Browns dodge bullet in Buffalo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — All it took was a nod from Phil Dawson, and the Cleveland Browns put their recent turmoil in the rearview mirror.
Dawson kicked a career-long 56-yard field goal with 1:39 remaining Monday night, and the Browns escaped Ralph Wilson Stadium with a 29-27 victory over reeling Buffalo when Bills kicker Rian Lindell missed a 47-yard field goal in the final minute.
"On the spur of the moment, you've got to be confident," said Dawson, who missed what would have been a career-long 54-yarder with 25 seconds to play in a 14-11 loss at Washington in October. "I kicked six field goals one time and we lost, so I'll take five and a win anytime. I want to make kicks to help this team win. I've been here a long time and I just want to see this team win."
The drama in what turned into a wild finish wasn't quite over. Despite throwing three interceptions in his first six pass attempts that helped the Browns to a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter, Trent Edwards guided the Bills back.
Edwards scored on a 1-yard run with 2:25 left to put them up by a point, and after Dawson's go-ahead kick, Edwards hit Robert Royal over the middle for 22 yards to help move the Bills into field-goal range.
The Bills (5-5) figured their three-game losing streak was about to end. Lindell holds the NFL's longest active streak of consecutive field goals made inside 40 yards with 47, is 8-for-11 from beyond 50 yards and has 10 game-winning field goals in his nine-year career.
The Browns (4-6) prayed they weren't about to squander a 13-point lead for the third straight week, and when the kick sailed wide right they celebrated.
Suddenly, they had something to feel good about after being on the verge of unraveling.
"It was very satisfying," said running back Jamal Lewis, who had questioned whether his teammates had quit during a 34-30 loss to Denver on Nov. 6. "Yes, I think this does count as a finish."
The Bills have lost five of six and look nothing like the team that started the season with four straight wins and was 5-1 atop the AFC East in mid-October.
