Browns Get a 24-21 Win on Big Play by Little Guy

Gerald McNeil, the smallest player on the field, came up with the biggest play.

McNeil, 5-foot-7 and 146 pounds, returned a punt a team-record 84 yards for a touchdown Sunday to lead the Cleveland Browns to 24-21 victory over the Detroit Lions.

“It felt great to make that return,” McNeil said. “I got the ball, I got the blocks, we got a touchdown and we got it going.

“Finally, the ‘Ice Cube’ (McNeil’s nickname) did something to help.”

Matt Bahr kicked 24-yard field goal 4:01 into the fourth quarter and the Browns (2-2) hung on to win despite a big passing performance by Detroit’s Eric Hipple.

Hipple had a team record 33 completions out of 48 passes for 251 yards.

“(McNeil’s return) took a lot out of us because it gave them six quick points and our offense had to go back out with no rest,” Hipple said.

“My stats? They mean nothing if you lose and I’m much more concerned with that.”

With the score tied, 7-7, in the third quarter, Cleveland forced Detroit to punt from the Lions’ 46.

McNeil, the leading punt returner in the United States Football League with the Houston Gamblers last season, danced around Rob Rubick at the Browns’ 30 and cut back toward midfield.

Punter Mike Black tried to tackle McNeil at the 50, but McNeil froze Black with a head fake and sped past the punter to go all the way.

“The little guy beat us by himself,” Detroit Coach Darryl Rogers said. “He was exceptional and I’m not surprised since he had three touchdowns on punt returns (in two USFL seasons). As for myself, I’m angry. We need to be more aggressive.

“I think there will be pressure from our fans in Detroit. Someone will have to step in and fill a leadership role.”

The punt return broke the Cleveland record of 78 yards set by Bobby Mitchell against the New York Giants on Dec. 6, 1959.

“Gerald succeeded because he was cutting differently, letting some of the blocks happen in front of him,” Cleveland Coach Marty Schotteheimer said. “We gave them the touchdown back, but at least our offense had awakened.”

Detroit came back to tie the score, 14-14, on Hipple’s six-yard touchdown pass to James Jones with four seconds gone in the fourth quarter, but Bahr’s field goal regained the lead for Cleveland. It was his 39th straight successful kick from inside the 30.

After Detroit’s next possession fizzled, Cleveland drove 49 yards for the clinching score, Curtis Dickey going over from the one with 7:45 left.

Hipple closed the scoring with 14 seconds remaining on a four-yard pass to Carl Bland.

Cleveland’s Bernie Kosar completed 17 of 27 passes for 139 yards, and Earnest Byner ran for 69 yards in 12 carries and caught 6 passes for 38 yards.

Detroit’s James Jones had 23 rushes for 68 yards and 12 receptions for 85 yards.