Where’s Eric Metcalf when you need him?

 

Metcalf, of course, has long since retired, but it was 23 years ago today, on Sept. 20, 1992, that the running back rescued the Browns when they were in a situation similar to the one they find themselves in today as they get ready to play the Tennessee Titans this afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium in the season opener.

 

Heading into a game against the Los Angeles Raiders at Memorial Coliseum, those 1992 Browns were 0-2 and, in a 27-23 loss to the Miami Dolphins just six days before, had lost their starting quarterback, Bernie Kosar, indefinitely with a broken ankle.

 

Other than in the fourth quarter against Miami, when they scored 20 points and took a lead, forcing the Dolphins to come back and win it in the end, the Browns had looked horrible offensively.

 

One good quarter. But seven bad quarters. That’s a recipe for disaster.

 

With Todd Philcox, not even good enough to be considered a journeyman, replacing Kosar at quarterback, the Browns needed someone to step up big-time to give him and the team a boost.

 

Enter Metcalf, one of the most dazzling and productive players in Browns history.

 

He didn’t disappoint, scoring four touchdowns – all of Cleveland’s touchdowns, in fact – in a 28-16 win. As such, it was Metcalf 28, the Raiders 16.

 

The only things missing were a cape on the back of his jersey and a big red S on the front of it.

 

Metcalf scored twice on short runs of four and six yards, and twice on long pass receptions of 69 and 63 yards.

 

He was a man among boys. The Raiders not only couldn’t tackle him. They couldn’t even get close enough to him to attempt to tackle him.

 

The present-day Browns don’t have any offensive player like Metcalf – not even close. Guys like him don’t come along very often. He is a Cleveland Browns Legend for a reason.

 

So what the Browns need today to give young quarterback Johnny Manziel some help – just like Philcox got some help — is for everyone on their offense to do a little more than what is expected from them.

 

All those little mores will add up and make a lot more.

 

Much more so than in 1992, the NFL game today is built on offense and scoring. So the Browns have to get some offense from somewhere. Part of it has to come from Manziel, of course, but, as mentioned, he needs his playmakers – Brian Hartline, Isaiah Crowell, Andrew Hawkins, Travis Benjamin and Taylor Gabriel – to be exactly that and, again, a little more.

 

Who will step up? Who will step up the most?

 

Will anyone step up?

 

That’s what everybody was wondering about the offensively-challenged Browns 23 years ago.

 

And that’s also what everybody today is wondering about these offensively-challenged Browns.