."
The Browns became the first team in 10 years to win a game while completing two or fewer passes. Cincinnati did it in a 2000 game against Denver when Corey Dillon rushed for 278 yards, then the NFL single-game record.
The Browns were able to overcome a 2-of-17 passing game by Derek Anderson on 117 yards rushing by Jamal Lewis, a superlative effort on special teams and 60 minutes of play by the defense.
Up-to-date Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes reporter Mary Kay Cabot's story on Browns running back Peyton Hillis nearing 1,000 yards, along with Tony Grossi's four points about the game; Bill Livingston's commentary on former Browns owner Art Modell's Hall of Fame chances; Tony Grossi's NFL Insider; Mary Kay Cabot's story on Browns safety Abe Elam, and her Cleveland Browns Insider.
Funny meeting you
Things are looking better for the Browns than for the Bills, John Clayton writes for ESPN.com:
The Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills are going in different directions. The Browns and Eric Mangini have stayed competitive for longer than people expected and have a chance to get to 7-7 if they can beat the Bills this week and Bengals next week. The Bills had been more competitive than anyone expected until last week, when they broke down against the Vikings. Injuries have destroyed the middle of their offensive line and have stripped away a good portion of their defensive front seven. At 2-10, the Bills can start looking ahead to the draft.
Run Peyton, run
John P. Lopez lists 10 storylines for Week 14 of the NFL season.
Lopez writes on his "Inside the NFL" feature for Sports Illustrated's SI.com:
10. What's the bigger sure thing in Buffalo -- the Browns' Peyton Hillis surpassing 100-yards on the ground (and 1,000 for the year), or the Bills cratering big-time to assure themselves a better shot at Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the draft? You probably want to bet on Hillis. He's just 38 yards short of 1,000 and faces the horrendous Bills rushing defense, which already has given up more than 2,000 yards and averages giving up 170-plus yards per-game.
Post patterns
How the Browns and Bills match up, by Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.
Browns-Bills game preview by Don Delco for the Orange and Brown Report on Scout.com.
A story on safety Abe Elam, by Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal.
Placekicker Phil Dawson can give the Browns an edge, by Mike McLain of the Warren Tribune Chronicle.
A story on tight end Ben Watson, by Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.
A Browns at Bills scouting report, by Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.
Running back Peyton Hillis nears a 1,000-yard rushing season, by Stephanie Storm of the Akron Beacon Journal.
Some Browns info on James Walker's AFC North Blog for ESPN.com.
The Bills know that the Browns' Josh Cribbs can break a big return, and other Bills-Browns news by Allen Wilson for the Buffalo News.
A story on tight end Ben Watson, by Scott Petrak for the Ehyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette.
A Browns notebook, featuring linebacker Marcus Benard, by Nate Ulrich for the Akron Beacon Journal.
A Browns notebook, by Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.