Fake Kick Is Difference for Browns

The Minnesota Vikings’ fierce rush played right into Mike Pagel’s hands.

Pagel, Cleveland’s backup quarterback, threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to linebacker Van Waiters on a fake field goal after 9 1/2 minutes of overtime Sunday as the Browns kept their AFC Central Division title hopes alive with a 23-17 victory over the Vikings.

“It was do or die for them,” Pagel said. “They had to put some pressure on us. We saw that they were going to try to block the kick. All Van did was turn around. I saw him standing there by himself and said, ‘Here, Van, catch it.’ ”

Needless to say, it was the first touchdown reception for Waiters, who lined up as a blocker on the phony 32-yard field goal attempt by Matt Bahr, whose 32-yarder with 24 seconds left in regulation forced the overtime.

The trick play came on third and five, giving the Browns a one-play cushion in case it went awry. Pagel had the option of letting Bahr kick if the Vikings dropped back to cover the fake.

“We were in a no-win situation,” Minnesota Coach Jerry Burns said. “We had a suicide block on. Our outside guy came hard, but couldn’t stop the pass.”

Pagel, who holds on field goals but had thrown only 13 passes all year, took the snap and rolled right, hitting the wide-open Waiters at the 10.

The victory snapped Cleveland’s four-game winless streak, which included a tie and three straight losses. The Browns (8-6-1) can win their fourth AFC Central Division title in five years by beating the Oilers in Houston next week.

The Vikings (9-6) can still win their first NFC Central title since 1980 with a victory over Cincinnati on Christmas night or a loss by Green Bay at Dallas next Sunday.

Bernie Kosar emerged from a five-week slump and threw two second-half touchdown passes for the Browns, then hit Reggie Langhorne with a 39-yarder to set up the winning touchdown on Cleveland’s second overtime possession. Langhorne earlier caught a 62-yard touchdown pass.

“I think their offense has been maligned all along,” said Burns, whose defense was ranked first in the NFL.

“Going into the game, I would have said he (Kosar) is one of the most accurate passers in football today. He did not do anything to change my mind.”