Cutler, Broncos rally to defeat Browns, spoil Quinn's debut
CLEVELAND - Jay Cutler turned Brady Quinn's big night into his own prime-time showcase.
Cutler passed for a career-high 447 yards, throwing 3 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter Thursday night - the last an 11-yarder to Brandon Marshall with 1:14 remaining - to rally the Denver Broncos to a 34-30 win over the Cleveland Browns that spoiled Quinn's highly hyped debut as an NFL starter.
The Broncos (5-4) entered the fourth quarter trailing 23-13, but Cutler, borrowing a page out of John Elway's comeback playbook, brought Denver back. He recorded his fifth career fourth-quarter comeback win despite losing two more running backs to injuries and only having his fullback to carry the ball.
"It was a big, big win for us," Cutler said. "To be down 13 and have an empty backfield and to come back like this, it means a lot."
Cutler threw a 93-yard TD pass to rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal, a 28-yarder to tight end Daniel Graham and then finished off the Browns with his toss to Marshall in the corner of the end zone.
Cutler finished 24 of 42 with 3 TDs and 1 interception. He piled up 204 yards passing in the fourth quarter.
Quinn threw 2 TD passes to Kellen Winslow and went 23 of 35 for 239 yards.
Quinn had one last chance, getting the ball back with 1:10 remaining. The former Notre Dame star, who waited 25 games to take over Cleveland's offense, completed a 9-yard pass to Winslow on first down before two incompletions gave him no margin for error. On fourth down, Quinn whipped a high pass to Winslow that sailed through the hands of the Pro Bowl tight end.
"I told everyone, this one is flat on me," Quinn said. "I know I am good enough that I can make a play at the end and win. I felt comfortable out there, it's my home away from home."
Earlier this week, Derek Anderson was benched by coach Romeo Crennel in favor of Quinn, who made plays and was efficient moving the ball by throwing mostly underneath. Quinn completed passes to eight different receivers.