One of the frequently-heard phrases from my three-year-old these days, as he tries to decipher the workings of the world: “Is it magic?”
Sometimes I’m not even sure.
There’s really little more that could amplify “Double Doink” Dawson’s exploits in Baltimore.
What better way to vindicate the previous week’s just-short effort in Pittsburgh in a nearly-identical game situation?
What better way to overcome a miss from 35 yards earlier in the game (did pressure from the left side influence the kick going wide right?), or the aborted 48-yard attempt in the fourth quarter (surely it couldn’t have been Ryan Pontbriand’s fault)
?It was a reprieve from a second-straight game of blown leads to bitter division foes. It means the Browns remain a winning team, and this season stays a decided success, even if the ride is jarring.
Throughout, the officials were prone to overlook even the more flagrant Baltimore fouls, while the Browns received no benefits, no doubt. A seven-to-one ratio in penalty yards compelled the Browns to do what they couldn’t the previous week: make the plays themselves. They did. Barely.
Actually, the entire sequence leading to Dawson’s memorable 51-yarder was charmed. Without any of the three plays preceding it, this game was lost. The “woe is me” crowd — and the Raven maniacs — were cued up once again. With the Browns down three points and just 26 seconds on the clock:
- Josh Cribbs, recipient of yet another standard-issue kickoff, powered forward with force times velocity, hauling half of the Ravens’ coverage unit straight up to the 43 yard line. Dude can carry two teams on his back.
- A rollout called at the most opportune time, as Derek Anderson avoided pressure to his left and found sticky-fingered Joe Jurevicius at the sideline.
- Disaster was averted, as heat was headed for DA, foreboding a hit from behind to his throwing arm. Somehow he had the sense to step up just enough to launch a last-gasp pass over the middle. Since it was a challenging catch requiring him to leave his feet, Braylon Edwards came through for a gain of 18, barely putting them in Dawson’s range with three ticks left.
You know what happened next.
Magic.
