Browns Finally Starting To Figure Out How To Win In Cleveland

Ever since the Cleveland Browns came back into the league, following the original Browns' move to Baltimore, they have been looking for a guy to be the franchise quarterback. It started with Tim Couch. Since then, the list has gone like this: Kelly Holcomb, Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, and Derek Anderson.

The current starter is Brady Quinn, who has also had his ups and downs. Why is it that the Browns can never get it right at this position?

Well, here is an interesting theory: having a franchise quarterback is not how you win in Cleveland.

If you look back at the Browns in their glory days, you will see that they have never really had a franchise quarterback. Sure, Brian Sipe and Bernie Kosar are Browns legends, but NFL fans outside of Cleveland barely remember them. It is not because they were bad; it is because they were the kind of quarterbacks Cleveland needed.

That is, a guy who won't kill you with crucial mistakes and will manage the game. When Kosar was the quarterback, the Browns had a great running game with Kevin Mack and Eric Metcalf. Metcalf was also deadly in the return game. Does he sound familiar to a current Brown?

After Joshua Cribbs' two kickoff returns against the Chiefs, he should remind us all of Metcalf.

Jerome Harrison was the star of the day, with 286 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Harrison set a single game record for the Browns in rushing yards.

The funny thing is that Quinn didn't have a good passing game at all. He was 10-of-17 for just 66 yards. He also threw two interceptions. He did run the ball pretty well, though, gaining 39 yards that he used to convert crucial third downs.

In spite of the subpar game from Quinn, the Browns managed to put up 41 points and get the win.

Matt Cassel had a good game on the other side of the ball, yet his team still lost.

The reason for this is quite simple: When you get into December in these cold weather climates, the game isn't about which quarterback can light it up. It is about who can run the ball the best. This game is a perfect example of that.

Cleveland is as cold as it gets, and they play many games outside of Cleveland that will also be cold. Kansas City is no exception. In those games, running the football is what wins. When they go to a warm place like Miami or San Diego, then they can let their quarterback air it out.

Looking at the upcoming offseason, it would be a huge mistake for the Browns to draft another quarterback early. This strategy has failed them in the past. Quinn may or may not become a franchise quarterback. However, he has shown the last couple weeks he can manage to not lose the game, and that is how you win in Cleveland.