For a winless team saddled with a whole slew of on-field issues, the Cleveland Browns are making things awfully interesting against the Minnesota Vikings.
Browns fake punts, field goals to take 1st half lead over Vikings
The Browns aren’t throwing in the towel on 2013 just yet, pulling out all the stops in a wild game in Minnesota.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sport
After being accused of tanking -- which happens when you trade a star running back while turning the offense over to a third-string QB -- the Browns are looking far from a team that’s thrown in the towel. Four consecutive scoring possessions have powered Cleveland to a 24-17 lead at halftime.
Brian Hoyer, who took over at quarterback for a struggling Brandon Weeden by leapfrogging second-string Jason Campbell this week, has already thrown two touchdowns in the first half. First, he found Josh Gordon down the sideline for a 47-yard strike, then tossed a 19-yard score to tight end Jordan Cameron on the first play of the second quarter.
The Browns are pulling out all of the stops, having already converted on a fake punt and a fake field goal. From field goal formation on 4th-and-4 from the Vikings' 11-yard line, place holder Spencer Lanning pulled up and flung the ball out to the flat to a wide open Cameron, who ran in for his second score.
Replacing Richardson has not been as successful. Replacements Bobby Rainey and Willis McGahee have rushed for a combined 12 yards on six carries.
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