Cleveland RB Leroy Kelly rushed for 102 yards as the Cleveland Browns won a critical game in Green Bay to stay in contention in the Century Divison. Kelly leads the NFL with 950 rushing yards.
Green Bay,Nov. 12 –The Green Bay Packers committed five turnovers and lost the first game of their season,a 28-20 defeat to the Cleveland Browns,on a brisk autumn afternoon at Lambeau Field. Cleveland returned two Bart Starr interceptions for touchdowns as the Browns won a crucial game as they are knotted in a tight division race.
The day started poorly for Cleveland QB Frank Ryan who threw an interception on the game’s opening play. Bob Jeter returned the interception for a Packer touchdown. Twelve minutes later,Leroy Kelly fumbled at the Packer 30 and Starr attempted to cash in on the turnover with a strike to Boyd Dowler running an slant pattern. But,Jim Houston intercepted and returned the ball 40 yards for his third touchdown this season to tie the game. The teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter to enter halftime tied at 14-14.
On the Packers second possession of the second half,Dowler fumbled at the Packer 22,and Ross Fichtner recovered for Cleveland. The Browns took advantage of the turnover as Browns FB Ernie Green rushed up the middle seven yards for the score. Starr and the Packers responded with a drive to the Cleveland 5. The Browns defense stiffened and held Jim Grabowski on two rushing attempts,and Starr’s pass to Donny Anderson on third down fell incomplete. The Packers were forced to settle for an 11 yard field goal by Don Chandler.
The Cleveland defense held the Packers again in the shadow of their own goal posts in the fourth quarter,and Green Bay again was forced to settle for another Chandler chip shot from 15 yards to close within a point with seven minutes remaining. The Browns were able to run out five minutes off the clock before punting with two and a half minutes to go. Starr took over at the Packer 16,and was sacked by Bill Glass for a ten yard pass. Starr then attempted a post pattern to Dowler. But,Cleveland safety Ross Fichtner picked the pass off and sealed the victory with a 24 yard interception return for a touchdown. Browns RB Leroy Kelly gained 102 yards on the day. In addition to the two goal line stands,the Browns defense caused three second half fumbles,two by Dowler.
