2010 Cleveland Browns season
The 2010 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 62nd season as a professional sports franchise and its 58th season as a member of the National Football League. The team failed to break the longest playoff appearance drought in franchise history, a current streak of eight seasons without reaching the playoffs. The team finished 5–11, matching its win total from the 2009 season and placed third in the AFC North. This season marked the first season under the leadership of team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. It also marked the second season under head coach Eric Mangini. The Browns played all of their home games at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
Off-season
Personnel changes
On December 21, 2009, the Browns hired Mike Holmgren, former Green Bay Packers head coach and Seattle Seahawks head coach and general manager, to take over as the team president. His duties will include personnel management and oversight over all operations.Although many believed that the institution of Holmgren as president would lead to the firing of Browns' head coach Eric Mangini, he announced his intent to retain Mangini and the entire coaching staff for the 2010 season on January 7, 2010.
On January 10, the Browns hired former Philadelphia Eagles' general manager Tom Heckert as general manager, the first major hire by Holmgren.
Roster changes
Free agents
Releases
Signings
Trades
On March 5, the Browns traded DE Corey Williams and a seventh round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions for a fifth round pick in 2010.On March 8, the Browns traded a conditional draft pick in 2011 to the Seattle Seahawks for QB Seneca Wallace.
On March 14, the Browns traded QB Brady Quinn to the Denver Broncos for RB Peyton Hillis, a sixth round draft pick in 2011, and a conditional draft pick in 2012.
Also on March 14, the Browns traded LB Kamerion Wimbley to the Oakland Raiders for a 2010 third round draft pick.
On April 2, the Browns traded LB Alex Hall and 2010 fourth- and fifth- round draft picks to the Philadelphia Eagles for CB Sheldon Brown and LB Chris Gocong.
2010 Draft class
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Signed | Notes |
1 | 7 | Joe Haden | Cornerback | Florida | July 31 | |
2 | 38 | T. J. Ward | Safety | Oregon | July 26 | |
2 | 59 | Montario Hardesty | Running back | Tennessee | July 26 | From Dallas via Philadelphia |
3 | 85 | Colt McCoy | Quarterback | Texas | July 23 | from New England via Oakland |
3 | 92 | Shawn Lauvao | Offensive tackle | Arizona State | July 23 | from New York Jets |
5 | 160 | Larry Asante | Safety | Nebraska | July 14 | from New York Jets |
6 | 177 | Carlton Mitchell | Wide receiver | South Florida | July 7 | |
6 | 186 | Clifton Geathers | Defensive end | South Carolina | June 28 | from Carolina |
The Browns did not have a fourth- or seventh-round selection
Undrafted free agents
Uniform changes
After wearing solid brown pants with their white away jerseys during their 2009 campaign, the Browns returned to wearing their traditional white pants with orange-brown-orange lining for their 2010 away games. Furthermore, they wore white socks with orange-brown-orange piping with these uniforms, bringing back the "classic" Browns away look, as well as marking a departure from the past decade when solid brown socks were worn with both the home and away uniforms. These changes were confirmed during the team's first preseason game against the Packers on August 14 and by Eric Mangini the following week.Staff
Roster
Opening training camp roster
Week 1 roster
Final roster
Final roster
Preseason
Preseason schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
1 | August 14 | at Green Bay Packers | W 27–24 | 1–0 | Lambeau Field | |
2 | August 21 | St. Louis Rams | L 17–19 | 1–1 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | |
3 | August 28 | at Detroit Lions | L 27–35 | 1–2 | Ford Field | |
4 | September 2 | Chicago Bears | W 13–10 | 2–2 | Cleveland Browns Stadium |
Regular season
Schedule
Standings
Week-by-week results
Week 1: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Cleveland Browns began their NFL season at Raymond James Stadium for a showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the first quarter, the Browns had the early lead as QB Jake Delhomme connected on a 41-yard touchdown pass to WR Mohamed Massaquoi, but the Buccaneers responded with a Connor Barth field goal. In the second quarter, the Browns increased their lead on a touchdown run by RB Peyton Hillis. Near the end of the half, the Browns were driving down the field until Delhomme threw an interception that allowed the Buccaneers to score a touchdown in the half's closing seconds. In the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers took the lead for good on a 33-yard touchdown pass from QB Josh Freeman to WR Micheal Spurlock.With the loss, the Browns began their season at 0–1.
Scoring summary
First quarterSecond quarter
Fourth quarter
- 6:56 TB – Spurlock 33-yard pass from Freeman 17–14 TB
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
With the loss, the Browns fell to 0–2.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 8:43 KC – Succop 34-yard field goal 3–0 KC
- 12:31 CLE – Hillis 1-yard run 7–3 CLE
- 10:02 KC – Flowers 33-yard interception return 10–7 KC
- 8:43 CLE – Cribbs 65-yard pass from Wallace 14–10 CLE
- 8:48 KC – Succop 26-yard field goal 14–13 CLE
- 7:44 KC – Succop 23-yard field goal 16–14 KC
Week 3: at Baltimore Ravens
With the loss, Cleveland fell to 0–3.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 6:14 CLE – Dawson 38-yard field goal 3–0 CLE
- 1:29 BAL – Boldin 8-yard pass from Flacco 7–3 BAL
- 5:59 BAL – Boldin 12-yard pass from Flacco 14–3 BAL
- 0:13 CLE – Hillis 1-yard run 14–10 BAL
- 14:54 CLE – Watson 1-yard pass from Wallace 17–14 CLE
- 9:13 BAL – Boldin 27-yard pass from Flacco 21–17 BAL
- 5:29 BAL – Cundiff 49-yard field goal 24–17 BAL
Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland got the early lead in the first quarter as kicker Phil Dawson got a 30-yard field goal. The Browns added onto their lead in the second quarter as quarterback Seneca Wallace completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Evan Moore. The Bengals answered with kicker Mike Nugent's 24-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Carson Palmer finding wide receiver Terrell Owens on a 78-yard touchdown pass. The Browns would close out the half with Dawson getting a 31-yard field goal after linebacker Scott Fujita blocked a Bengals field goal attempt.
In the third quarter, Cleveland picked up right where they left off as running back Peyton Hillis got a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by Dawson's 22-yard field goal. Afterwards, Cincinnati answered with Nugent making a 25-yard field goal. The Bengals tried to rally in the fourth quarter as Palmer found running back Brian Leonard on a 3-yard touchdown pass, yet the defense prevented Cincinnati from getting any closer.
With the win, the Browns improved to 1–3.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 2:31 CLE – Dawson 30-yard field goal 3–0 CLE
- 11:10 CLE – Moore 24-yard pass from Wallace 10–0 CLE
- 7:19 CIN – Nugent 24-yard field goal 10–3 CLE
- 3:41 CIN – Owens 78-yard pass from Palmer 10–10
- 0:04 CLE – Dawson 31-yard field goal 13–10 CLE
- 8:58 CLE – Hillis 1-yard run 20–10 CLE
- 6:36 CLE – Dawson 22-yard field goal 23–10 CLE
- 1:18 CIN – Nugent 25-yard field goal 23–13 CLE
- 10:50 CIN – Leonard 3-yard pass from Palmer 23–20 CLE
Week 5: vs. Atlanta Falcons
With the loss, the Browns fell to 1–4.
Scoring summary
Second quarter- 14:54 ATL – Bryant 24-yard field goal 3–0 ATL
- 12:25 CLE – Hillis 19-yard pass from Wallace 7–3 CLE
- 5:04 ATL – Bryant 30-yard field goal 7–6 CLE
Fourth quarter
- 4:14 ATL – Biermann 31-yard interception return 20–10 ATL
Week 6: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Browns' deficit increased in the third quarter as Roethlisberger found wide receiver Hines Ward on an 8-yard touchdown pass. Cleveland tried to rally as McCoy completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Benjamin Watson, but Pittsburgh would pull away with Roethlisberger's 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Heath Miller.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 1–5.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 1:51 CLE – Dawson 39-yard field goal 3–0 CLE
- 10:40 PIT – Wallace 29-yard pass from Roethlisberger 7–3 PIT
- 3:13 PIT – Ward 8-yard pass from Roethlisberger 14–3 PIT
- 5:50 PIT – Mendenhall 2-yard run 21–3 PIT
- 4:09 CLE – Watson 12-yard pass from McCoy 21–10 PIT
- 1:25 PIT – Miller 14-yard pass from Roethlisberger 28–10 PIT
Week 7: at New Orleans Saints
In the fourth quarter, quarterback Drew Brees connected with tight end David Thomas to pull within 10, but another Dawson field goal and a second Bowens interception return sealed the win for the Browns.
With the win, the Browns entered their bye week at 2–5. This win also marked the third consecutive season in which the Browns defeated the defending Super Bowl champion.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 10:25 CLE – Dawson 23-yard field goal 3–0 CLE
- 6:48 CLE – Hillis 4-yard run 10–0 CLE
- 5:32 NO – Hartley 32-yard field goal 10–3 CLE
- 2:18 CLE – Dawson 21-yard field goal 13–3 CLE
- 1:49 CLE – Bowens 30-yard interception return 20–3 CLE
- 13:29 NO – Thomas 11-yard pass from Brees 20–10 CLE
- 5:55 CLE – Dawson 48-yard field goal 23–10 CLE
- 3:33 CLE – Bowens 64-yard interception return 30–10 CLE
- 1:38 NO – Colston 8-yard pass from Brees 30–17 CLE
Week 9: vs. New England Patriots
The Browns added onto their lead in the third quarter as rookie quarterback Colt McCoy got a 16-yard touchdown run. Cleveland continued to pull away in the fourth quarter with another Dawson field goal. New England tried to rally as Brady completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Hernandez, yet the Browns pulled away with Hillis' 35-yard touchdown run.
With the win, Cleveland improved to 3–5. Hillis was named as the AFC offensive player of the week.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 11:49 CLE – Dawson 38-yard field goal 3–0 CLE
- 11:11 CLE – Hillis 2-yard run 10–0 CLE
- 8:43 NE – Hernandez 2-yard pass from Brady 10–7 CLE
- 3:23 CLE – Stuckey 11-yard run 17–7 CLE
- 5:53 CLE – McCoy 16-yard run 24–7 CLE
- 10:45 CLE – Dawson 37-yard field goal 27–7 CLE
- 6:37 NE – Hernandez 1-yard pass from Brady 27–14 CLE
- 2:38 CLE – Hillis 35-yard run 34–14 CLE
Week 10: vs. New York Jets
The third quarter started with a Jets' drive that lasted 19 plays and almost 10 minutes, but resulting in no points as K Nick Folk missed a short field goal. The Jets added onto their lead in the fourth quarter with Folk making a 25-yard field goal. On the Browns' next drive, rookie QB Colt McCoy drove the team down the field and the Browns scored on a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mohamed Massaquoi, to tie the game at 20 and send it into overtime.
In overtime, both teams squandered chances to win; Browns WR Chansi Stuckey fumbled the ball in Jets' territory, Folk missed a field goal for the Jets, and Sanchez threw an interception near the goal line. It was the Jets who would finally break through late in the overtime period as Sanchez completed the game-winning 37-yard touchdown pass to WR Santonio Holmes with only 16 seconds left.
With the loss, Cleveland fell to 3–6.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 9:52 CLE – Dawson 34-yard field goal 3–0 CLE
- 5:52 NYJ – Folk 27-yard field goal 3–3
- 0:16 CLE – Hillis 12-yard run 10–3 CLE
- 11:09 NYJ – Cotchery 25-yard pass from Sanchez 10–10
- 5:13 CLE – Dawson 23-yard field goal 13–10 CLE
- 0:23 NYJ – Sanchez 1-yard run 17–13 NYJ
- 2:42 NYJ – Folk 25-yard field goal 20–13 NYJ
- 0:44 CLE – Massaquoi 3-yard pass from McCoy 20–20
- 0:16 NYJ – Holmes 37-yard pass from Sanchez 26–20 NYJ
Week 11: at Jacksonville Jaguars
With the loss, the Browns fell to 3–7.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 8:13 JAC – Scobee 47-yard field goal 3–0 JAC
- 13:20 CLE – Hillis 11-yard pass from McCoy 7–3 CLE
- 0:35 JAC – Thomas 5-yard pass from Garrard 10–7 JAC
- 11:26 CLE – Elam 18-yard fumble return 14–10 CLE
- 1:54 CLE – Dawson 38-yard field goal 17–10 CLE
- 3:41 JAC – Lewis 14-yard pass from Garrard 17–17
- 2:51 CLE – Dawson 41-yard field goal 20–17 CLE
- 1:20 JAC – Jones-Drew 1-yard run 24–20 JAC
Week 12: vs. Carolina Panthers
With the win, the Browns improved to 4–7. This marked the Browns' first victory over the Panthers in franchise history, as the Browns lost each of the three previous meetings.
After the game, CB Joe Haden was named the Defensive Rookie of the Month for November. In four games during the month, Haden recorded 15 tackles, seven defended passes, and three interceptions. He became the first Browns' player to ever win this award.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 10:36 CAR – Goodson 26-yard run 7–0 CAR
- 6:49 CLE – Hillis 9-yard run 7–7
- 2:44 CLE – Hillis 5-yard run 14–7 CLE
- 9:12 CLE – Hillis 6-yard run 21–7 CLE
- 3:19 CAR – Kasay 43-yard field goal 21–10 CLE
- 0:47 CAR – Kasay 42-yard field goal 21–13 CLE
- 12:18 CAR – Munnerlyn 37-yard interception return 21–20 CLE
- 7:01 CAR – Kasay 43-yard field goal 23–21 CAR
- 2:42 CLE – Dawson 41-yard field goal 24–23 CLE
Week 13: at Miami Dolphins
With the win, the Browns improved to 5–7, matching their win total from the 2009 season.
Scoring summary
Second quarter- 1:43 CLE – Dawson 32-yard field goal 3–0 CLE
- 0:02 MIA – Carpenter 60-yard field goal 3–3
- 1:16 CLE – Watson 3-yard pass from Delhomme 10–3 CLE
- 10:27 MIA – Fasano 11-yard pass from Henne 10–10
- 0:00 CLE – Dawson 23-yard field goal 13–10 CLE
Week 14: at Buffalo Bills
With the loss, the Browns fell to 5–8 and were eliminated from playoff contention. This marks the eighth consecutive season in which the Browns failed to make the playoffs, a franchise record.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 10:14 CLE – Dawson 19-yard field goal 3–0 CLE
- 9:33 BUF – Nelson 11-yard pass from Fitzpatrick 7–3 BUF
- 3:56 CLE – Dawson 25-yard field goal 7–6 BUF
- 0:17 BUF – Lindell 30-yard field goal 10–6 BUF
- 7:59 BUF – Lindell 19-yard field goal 13–6 BUF
Week 15: at Cincinnati Bengals
With the loss, the Browns fell to 5–9 and finished the season 2–6 on the road.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 12:08 CLE – Royal 20-yard pass from McCoy 7–0 CLE
Third quarter
- 11:11 CIN – Stitser 39-yard field goal 13–7 CIN
- 3:33 CIN – Stitser 34-yard field goal 16–7 CIN
- 14:06 CLE – Dawson 23-yard field goal 16–10 CIN
- 9:58 CIN – Stitser 20-yard field goal 19–10 CIN
- 2:13 CLE – Robiskie 46-yard pass from McCoy 19–17 CIN
Week 16: vs. Baltimore Ravens
With the loss, the Browns fell to 5–10.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 7:01 CLE – Robiskie 29-yard pass from Massaquoi 7–0 CLE
- 13:35 BAL – Cundiff 27-yard field goal 7–3 CLE
- 11:47 BAL – Houshmandzadeh 15-yard pass from Flacco 10–7 BAL
- 4:06 BAL – Cundiff 40-yard field goal 13–7 BAL
- 0:03 CLE – Dawson 30-yard field goal 13–10 BAL
- 13:30 BAL – Mason 22-yard pass from Flacco 20–10 BAL
Week 17: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers would add onto their lead in the third quarter as wide receiver Antwaan Randle El completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Hines Ward. Afterwards, Pittsburgh closed out its dominating day in the fourth quarter with Suisham making a 24-yard field goal. Cleveland would close out the game with rookie quarterback Colt McCoy finding wide receiver Brian Robiskie on a 20-yard touchdown pass, sending the Browns to their worst loss of the season, 41–9.
With the loss, the Browns closed out their season at 5–11, matching their 2009 record. They were 3–5 at home.
Scoring summary
First quarter- 14:25 PIT – Wallace 56-yard pass from Roethlisberger 7–0 PIT
- 7:00 PIT – Mendenhall 1-yard run 14–0 PIT
- 14:45 CLE – Dawson 19-yard field goal 14–3 PIT
- 7:55 PIT – Mendenhall 1-yard run 21–3 PIT
- 4:58 PIT – Miller 4-yard pass from Roethlisberger 28–3 PIT
- 1:34 PIT – Suisham 41-yard field goal 31–3 PIT
- 7:24 PIT – Ward 3-yard pass from Randle El 38–3 PIT
- 12:35 PIT – Suisham 24-yard field goal 41–3 PIT
- 6:43 CLE – Robiskie 20-yard pass from McCoy 41–9 PIT
Mangini fired
2011 Pro Bowl
Despite the team's poor performance, T Joe Thomas and C Alex Mack were named to the AFC roster in the 2011 Pro Bowl. Thomas, who will be making his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, will be the team's starting left tackle. Mack was originally selected as the second alternate at center, but was placed on the team after an injury to Nick Mangold of the New York Jets and Maurkice Pouncey of the Pittsburgh Steelers not being able to play because of the Steelers playing in Super Bowl XLV the following week.In addition to Thomas and Mack, six Browns' players were named as alternates. RB Peyton Hillis and G Eric Steinbach were named as second alternates; KR Josh Cribbs, ST Ray Ventrone, and FB Lawrence Vickers third alternates, and CB Joe Haden a fourth alternate at their respective positions.