Metcalf Shows Father Flashes of Greatness

CLEVELAND —  Eric Metcalf was performing before a captive audience Sunday at Cleveland Stadium.

Metcalf’s father, Terry, a former All-Pro running back, was in attendance to watch his son at Cleveland for the first time.

Eric Metcalf responded with 210 all-purpose yards during the Browns’ 37-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Metcalf rushed nine times for 53 yards, returned five punts for 75 yards, had a nine-yard kickoff return and caught six passes for 73 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown reception from Bernie Kosar that started the Browns’ 21-point third quarter.

“It was inspirational for me,” Eric said of his father’s presence. “I wanted to put on a good show for my dad.”

It was a performance reminiscent of Terry’s work as an all-purpose back for St. Louis and Washington in the 1970s. He gained 9,978 all-purpose yards in his NFL career.

“We’re such carbon copies running the football,” the elder Metcalf said. “He’s a little faster, though.”

The Browns (7-6), who lost, 30-10, at Cincinnati last month, beat the Bengals (4-9) for only the second time in the last eight meetings.

The Browns took control with three touchdowns within a span of 1:35 during the third quarter. Metcalf and Kosar started it by beating a Cincinnati blitz with a pass over the middle that Metcalf turned into the 35-yard touchdown.

Kosar, in his second game since returning from a broken ankle, set a Cleveland record by completing 82.6% of his passes. He completed 19 of 23 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns, without an interception.

The only error either made was Metcalf’s third-quarter fumble at the Cleveland 26, which led to David Klingler’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Query. Klingler completed 12 of 25 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns before leaving with a bruised left thigh.