BROWNS 44, CARDINALS 6

The Browns took out their myriad frustrations on the hapless Cardinals yesterday. And it was a lovely sight to behold. Holcomb was nearly perfect, chucking and shoveling touchdowns to all three starting receivers. The offensive line, while not opening many running lanes, excelled in pass protection. New faces Keith Heinrich, Chad Mustard, Lee Suggs, and Leigh Bodden all contributed. In a season featuring a youthful linebacking corps, veteran Brant Boyer starred as a substitute starter. The defense forced four turnovers.

Accounts of this game throughout the media feature plenty of superlatives, backed by ample quantitative evidence:

–Season highs in points, yards (481), first downs (27), and interceptions (3).

–Most points and yards since the Bernie Kosar era.

–Most lopsided win at home since 1960.

–Biggest blowout win since Bud Carson’s memorable 51-0 debut in Pittsburgh back in 1989.

–Holcomb’s 392 passing yards — fifth best in team history — were the most in a regular season game since Bernie Kosar had 414 vs. Pittsburgh on Nov. 23, 1986.

–First game with two 100-yard receivers since Ozzie Newsome and Ricky Feature on January 2, 1983.

Quincy Morgan held onto the ball over the middle, down the sideline, and on a nice kickoff return. Courtney Brown and Orpheus Roye each knocked down two passes. Dennis Northcutt’s moves within inches of the sideline turned a short gain into a fancy first down. Andre Davis stretched the defense with receptions of 19, 15, 21, 30 and 23 yards.

All of this was a welcome sight for fans who had expected this type of aerial acumen all season.

Of course, it’s easy to say that the Cardinals are a bad team who played poorly even by their own ignominious standards. True. But then we’ve seen the Browns lose, at home no less, to other underachieving teams, haven’t we?

So this win takes the heads of the coaching staff off of the rhetorical chopping block, at least for one week. It demonstrates that these Browns have talent. They have firepower on offense. Their defense is good enough to keep four of their first 10 opponents out of the end zone.

Yes, in the wake of the KJ and Willie disruptions, this laugher felt mighty good. But somehow there’s less than unadulterated joy in the afterglow. Perhaps this team has turned a corner and will reel off enough wins to capture the flag in the weak AFC North. But cruel history also leaves us to wonder whether this was an aberration, a blessed blip on the schedule.

Was this bird roasting just a tempting taste of the talent that is so often underserved by the coaching chefs? Will the next course of Steeler seem so savory as the last?

One thing we do know is that Butcher Davis can sure stir the pot. In any case, here’s wishing him a happy 52nd birthday dinner today, and thanks for the early cakewalk.