As the sports world continues to be on hold and everyone remains in their homes, let’s take a trip back and look at Josh Cribbs three most memorable games.
While many of us diehard sports fans sit at home, patiently awaiting the return of the world to return back into its normal form, many of us are missing sports more than ever. How can we possibly continue to cope with no sports, no nothing? Unfortunately, until everything gets better, we are stuck on having to hold onto memories and things of the past that have made a huge impact on us in the sports world.
Everyone out there has a favorite Cleveland Browns player; whether it be a current player or one of the all-time greats when it comes to the Browns. Guys like Jim Brown, Otto Graham, and Joe Thomas are just a few of the Browns all-time greats.
In terms of more recent history, it is a given that the Browns have had many struggles on the field and have not had very much success as of late. With that being said, there have been a few individuals that have made a major impact on Browns’ nation in recent history.
One of those players? Josh Cribbs. The record-setting, electrifying kick returner and wide receiver from Kent State. With Cribbs having played quarterback in college, nobody really knew what to expect from him
Cribbs was able to make memories that would last a lifetime for many Browns fans across the world. From all of the kick returns and NFL records, here is a look at the three best games from Cribbs’ Browns career.
No. 3: The miracle return in Pittsburgh, 2007
In terms of Josh Cribbs best games as a Cleveland Browns, he was never too much of a wide receiver. His best year in terms of receiving numbers was in 2011, where he totaled 41 receptions for 518 yards and 4 touchdowns. When you think of Cribbs, you think of him as a return man, rightfully so.
Flashback to 2007. The Browns are in Pittsburgh playing the Steelers in what ended up being a high scoring game. Early in the fourth quarter, the Browns are down 24-21. After a Pittsburgh score, they are set to kick-off to one of the most dangerous return men in the league — Josh Cribbs. It was a line drive kick that Cribbs missed, having it bounce all the way back to the goal line. Once Cribbs retreated to the goal line to pick it up, the rest was history.
Although the Browns did end up dropping this game, this kickoff return for a touchdown was one of the most memorable moments from Cribbs’ at the time young career. The expression on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s face said it all. All of Browns’ nation was in shock, as was everyone at Heinz Field that day watching one of the greatest kickoff returns in history.
No. 2: “Wildcat Havoc” vs Pittsburgh, 2009
In terms of the sports world, nothing can get much better than PrimeTime football in the city of Cleveland. In December of 2009, the Browns beat the Steelers by a score of 13-6 under the lights on Thursday Night Football.
In this game, Cribbs took the narrative “only a return man” and shoved it down the Steelers throat. While Cribbs only had 1 reception for 8 yards in this game, he expanded his horizons and got it done in other categories.
Cribbs had a whopping 87 yards in this game on eight carries, something that did not happen very much in his career. Outside of those stats from this win, Cribbs also had a 50+ yard punt return that got the crowd on their feet for the rest of the game.
Running the wildcat formation is something that you start to see less and less of in today’s day and age. Clearly, the Steelers did not game plan for this going into the game, as Cribbs lit them up and made them pay for not preparing as they should have.
Seeing Cribbs do other things than be a top producer in the return game was always a pleasant sight for Browns fans, as they were always hungry to see production from different positions across the roster.
No. 1: Two records in one vs Kansas City, 2009
No matter what way you look at it, the two things that Cribbs did in this game are not likely to be repeated in history ever again; break the NFL kickoff return record and return two 100+ yard kickoffs in the same game.
In the midst of all of Cribbs’ huge performances and big-time plays, the Browns were known to be a team that would struggle to win. There is nothing better than a historical performance that happens in the same game the team comes out with a W.
In this case, the Cribbs and the Browns were able to do so, with the Browns taking this game in Kansas City by a final score of 41-34.
Cribbs’ first return in this game was a beautiful 100-yard return, a classic one. Making defenders miss and turning on the jets in the open field to make the coverage team of the Chiefs look absolutely silly.
The second return of this game? a 103-yard beauty where he was barely touched on his journey to the end zone for the second time on the day.
This game is certainly one that Cribbs himself will never forget, along with the fans who got to celebrate their number one return man breaking two records in one game.
As Cribbs will without a doubt go down as one of the most electric players in Browns history, going back and rewatching just how deadly he was as a return man will always be an exciting thing to do when you are missing Browns football.