Cutler delivers win for Broncos

Quinn outdueled as Browns falter

Jay Cutler passed for a career-high 447 yards and three fourth-quarter TDs to rally the injury-ravaged Broncos. (Mark Duncan/Associated Press)

CLEVELAND - Jay Cutler turned Brady Quinn's big night into his own prime-time showcase.

Cutler passed for a career-high 447 yards, throwing three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter - the last an 11-yarder to Brandon Marshall with 1:14 remaining - to rally the broken Denver Broncos to a 34-30 win over the Cleveland Browns last night, spoiling Quinn's highly hyped debut as an NFL starter.

The Broncos (5-4) entered the fourth quarter trailing, 23-13, but Cutler, borrowing a page out of John Elway's comeback playbook, brought Denver back. He recorded his fifth career fourth-quarter comeback victory despite losing two more running backs - rookie Ryan Torain and Selvin Young - to injuries and only having his fullback to carry the ball.

"It was a big, big win for us," Cutler said. "To be down 13 and have an empty backfield and to come back like this, it means a lot."

Cutler threw a 93-yard TD pass to rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal, a 28-yarder to tight end Daniel Graham, and finished off the Browns (3-6) like so many Denver teams have done in the past with his toss to Marshall in the corner of the end zone.

The Broncos have beaten Cleveland eight straight times and been the Browns' longtime nemesis, beating them three times in AFC title games.

Cutler finished 24 of 42 with three TDs and one interception. He piled up 204 yards passing in the fourth quarter.

Quinn threw two TD passes to Kellen Winslow and went 23 of 35 for 239 yards but thought he could have done more.

"I told everyone, this one is flat on me," Quinn said. "I know I am good enough that I can make a play at the end and win."

Quinn had one last chance, getting the ball back with 1:10 remaining. The former Notre Dame star, who waited 25 games to take over Cleveland's offense, completed a 9-yard pass to Winslow on first down before two incompletions. On fourth down, Quinn whipped a high pass to Winslow that sailed through the hands of the Pro Bowl tight end.

"I just can't get that last play out of my head," Winslow said. "The great ones, the legends make those plays. That's where I want to be and I'm going to take it as a lesson."

Quinn had put the Browns in position to win, but once again, Cleveland's defense couldn't come up with a stop as Denver racked up 564 total yards.