Derek Anderson Gives Browns Struggling Offense Hope

Going into the Bengals game, many hopeless critics had written the Browns off for this season.

For much of the last week, they have repeatedly declared that Cleveland had become the laughing stock of the NFL.

In fact, some suggested that Browns players had already given up on new coach Eric Mangini.

They mocked the decision to start Derek Anderson, the 2007 Pro Bowl QB they had already decided was washed up.

They argued the season was lost, and Brady Quinn deserved the rest of the season to develop.

While the Browns may have failed to win Sunday's game, they clearly proved the critics wrong.

The Browns offense, ignited by QB Derek Anderson gained a combined 395 yards on the day. Anderson was 26-48 with a touchdown, one interception and 269 yards passing.

As the offense opened up, multiple young players began to make significant contributions.

Derek Anderson established a good connection with rookie WR Mohamed Massaquoi, who caught 8 passes for 148 yards.

The successful passing attack opened up the holes for second-year RB Jerome Harrison, who gained 121 yards on 29 carries.

Under Anderson's control, Cleveland also won the valuable time of posession battle. The Browns offense controlled the ball for 38:55 of the game, better than the Bengals' 36:01.

The Bengals' high-powered offense was kept off the field as the Browns steadily controlled the clock. The Browns defense was finally given a rest, and responded with their best performance of the season.

While the Browns effort came up short, they can't be accused of throwing in the towel anymore. They hung in, punch for punch with the Bengals, a football team that has recently received acclaim following their early success.

The pessimistic critics who denied hope and claimed defeat for the Brownies are wrong. This football team does have talent, and is capable of putting up a good fight.

This football team can be interesting to watch, and this season does not have to be given up as freely as some critics have suggested.

However, it will not happen with the tentative QB Brady Quinn, who has shown he is afraid of throwing the ball down the field.

It will happen with Derek Anderson, the QB who actually gives his recievers a chance to make big plays.

Today, Derek Anderson clearly proved he is the QB who gives the Cleveland Browns the best chance to win football games.