The Monday Night The Browns Remembered How to Play Football

Maybe it was the national spotlight, or the throwback helmets, or perhaps the 80 degree weather in October. I suppose the reason isn't all that important, but the result is.

On Monday Night Football in front of thousands of national viewers the 1-3 Browns upset the reigning champion New York Giants.

Not only did the Brownies upset the New York Football Giants they did it by playing their style of football. They pounded the running game and spread the ball across the field making the Giants defense seem silly at times.

The most important thing to take from this game has to be Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards finally becoming in sync with each other.

It took six weeks but Anderson finally found the form that earned him a pro-bowl appearance and a new three-year contract. Up until this game the best Anderson had to offer simply elicited requests to see Brady Quinn behind center. Eighteen completions from 24 attempts for 310 yards with two touchdowns might just be good enough to quell the crowd for at least one more week.

Edwards, likewise, stepped into his own against the Giants. After four games with three catches or fewer for no more than 32 yards, he remembered that he is supposed to be one of the premier receivers in the league. Five receptions for a career high 154 yards, including one for 70, show signs that Edwards' amnesia has passed.

The rest of the team gave the defending Super Bowl champs no breaks either. Jamal Lewis carried the ball 22 times for 88 yards, reminding Brandon Jacobs who invented the power rushing game.

Even the Browns secondary, which has had more holes than mosquito netting in the past four games, seemed to find their game picking Eli Manning three times (triple his previous total for the season) and allowing only one touchdown.

From the beginning it seemed as though the Browns were ready to play, and determined to erase their first three games from memory. Braylon Edwards, in a post game interview, stated that the team was now "2-0 in a new 14 game season;" the kind of statement that exemplifies the attitude that fans would like to see from the Browns, one that shows optimism and promise for the rest of the season.

With 11 games to go in the regular season it will be exciting to watch these Browns go after opponents, hopefully with the same vigor that was present on Monday night.