The race for No. 1 (?) dwindles

By Don Delco
NoLogoNeeded.com Staff Writer

It was a nail-biter, but the Cleveland Browns hung on and lost to the Detroit Lions on Sunday to further help cement their hold on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Cleveland got a first-hand view on what a No. 1 overall pick can do for a franchise. Mind you, the No. 1 pick cost $41.7 million for six years and that was 2009 money. It will cost more next April.

Still, it allowed the Lions to escape from the four-way tie at No. 1 as quarterback Matthew Stafford led Detroit’s offense on an 88-yard game-winning drive that culminated in his fifth touchdown pass of the day. Stafford finished 26-for-43 passing for 422 yards.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a 7-0 lead on the undefeated New Orleans Saints before wiser heads prevailed and the Bucs lost 38-7.

Finally, in St. Louis, the Rams thankfully converted only four of 16 third-down attempts and were 2-for-5 on fourth down to hold off from beating Arizona 21-13.

And then there were three:

T-1. Cleveland Browns (1-9)
St. Louis Rams (1-9)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-9)

4. Detroit Lions (2-8)

T-5. Buffalo Bills (3-7)
Kansas City Chiefs (3-7)
Oakland Raiders (3-7)
Seattle Seahawks (3-7)
Washington Redskins (3-7)