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NFL: Jay Cutler powers Denver to victory

Brandon Marshall, left, of the Denver Broncos runs by Brodney Pool, right, and Shaun Rogers of the Cleveland Browns in the second quarter of their NFL game at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP

Denver quarterback Jay Cutler led the Broncos to a 34-30 win over Cleveland in the NFL on Thursday, spoiling the much-hyped first start of his Browns counterpart Brady Quinn.

Cutler passed for a career-high 447 yards, throwing three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter — the last an 11-yarder to Brandon Marshall with 1:14 remaining that proved the winner.

The Broncos entered the fourth quarter trailing 23-13, but Cutler recorded his fifth career fourth-quarter comeback victory despite losing two more running backs to injuries and only having his fullback to carry the ball.

“It was a big, big win for us,” Cutler said. “To be down 13 and have an empty backfield and to come back like this, it means a lot.”

Cutler threw a 93-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal, a 28-yarder to tight end Daniel Graham and then finished off the Browns with his toss to Marshall in the corner of the end zone.

Denver has beaten Cleveland eight straight times and been the Browns’ longtime nemesis, beating them three times in AFC title playoffs.

Quinn, who has carried much expectation after a stellar college career with Notre Dame, made his first NFL start and threw two touchdown passes but thought he could have done more.

“I told everyone, this one is flat on me,” Quinn said. “I know I am good enough that I can make a play at the end and win. I felt comfortable out there, it’s my home away from home.”

Quinn had one last chance, getting the ball back with 1:10 remaining.

The quarterback, who waited 25 games on the bench to take over Cleveland’s offense, completed a 9-yard pass on first down before two incompletions gave him no margin for error.

On fourth down, he whipped a high pass to Kellen Winslow that sailed through the hands of the Pro Bowl tight end.

“I just can’t get that last play out of my head,” Winslow said. “The great ones, the legends make those plays. That’s where I want to be and I’m going to take it as a lesson.”

Denver’s bench burst into celebration while the Browns sustained another tough loss after blowing a 14-point lead in the second half on Sunday against Baltimore.

That loss cost Derek Anderson his job as starting quarterback. He was benched in favor of fan favorite Quinn, who completed passes to eight different receivers with Winslow catching 10 passes for 111 yards.

“We let them throw the ball over our head, couldn’t tackle and let the game get away,” Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel said. “It’s disappointing that your defense can’t do some simple things and does some other things poorly. A 93-yard touchdown pass should never happen — ever.”
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