Quinn, Anderson sit as Browns lose
9/4/2009CHICAGO — Eric Mangini apparently didn't need another look at Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson. Cleveland's coach gave his quarterbacks a night off rather than one more audition.
Brett Ratliff started for the Browns and led a touchdown drive after a rough start against Chicago. Robbie Gould kicked two of his four field goals in the fourth quarter, though, leading the Bears past Cleveland 26-23 in the preseason finale.
When Mangini said he wasn't sure who would start, many assumed it would be Quinn or Anderson. Well, not quite.
Ratliff got intercepted by Zackary Bowman on the game's first play from scrimmage, leading to a 43-yard field goal by Gould, but he made a decent recovery. He threw a touchdown on the next possession and was 8-of-20 overall while playing in the first and fourth quarters.
Richard Bartel played the middle two periods for Cleveland and was 12-of-14 for 137 yards and did not throw a TD or get picked off.
Chicago's Jay Cutler had a short night, playing just one series and not attempting a pass.
That was no shocker, but the decision to keep Quinn and Anderson on the sideline was a bit of a surprise.
With both quarterbacks sitting, Ratliff got the start.
Things certainly didn't look good at the start when Bowman lunged in front of Brian Robiskie along the sideline near midfield for the interception.
The Bears took over on the Cleveland 44, and Cutler handed off to Kevin Jones six straight times, putting the ball on the 25 before Gould booted the 43-yarder.
The Browns quickly answered, with James Davis breaking off a 21-yard run to put them on the Bears 35 and Ratliff capping the drive with a seven-yarder over the middle to Mohamed Massaquoi.
Chicago's night took another bad turn on the second play of the next possession, when Jones left the game with a left ankle injury. He had just been knocked out of bounds following a six-yard gain when Cleveland's Marcus Benard got called for a late hit, although it was not clear if that was when the injury occurred.
That gave him 25 yards on seven carries, while Caleb Hanie went 9-of-13.