Game Recap

1st Quarter:
No Score
Denver won the toss and elected to receive. After one 1st down, the Broncos were forced to punt and P Paul Ernster booted it 39 yds to the Cleveland 41 yd line. Browns WR Josh Cribbs muffed the catch and the ball was recovered by Broncos FB Cecil Sapp at the 40 for a fresh set of downs. Denver did not capitalize on the turnover and punted again after 3 and out.
On Cleveland's 1st drive they got to the Denver 46 yd line. They could not convert on 3rd and 1 and they went for it on 4th and 1 but Browns QB Charlie Frye was sacked for a loss by Broncos LT Mike Myers.
On 3rd and 5 at the Cleveland 35 yd line, Broncos QB Jake Plummer threw his 1st INT of the game intended for WR David Kircus. The ball was picked off at the 15 by Browns CB Gary Baxter and returned 10 yds. Cleveland was unable to capitalize on the turnover and punted back to Denver.

2nd Quarter:
3 - 0 Broncos lead
Five plays into the quarter, Broncos K Jason Elam put up the 1st points of the game with a 32 yd FG after a 10 play, 85 yd drive. Key plays: WR Rod Smith 19 yd reception, WR Javon Walker 38 yd reception.
10 - 0 Broncos lead
With 2 minutes left in the half, Broncos RB Tatum Bell scored his 2nd TD of the season on a 9 yd run to cap a 12 play, 86 yd drive. Key plays: WR Rod Smith 19 and 13 yd receptions, WR Javon Walker 11 yd reception, WR Brandon Marshall 13 yd reception, RB Tatum Bell 26 yds on 4 carries.
With 1:13 left in the half, Cleveland ran a no huddle offense and on 1st and 10 at their own 30 yd line, Browns RB Reuben Droughns was hit for a loss of 2 by Broncos LB Al Wilson. Droughns fumbled and the ball was recovered by Broncos rookie DE Elvis Dumervil. Denver was then penalized 15 yds for unsportsmanlike conduct to give them 1st and 10 at the Cleveland 43 with 1:02 remaining. In the final minute of the half, Browns CB Gary Baxter was injured and did not return and Broncos QB Jake Plummer was sacked for a loss of 3. Broncos RB Tatum Bell carried the ball 17 yds on the final play but it was not enough for a score.

3rd Quarter:
17 - 0 Broncos lead
Cleveland went 4 and out on their 1st drive of the half and Denver regained possession at their own 44 yd line. Broncos rookie WR Brandon Marshall scored his 1st career TD with a 9 yd grab 6 minutes into the half. Key Play: WR Javon Walker 15 yd reception.
Cleveland again went 3 and out and Denver's offense came back out onto the field at the Denver 40. They were able to gain two 1st downs with the help of a Jake Plummer 3 yd scramble on 3rd and 2, and a 17 yd run by RB Mike Bell. On 4th and 12 at the Cleveland 24 yd line, Broncos K Jason Elam attempted a 43 yd FG but the kick sailed wide right.

4th Quarter:
On the 1st play of the quarter, Broncos CB Champ Bailey intercepted Browns QB Charlie Frye in the end zone and returned the ball 30 yds to the 26 yd line.
17 - 7 Broncos Win
The Browns answered 3 plays later when LB Andra Davis intercepted Broncos QB Jake Plummer at the 37 yd line and returned it 19 yds to the Denver 18. Three plays after that WR Joe Jerevicius scored the Browns only points with a 6 yd TD reception. The final 11 minutes of the game were scoreless for both teams. Browns WR Josh Cribbs muffed another punt return but was able to recover this time. The Broncos got the ball with 31 seconds left in the game and QB Jake Plummer knelt to preserve the victory.

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