Brady's 3 TD passes lead Patriots past Browns to 5-0
07.10.2007 21:01
Sport and Travel
- Source: USA Today
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — These Patriots are just having too much fun.
Showboating, leaping into teammates' arms and jumping over the goal line on a touchdown — with Randy Moss doing none of that — they made history with a 34-17 win Sunday over the Cleveland Browns, the latest victim of a powerhouse that seems to score at will. BOX SCORE: Patriots 34, Browns 17 Tom Brady threw for three touchdowns, tying an NFL record with at least three in each of his first five games, Junior Seau grabbed two interceptions, and New England became the first team to start a season with five wins by at least 17 points. Oh, and the Patriots never trailed for the fourth game as they moved to 5-0 for the third time in club history. It shouldn't be as easy when they visit Dallas next Sunday. But so far, they've been behind for just 12:36 this season — and they followed that 7-3 deficit against Buffalo with 35 straight points in a 38-7 win. The Browns (2-3) had shown promise after years of mediocrity. But they lost running back Jamal Lewis for the game with an injured right foot after he rushed for 11 yards on their first play. The passing attack couldn't pick up the slack as Derek Anderson threw three interceptions in the first half, two on consecutive offensive plays by Cleveland, that led to 14 points. Twice in the fourth quarter, the Browns cut the deficit to 10 points. And twice the Patriots came right back with touchdowns of their own. The 38-year-old Seau looked like a kid again, although coach Bill Belichick may frown on his ill-considered celebration when he raised the ball high in his right hand while he was still returning an interception. Three plays later, Benjamin Watson's joyous demonstration wasn't nearly as risky. Wide open in the left flat, he caught Brady's pass at the 8-yard line, jumped at the 1 and landed in the end zone for the first of his two touchdowns. The extra point by Stephen Gostkowski, who had kicked field goals of 20 and 25 yards, made it 20-0 with 1:01 left in the half. Later, Brady leaped into the burly arms of guard Logan Mankins after a 25-yard touchdown pass to Watson for a 27-10 lead just 4½ minutes after Anderson's 21-scoring pass to Tim Carter. Back in 1920, the Buffalo All-Americans won their first four games by at least 22 points, then beat the Rochester Jeffersons by only 11. The Patriots didn't need Moss to have another big game. He began the day as the NFL leader in yards receiving and total touchdowns, but finished with three catches for 46 yards and no touchdowns. And Brady didn't have to be as brilliant as he was in his first four games, when he completed 79.2% of his passes with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. He was a mere 22-for-38 for 265 yards and no interceptions Sunday. Sammy Morris, filling in for injured Laurence Maroney for the second straight game, gained 102 yards on 21 carries, one week after rushing for 117 yards. More good news for the Patriots: safety Rodney Harrison returned after a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, reportedly by using human growth hormone. And, finally, cornerback Randall Gay stripped Kellen Winslow of a reception and returned the fumble 15 yards for a touchdown with 42 seconds left.
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