Browns QB Carousel Analysis

2002
Record: 9-7 (0-1 playoffs)
Head Coach: Davis
Postseason: Yes (Wild-Card)
Division Finish: Second
Opening Day QB Starter: Holcomb
Season-Finale QB Starter: Couch (Postseason: Holcomb)
Other QBs who started: None
Other QBs who played: N/A
Leading Passer: Couch
Noted: Couch was injured during the preseason finale, which allowed Holcomb to start the season opener. Opening up a QB controversy that never went away, Holcomb completed 27 of 39 passes for 326 yards and three TDs, but the Browns lost, 40-39, at home to Kansas City on the last play of the game. Couch returned in Week 3, leading the Browns to a come-from-behind 31-28 OT win over Tennessee. However, Couch was knocked out of a game two weeks later against Baltimore with a concussion (which drew scattered cheers from the crowd), and Holcomb led a furious rally from a 23-8 deficit. However, he threw an interception in the end zone on the final play of a 26-21 loss. Couch returned the following week and started every single game the rest of the season, leading the Browns to a 5-2 record down the stretch, including two come-from-behind wins over Jacksonville and Baltimore on the road. Couch was injured midway through the season finale against Atlanta, and Holcomb led the Browns to two second-half touchdowns in a 23-16 win, which punched their ticket to the postseason for the first time since 1994 and second time since 1989. In the Wild Card game, Holcomb shredded the Pittsburgh defense for 429 yards and three TDs. However, the Steelers rallied from deficits of 24-7 and 33-21 to escape with a 36-33 win.

2003
Record: 5-11
Head Coach: Davis
Postseason: No
Division Finish: Fourth
Opening Day QB Starter: Holcomb
Season-Finale QB Starter: Couch
Other QBs who started: None
Other QBs who played: N/A
Leading Passer: Holcomb
Noted: Both Holcomb and Couch played in 10 games and started eight, if there was ever a definition of a QB controversy. Holcomb started, based on his playoff performance against the Steelers, but struggled in the early going. He led the Browns to a come-from-behind 13-12 win at San Francisco, but was broke his ankle during the game, opening the door for Couch. Couch started the next four games, winning two, including a 33-13 win at Heinz Field (the Browns only win at Heinz Field ever) on a Sunday night. However, he was yanked during a 26-20 loss to San Diego for Holcomb, who rallied the team from a big deficit. Holcomb’s best game came in a 44-6 blowout of Arizona at home, but he lost his job during a Monday Night game with St. Louis after throwing two killer interceptions just before halftime. Couch rallied the Browns in the second half of a 26-20 loss, and started the remaining three games of his Browns (and NFL) career. His final game was a 22-14 win at Cincinnati. Couch was released during the offseason and never took another NFL snap.

2004
Record: 4-12
Head Coach: Davis/Terry Robiskie (interim 5 games)
Postseason: No
Division Finish: Fourth
Opening Day QB Starter: Jeff Garcia
Season-Finale QB Starter: Holcomb
Other QBs who started: Luke McCown
Other QBs who played: N/A
Leading Passer: Garcia
Noted: Garcia was signed as a free agent to put a stop to the Couch/Holcomb QB carousel, and Garcia led the Browns to their only opening-day win of the Expansion Era, a 20-3 victory over the Ravens. However, that’s about where the rays of sunshine ended for Garcia in Cleveland. He only started 10 games (and played in 11) before succumbing to two different injuries. The first was during a 10-7 loss to the Jets at home. The second was after playing in just two snaps when he relieved an ineffective McCown during a 37-7 loss to Buffalo. Holcomb had one great game, throwing for five TDs and 413 yards in a 58-48 loss at Cincinnati (Davis resigned shortly after the game), but quickly fell back to earth and was injured. McCown, a rookie, was thrown into the fire with the Buffalo game and lost all four games he started. Holcomb returned for the season-finale, a 22-14 win at Houston. All three QBs would be gone by the time the Browns started the next season.

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