2008 Cleveland Browns season The 2008 Cleveland Browns season was the team ' s 62nd season as a franchise and was the team ' s 58th season as a member of the National Football League . The Browns finished with a 4 – 12 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs . The season marked Romeo Crennel ' s fourth ( and what would be final ) year as head coach of the Browns . Cleveland played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland , Ohio . Off - season . Coaching staff changes . On January 7 , the Browns signed offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski to a two - year contract extension , effectively allowing the coach to remain in Cleveland through the 2011 season . Chudzinski declined an opportunity to interview for the vacant head coach position of the Baltimore Ravens to remain in Cleveland . On January 11 , it was announced by Crennel that the team had fired defensive coordinator Todd Grantham , and that a replacement would be announced soon . Grantham ' s firing comes just months after signing a two - year contract extension . The next day , it was announced that Mel Tucker , defensive backs coach for the Browns , was given the job . After spending three years on the Browns defensive coaching staff , Cory Undlin was promoted to defensive backs coach to replace Tucker . On January 29 , the team announced that it had re - signed head coach Romeo Crennel to a two - year contract extension . General manager Phil Savage stated that Crennel did not ask for an extension , but rather that the team felt that it was the proper thing to do for the head coach . 2008 NFL Draft . The Browns did not have a selection in the first three rounds . Regular season week - by - week results . Week 1 : vs . Dallas Cowboys . The Browns began their 2008 campaign at home against the defending NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys . In the first quarter , Cleveland trailed early as Cowboys RB Marion Barber got a 1 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , the Browns responded with QB Derek Anderson completing a 2 - yard TD pass to TE Kellen Winslow . Dallas would respond with QB Tony Romo completing a 35 - yard TD pass to WR Terrell Owens , along with another 1 - yard TD run from Barber . In the third quarter , Cleveland ' s defensive struggles continued as RB Felix Jones got an 11 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , the Browns tried to rally , yet all they could come up with was a 34 - yard field goal from kicker Phil Dawson . With the loss , Cleveland began its season at 0 – 1 . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Week 2 : vs . Pittsburgh Steelers . Hoping to rebound from their disappointing home loss to the Cowboys , the Browns stayed at home for the first of five primetime games with a Week 2 AFC North duel against their hated rival , the Pittsburgh Steelers , in very high winds due to the remnants of Hurricane Ike . After a scoreless first quarter , Cleveland trailed as Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger completed an 11 - yard TD pass to WR Hines Ward . In the third quarter , Pittsburgh increased its lead with kicker Jeff Reed getting a 48 - yard field goal . Afterwards , the Browns got on the board with kicker Phil Dawson getting a 31 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , Cleveland tried to rally , but the only thing that came out of it was Dawson ' s 38 - yard field goal . With their 10th - straight loss to Pittsburgh , the Browns fell to 0 – 2 . Scoring Summary . 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Week 3 : at Baltimore Ravens . Trying to snap their two - game losing streak , the Browns flew to M & T Bank Stadium for a Week 3 AFC North duel with the Baltimore Ravens . After a scoreless first quarter , Cleveland got on the board with QB Derek Anderson completing a 19 - yard TD pass to RB Jerome Harrison . The Ravens would respond with RB Willis McGahee getting a yard TD run . The Browns would close out the half with kicker Phil Dawson hitting a 38 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Baltimore took control as RB Le ' Ron McClain scored on a 1 - yard TD run , safety Ed Reed returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown , and McClain getting another 1 - yard TD run . With the loss , the Browns fell to 0 – 3 . Scoring Summary . 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter Week 4 : at Cincinnati Bengals . Still searching for their first win of the year , the Browns flew to Paul Brown Stadium for a Week 4 AFC North duel with the Cincinnati Bengals in Round 1 of 2008 ' s Battle of Ohio . In the first quarter , Cleveland drew first blood as kicker Phil Dawson got a 25 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Bengals responded with kicker Shayne Graham getting a 42 - yard and a 45 - yard field goal . After a scoreless third quarter , the Browns began the fourth quarter with QB Derek Anderson completing a 4 - yard TD pass to WR Braylon Edwards and RB Jamal Lewis getting a 1 - yard TD run . Cincinnati would answer with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completing a 4 - yard TD pass to WR Chad Ochocinco ( with a failed 2 - point conversion ) , yet Cleveland pulled away with Dawson nailing a 29 - yard field goal . With their first win of the season , the Browns ' record improved to 1 – 3 . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 4th Quarter Week 5 : Bye Week . The Browns entered their bye week with a record of 1 – 3 . The team used the bye week to rest and allow injured players to recover . The Browns also used the extra week to better prepare for their Week 6 opponent : the defending champion New York Giants . Winslow ' s Staph Infection . Browns ' tight end Kellen Winslow II was hospitalized on October 9 with an undisclosed illness ( later revealed to be a staph infection ) . Winslow spent four nights in the hospital and did not play in the Browns ' game against the Giants . Citing Winslow ' s privacy , the Browns did not comment on his illness . Week 6 : vs . New York Giants . Coming off their bye week , the Browns went home , donned their throwback uniforms , and played a crucial Week 6 interconference duel with the defending Super Bowl champions , the New York Giants , on Monday Night Football . In the first quarter , Cleveland drew first blood as kicker Phil Dawson got a 28 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Giants responded as RB Brandon Jacobs had a touchdown run . The Browns would answer with two touchdowns : A run by RB Jamal Lewis and with QB Derek Anderson pass to TE Darnell Dinkins . New York closed out the half with QB Eli Manning completing a TD pass to WR Plaxico Burress . In the third quarter , Cleveland added on to its lead as Dawson nailed a 26 - yard field goal . The Browns pulled away in the fourth quarter with a touchdown pass from Anderson to WR Braylon Edwards , as well as an Eric Wright interception returned for a touchdown . With the impressive win , Cleveland improved to 2 – 3 . This was also the Browns ' first win on Monday Night Football since 1993 . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Crennel Named Coach of the Week . After the Browns ' victory over the Giants , head coach Romeo Crennel received NFL Coach of the Week honors for Week 6 . Week 7 : at Washington Redskins . Coming off their impressive Monday Night home win over the Giants , the Browns flew to Fedex Field for a Week 7 duel with the Washington Redskins . After a scoreless first half , Cleveland trailed in the third quarter , as Redskins RB Clinton Portis got a 3 - yard TD run . The Browns would respond with kicker Phil Dawson nailing a 37 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , Washington answered with QB Jason Campbell completing an 18 - yard TD pass to WR Santana Moss . Cleveland tried to rally as QB Derek Anderson completed a 1 - yard TD pass to WR / KR Josh Cribbs ( along with a 2 - point conversion pass to WR Braylon Edwards ) . However , Dawson ' s game - tying 54 - yard field goal attempt sailed wide right , preserving the Redskins ' win . With the loss , the Browns fell to 2 – 4 . Scoring Summary . 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Winslow Suspended . On October 21 , the Browns suspended TE Kellen Winslow II for one game because of comments made after the Browns ' loss to the Redskins . Winslow said he was unhappy about the way the Browns organization treated him while he was out last week for an undisclosed illness , which has since been confirmed to be a staph infection . He told reporters that he felt as though he was being treated like " a piece of meat , " and that he was unhappy that general manager Phil Savage did not contact him while he was hospitalized . Savage announce that Winslow was being suspended for the team ' s game against the Jaguars , without pay , for " conduct detrimental to the club . " Winslow planned to appeal the suspension , but the hearing was not scheduled until October 28 , two days after the Jaguars game . On October 25 , the Browns rescinded Winslow ' s suspension . Although he did not play the game against the Jaguars , he received his game check minus a $ 25 , 000 fine . Week 8 : at Jacksonville Jaguars . Hoping to rebound from their last - second road loss to the Redskins , the Browns flew to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for a Week 8 duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars . In the first quarter , Cleveland drew first blood as QB Derek Anderson completed a 3 - yard TD pass to WR Donté Stallworth . In the second quarter , the Jaguars tied the game as QB David Garrard completed a 5 - yard TD pass to WR Reggie Williams . The Browns responded with RB Jamal Lewis getting a 2 - yard TD run , along with kicker Phil Dawson getting a 32 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Jacksonville drew closer as Garrard completed an 8 - yard TD pass to WR Matt Jones . In the fourth quarter , the Jaguars tied the game as kicker Josh Scobee made a 53 - yard field goal . Afterwards , Cleveland regained the lead with Dawson nailing a 20 - yard and a 42 - yard field goal , with the defense fending off Jacksonville ' s last attempt at a comeback . With the win , the Browns improved to 3 – 4 . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Week 9 : vs . Baltimore Ravens . Coming off their road win over the Jaguars , the Browns went home for a Week 9 AFC North rematch with the Baltimore Ravens . In the first quarter , Cleveland trailed early as Ravens kicker Matt Stover kicked a 41 - yard field goal , along with QB Joe Flacco completing a 47 - yard TD pass to WR Mark Clayton . The Browns immediately responded with WR Josh Cribbs returning a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown . In the second quarter , Cleveland increased its lead with kicker Phil Dawson kicking a 23 - yard field goal . Baltimore responded with Stover making a 32 - yard field goal , yet the Browns replied with Dawson ' s 54 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Cleveland took the lead as QB Derek Anderson completed a 28 - yard TD pass to WR Braylon Edwards and a 7 - yard TD pass to RB Jason Wright . The Ravens responded with FB Le ' Ron McClain ' s 1 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , Baltimore rallied as Flacco completed a 28 - yard TD pass to WR Derrick Mason , Stover kicking a 22 - yard field goal , and LB Terrell Suggs returning an interception 42 yards for a touchdown . With the loss , the Browns fell to 3 – 5 . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Quinn Named Starter . On November 3 , it was announced that quarterback Derek Anderson would be benched in favor of QB Brady Quinn for the Browns ' next game against the Denver Broncos . Week 10 : vs . Denver Broncos . Hoping to rebound from their season - sweeping loss to the Ravens , the Browns stayed at home for a Week 10 Thursday night game against the Denver Broncos . In the first quarter , Cleveland trailed early as Broncos RB Ryan Torain got a 1 - yard TD run . The Browns would respond as QB Brady Quinn , making his first career start , completed a 5 - yard TD pass to TE Kellen Winslow . In the second quarter , Cleveland took the lead as kicker Phil Dawson made a 24 - yard field goal , along with Quinn hooking up with Winslow again on a 16 - yard TD pass . Denver would answer with kicker Matt Prater making a 35 - yard field goal . The Browns would close out the half with Dawson making a 52 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Cleveland added onto its lead as Dawson got a 33 - yard field goal . The Broncos would reply with Prater making a 30 - yard field . In the fourth quarter , Denver regained the lead as QB Jay Cutler completing a 93 - yard TD pass to WR Eddie Royal and a 27 - yard TD pass to TE Daniel Graham . The Browns would respond with RB Jamal Lewis getting a 1 - yard TD run . However , the Broncos replied with Cutler completing an 11 - yard TD pass to WR Brandon Marshall . Cleveland tried to come back , but Denver ' s defense stiffened . With the loss , the Browns fell to 3 – 6 , making it impossible to improve on their 10 – 6 record from the 2007 season . This also marked Cleveland ' s eighth - straight loss to Denver . Even with the loss the Cleveland Browns saw an upside to that game : Quinn showed that he could be the new face of Cleveland football . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Week 11 : at Buffalo Bills . Trying to snap a two - game losing streak , the Browns flew to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a Week 11 MNF duel with the Buffalo Bills . In the first quarter , Cleveland took advantage of early Bills miscues as kicker Phil Dawson kicked two field goals . In the second quarter , the Browns increased their lead as Josh Cribbs scored a 2 - yard TD run . Buffalo responded with QB Trent Edwards completing an 18 - yard TD pass to RB Marshawn Lynch , along with kicker Rian Lindell getting a 26 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Cleveland answered with Dawson getting a 43 - yard field goal . The Bills would reply with Lindell making a 31 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , the Browns greatly answered with RB Jerome Harrison getting a 72 - yard TD run . Buffalo would immediately respond with CB Leodis McKelvin returning a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and would take the lead on a 1 - yard TD run by Edwards . Afterwards , the Browns regained the lead as Dawson nailed a 56 - yard field goal . Buffalo did try to make a comeback , yet Lindell ' s 47 - yard field goal sailed wide right , preserving Cleveland ' s victory and preventing them from becoming the first NFL team to lose three straight games after having a lead of 13 or more points in each of them . With the win , the Browns improved to 4 – 6 . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Phil Savage E - Mail controversy . Browns General Manager Phil Savage received a lot of criticism when he received an e - mail from a Browns fans during the Bills game , which read the following : " You are easily the worst GM in the NFL . Chud , Crennel and Tucker should NOT have jobs . How the hell do you play prevent defense the entire game ? How do you NOT use Jerome Harrison more ? Why the hell would you throw the ball with 6 minutes left ? This is officially a regime that is worse than Butch Davis ' . By the way , just like last week – this email was written while the Browns still had the lead . " After the game , Savage promptly responded back to the fan with the following : " Go root for Buffalo - f # @ * you " Week 12 : vs . Houston Texans . Coming off their MNF road win over the Bills , the Browns went home for a Week 12 duel with the Houston Texans . In the first quarter , Cleveland trailed early as Texans QB Sage Rosenfels completed a 17 - yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter . In the second quarter , Houston increased its lead as kicker Kris Brown got a 31 - yard field goal . The Browns would respond with kicker Phil Dawson getting a pair of 32 - yard field goals , but the Texans answered with Brown ' s 31 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Houston kept its momentum going with Brown nailing a 31 - yard field goal . Cleveland tried to rally , but Houston ' s defense was too much . With the loss , the Browns fell to 4 – 7 . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter Quinn out for season . On November 25 , it was announced that quarterback Brady Quinn would be out for the season due to a fractured right index finger suffered in the Browns ' week 11 duel with the Buffalo Bills . Derek Anderson was announced to be the starter for their next game against the Indianapolis Colts . Week 13 : vs . Indianapolis Colts . Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Texans , the Browns stayed at home for a Week 13 duel with the Indianapolis Colts . In the first quarter , Cleveland struck first as kicker Phil Dawson kicked a 34 - yard field goal . The Colts answered with kicker Adam Vinatieri kicking a 30 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Browns regained the lead as Dawson nailed a 25 - yard field goal . However , after a scoreless third quarter , Indianapolis ' defense answered in the fourth quarter , as DE Robert Mathis returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown . From there on out , Cleveland was unable to come back . With the loss , the Browns stumbled to 4 – 8 . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 4th Quarter Anderson out for season . On December 1 , it was announced that QB Derek Anderson would be done for the season following a torn MCL suffered in the loss to the Colts . Third - string QB Ken Dorsey was announced to be starting for the Browns ' next game against the Tennessee Titans . Bruce Gradkowski signed . On December 2 , the Browns signed free - agent veteran QB Bruce Gradkowski to a two - year contract . Gradkowski will serve as the backup QB under Dorsey for the Browns ' next game against the Tennessee Titans . Week 14 : at Tennessee Titans . Trying to rebound from back - to - back home losses , the Browns flew to LP Field for a Week 14 duel with the Tennessee Titans . Cleveland struck first in the opening quarter as kicker Phil Dawson got a 47 - yard and a 41 - yard field goal . The Titans took the lead in the second quarter , as QB Kerry Collins completed a 28 - yard touchdown pass to FB Ahmard Hall , along with RB LenDale White got a 3 - yard touchdown run . Tennessee would increase its lead in the third quarter as Collins completed a 9 - yard touchdown to wide receiver Justin Gage . In the fourth quarter , the Browns to rally as Dawson nailed a 39 - yard field goal , yet the Titans pulled away as RB Chris Johnson got a 25 - yard touchdown run . With the loss , Cleveland fell to 4 – 9 . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Week 15 : at Philadelphia Eagles . Coming off three straight losses without a touchdown , the Cleveland Browns sought to go 3 – 0 on Monday Night games , this time ON THE ROAD against the Philadelphia Eagles . The Eagles struck first with a touchdown pass to WR Kevin Curtis . Both teams also traded field goals in the first quarter . CB Asante Samuel extended the Eagles ' lead in the second quarter with an interception return for a touchdown , and K David Akers added a field goal in the third quarter . Cleveland could not answer , but DB Brandon McDonald scored the first touchdown for the Browns in 4 games with an interception return in the fourth quarter . This game saw the Browns extend their offensive troubles , going 16 quarters without an offensive touchdown . With the loss , the Browns fell to 4 – 10 , the third time in four years under Romeo Crennel that the Browns have had double - digit losses . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Week 16 : vs . Cincinnati Bengals . Coming off four straight losses in which their offense failed to score a touchdown , the Cleveland Browns played their final home game of the season in near - zero wind chills against the Cincinnati Bengals . The Bengals scored first , with CB Leon Hall intercepting a Ken Dorsey pass and returning it 50 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter . WR Chris Henry completed the scoring by adding on a 20 yard touchdown reception in the second quarter . The shutout marked five straight games in which Cleveland ' s offense couldn ' t find the end zone . The only bright spot for the Browns was RB Jamal Lewis , who became the 24th NFL player to reach 10 , 000 career rushing yards . With the loss , the Browns fell to 4 – 11 , and ended the season 1 – 7 at home . Scoring Summary . 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter Week 17 : at Pittsburgh Steelers . Coming off five straight losses without a touchdown on offense , the Cleveland Browns closed out the regular season at Heinz Field in a Week 17 AFC North rematch with their hated rival , the Pittsburgh Steelers . The Steelers put up two touchdowns in the second quarter , a 34 yard run by RB Willie Parker and an 8 yard scramble by QB Byron Leftwich . The Steelers added 17 points in the second half ( 22 - yard Jeff Reed field goal , 3 - yard Gary Russell touchdown run , and a 32 - yard interception TD return by Tyrone Carter ) , but they were unnecessary as the Browns were incapable of scoring at all , marking six straight games in which the offense couldn ' t score a touchdown ( an NFL record 24 quarters ) . Again , the only good news for the Browns was RB Jamal Lewis , who topped 1 , 000 rushing yards this season . He would become the first Browns running back since Mike Pruitt in 1980 & 1981 to have back - to - back 1 , 000 - yard rushing seasons . With the loss , the Browns ended their season at 4 – 12 , with a record of 3 – 5 away from home . This also marked the Browns ' eleventh straight loss to the Steelers . Scoring Summary . 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Savage and Crennel fired . After the game , it was announced that GM Phil Savage was fired . One day later , head coach Romeo Crennel would also be released after the Browns ended their season at 4 – 12 , at the bottom of the AFC North . 2009 Pro Bowl . Despite the disappointing performance by the team , LT Joe Thomas , DT Shaun Rogers , and LS Ryan Pontbriand were recognized for individual accomplishments as they were named to the AFC roster for the 2009 Pro Bowl . Thomas and Rogers were selected by the pro - bowl voters . , and Pontbriand was selected as a " need " player by the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff , who will be coaching the AFC squad . KR Josh Cribbs was named a first alternate , K Phil Dawson a second alternate , and LG Eric Steinbach and LB D ' Qwell Jackson were named third alternates at their respective positions .