Browns Lift Cleveland, Take Sole Possession of 1st

Oct 3, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) celebrates with fans after catching a pass for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns find themselves in sole possession of first place in the AFC North, even if only for the next two days and under circumstances no one could have expected.  After the heavily scrutinized trade of Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts, the Browns appeared to have found a spark in competent quarterback play in Brian Hoyer.

Hoyer was able to lead them to wins in his first two starts and did start the game against the Buffalo Bills, but left with what could be a disastrous knee injury.  Brandon Weeden was able to come in and do enough to help the Browns make that three in a row with significant contributions in a record setting performance by Travis Benjamin with 179 punt return yards and a touchdown.  The Browns also cashed in a defensive touchdown when T.J. Ward intercepted a pass and scored the game clinching touchdown.

No one could have predicted the Browns would have ended up 3-2 with everything has happened this season, but the way they won those three games in a row, especially this last one is almost too much to believe.  Where they go from here remains to be seen with questions still to be answered at quarterback, but at least for this moment, the Browns go out on a win, go to 3-2 for the first time since Butch Davis was the head coach and for the next couple days at least, they have sole possession of first place in the AFC North and riding a three game winning streak with a week and a half to prepare for the Lions.

It certainly was not pretty, but maybe it was never meant to be.  In wake of the loss by the Cleveland Indians in the one game playoff yesterday to the Tampa Bay Rays, fans in Cleveland were looking for the Browns to lift them even if just for a night and giving them something to cheer for and the Browns, they did it.