Desperation Pass Does the Trick

With time running out in what looked to be their eighth straight loss, the Cleveland Browns were desperate, but as it turned out, just well-enough armed.

Tim Couch, who already had thrown two touchdown passes, completed a desperation 56-yard scoring pass to Kevin Johnson with no time on the clock Sunday to give the Browns a 21-16 victory--the first ever for the first-year expansion team.

“I couldn’t have thrown it another yard,” said Couch, the first player taken in this year’s NFL draft. “I put everything I could into it and threw it as high as I could. It’s a neat way to get your first one.”

The entire Browns team raced on the field to celebrate the unlikely victory, with Couch pumping both fists and slapping hands with fans. The Saints (1-6) lost a fourth-quarter lead for the fifth time this season and had their losing streak extended to six games.

The Browns (1-7) got a chance after New Orleans mismanaged the clock, calling a timeout with 29 seconds left rather than letting time run down. Doug Brien’s 46-yard field goal with 21 seconds left put the Saints ahead 16-14.

But Couch, who completed 11 of 19 passes for 193 yards, drove the Browns 75 yards on three plays, connecting Johnson in the corner of the end zone despite a swarm of Saint defenders around the first-year receiver.

“I batted it down and it bounced off someone’s head and he caught it,” Saint cornerback Fred Weary said. “You can’t do anything about that. They made a lucky play, bottom line.”

The Browns practice the play every week. It didn’t go the way they planned, however. Johnson said he’s supposed to tip the ball, not catch it. But thanks to the big screen in the Superdome end zone that shows live action, Johnson made the play.

“I was watching the screen and I noticed Tim let he ball go,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t in position to catch the ball. I was at the 10-yard line, so I ran into the end zone and got myself into position. Those guys tipped it right into my hands. It was like a miracle.”

It was the second week in a row a desperation pass worked against New Orleans. The New York Giants had a 53-yard touchdown pass play against the Saints as time ran out in the first half last week.