ESPN.com - Cleveland Browns

Final		1st	2nd	3rd	4th	T
	Cleveland	3	0	7	0	10
	Denver	3	17	14	10	44

Box Score| NFL.com Gamebook
Griese, Broncos get well fast against Browns

NEXT GAME
Sun., Oct. 22	@Pittsburgh 4:05 PM ET

Season slipping away from Browns
After the season's first three weeks, the Browns were encouraged and talking postseason. Now, they'll be happy with just getting back into the win column and providing better protection for quarterback Tim Couch. Couch was sacked five times and the Browns were limited to 278 yards during a 44-10 defeat at Denver, Cleveland's fourth straight loss. "We've just got to put this behind us and move on," Couch said in the Akron Beacon Journal. "It's frustrating but all you can do is keep playing."

Donahoe: Browns grounded in Mile High Stadium

	Monday, October 16 Before this game, the Browns thought they had a realistic chance to get into the playoffs as a wild card. But they didn't exactly play like a playoff team today. Cleveland seemed to be a step behind in this game, both offensively and defensively. Cleveland couldn't even slow down Denver's offense (499 yards overall). Meanwhile, the Browns had trouble generating any kind of offense of their own. Tom Donahoe is ESPN.com's NFL analyst.

2000 AFC CENTRAL STANDINGS
TEAM	W	L	HOME	ROAD	PF	PA
Tennessee	5	1	3-0	2-1	131	91
Baltimore	5	2	2-0	3-2	128	75
Pittsburgh	3	3	1-2	2-1	99	78
Jacksonville	2	5	1-2	1-3	126	155
Cleveland	2	5	1-2	1-3	95	175
Cincinnati	0	6	0-3	0-3	37	143
Complete Standings

SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Date	Opponent	Time/Results
Sep. 03	Jacksonville	Loss 27-7
Sep. 10	@Cincinnati	Win 24-7
Sep. 17	Pittsburgh	Win 23-20
Sep. 24	@Oakland	Loss 36-10
Oct. 01	Baltimore	Loss 12-0
Oct. 08	@Arizona	Loss 29-21
Oct. 15	@Denver	Loss 44-10
Oct. 22	@Pittsburgh	4:05 PM ET
Oct. 29	Cincinnati	1:00 PM ET
Nov. 05	NY Giants	1:00 PM ET
Nov. 12	New England	1:00 PM ET
Nov. 19	@Tennessee	1:00 PM ET
Nov. 26	@Baltimore	1:00 PM ET
Dec. 03	@Jacksonville	4:15 PM ET
Dec. 10	Philadelphia	1:00 PM ET
Dec. 17	Tennessee	1:00 PM ET

"We took our turns messing up (Sunday)."
-- CB Daylon McCutcheon in the Akron Beacon Journal

TEAM LEADERS
PASSING	ATT	COMP	YDS	TD
Couch	215	137	1483	7
RUSHING	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD
Rhett	71	258	3.6	0
Prentice	56	187	3.3	4
RECEIVING	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
Patten	22	379	17.2	0
Johnson	26	282	10.8	0
Complete Team statistics \| Roster

TRANSACTIONS
Oct. 04 Placed running back Errict Rhett on injured reserve. Sep. 19 Waived tackle Orlando Brown from the physically-unable-to-perform list. Sep. 05 Signed quarterback Doug Pederson to a two-year contract. Aug. 30 Waived running back Terry Kirby. Aug. 29 Waived tight ends Kyle Allamon and Randy Palmer, punter Jon Ballantyne, wide receivers Ronnie Powell and Damon Dunn, defensive linemen Bill Duff and Jeff Dyra, defensive backs Corey Ivy and Tony Maranto, linebackers Tony McCombs and Ryan Taylor and running back Rahshon Spikes; placed offensive tackle Orlando Brown on the physcially unable to perfom list; placed running back Madre Hill, defensive back Tim McTyer, offensive lineman Noel LaMontagne and linebacker Kendall Ogle on injured reserve.

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NEWS AND NOTES

WR David Patten left Sunday's game in the second quarter with a bruised left shoulder. He returned, but left again in the third quarter with a sprained right big toe.

WR Darrin Chiaverini hurt his knee in Sunday's game. His status is uncertain for next Sunday's game against Pittsburgh.

DT Darius Holland strained his left quadriceps on Sunday. His status for next week's game is uncertain.

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