Jaguars Beat Browns 15-10

By TOM WITHERS
.c The Associated Press

 
CLEVELAND (AP) - An overturned call in the final minute gave the Jacksonville Jaguars a 15-10 win over Cleveland on Sunday and caused a near riot by Browns fans.

Fans pelted the field with thousands of plastic bottles - many of them filled with beer - and other debris before the game was stopped with 48 seconds remaining. A few of the fans tried to run on the field but were quickly caught by security personnel.

The Jaguars had to dodge flying objects as they sprinted off the field, and the officials were doused with beer and cups of ice as they tried to run to safety.

Nearly 30 minutes later, officials decided to resume play, bringing Cleveland's defense and Jacksonville's offense out of the locker room to finish the game.

Jacksonville's players re-entered and left the field through the Browns' tunnel to avoid being hit again by debris.

``I've never seen a game, heard of a game or anything like this,'' Browns coach Butch Davis said. ``It's disappointing. It put our players in as much jeopardy as theirs.''

The fans' ugly behavior came after the Browns had a first down at Jacksonville's 9-yard line taken away despite running a play before the officials reviewed it.

Browns quarterback Tim Couch had apparently completed a fourth-and-2 pass to wide receiver Quincy Morgan with 1:08 remaining, and the Browns, who were out of timeouts, quickly rushed to the line of scrimmage.

On first down, Couch spiked the ball with 48 seconds to go, and was headed to the sideline when the officials began to discuss Morgan's catch.

After several confusing minutes, referee Terry McAulay announced that the officials were reviewing the play. When McAulay finally emerged from the TV review monitor, he announced that Morgan did not catch the ball.

Replays showed that Morgan was bobbling the ball as he fell to ground.

As Cleveland's bench erupted in protest, Browns fans in the ``Dawg Pound'' bleacher section closest to the play, began hurling bottles and other objects from the stands.

The Jaguars moved away from their bench to avoid getting hit, and before the fans got rowdier, McAulay announced the game was over.

AP-NY-12-16-01 1655EST

Quoted:
Pretty sad for people to get all upset becuase the hired mercenaries of Corporation A were screwed and the hired mercenareis of Corporation B won the game. I can imagine people will be doing jail time because they are stupid to get so fantical.

Quoted:
Well, they'd be plastic beer bottles, not glass.  So not as big of a deal as glass bottles would have been.