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Although he’s had a short week to prepare, Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn should benefit from playing against Denver’s struggling defense.

While the Browns are looking for someone to throw the ball accurately, the Broncos, who rushed for 14 yards on 12 carries — Denver’s worst rushing performance in 36 years — are searching for someone to run with it.

They lost two running backs, Michael Pittman (spinal cord) and Andre Hall (hand), to season-ending injuries against Miami last week. Rookie Ryan Torain, who drew comparisons to former Broncos star Terrell Davis before breaking his elbow in training camp, is expected to get the bulk of carries against the Browns.

Gone are the days when the Broncos could count on their trademark running game to carry them.

But they’ll be going against a Cleveland defense which let Ravens rookie Ray Rice run all over them last week. Rice gained season-high 154 yards, 60 on a key run in the fourth quarter. Like Quinn, Torain, is hoping to make the most of his opportunity.

“This is huge,” he said. “This is huge for me to show how hard I’ve worked with studying film and running plays and just being out there to help the team win.”

That’s what the Browns are hoping to get from Quinn, who may be able to spark a turnaround and salvage a season that’s hanging by a thread.

Quinn hasn’t made a meaningful start since the 2007 Sugar Bowl, when the Fighting Irish were throttled 41-14 by LSU.

After learning he would replace Anderson, Quinn spoke on the phone to Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, who asked him if he was ready for the challenge.

“He said, ’Well, it’s the same as every week. I prepare the same every week,”’ Weis said. “I said, ’Hey, Brady that’s a bunch of garbage. You can tell it to someone else who wants to hear that stuff.’ I go, ’you can say you’re preparing the same every week, but it’s the one thing when you’re the backup, the other thing is when you’re the starter.”’

Crennel doesn’t know how long Quinn will keep his job. One thing is clear, though, the Browns are running out of options.

“We will see how it goes,” Crennel said. “I dont think you

can say anything is ever permanent. But if he falls on his face you have got to do something because I can’t go play quarterback.”

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