BEREA – Many longtime Browns fans still have nightmares about the Denver Broncos. So does Cleveland cornerback Brandon McDonald, only his memories are much fresher.

Last Nov. 6, McDonald was beaten for two touchdown passes – including a 93-yarder to Eddie Royal – and mishandled two potential interceptions in the Broncos’ 34-30 nationally televised win at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

“Obviously, everybody knows what type of game I had against Denver last year,” he said. “It was something I was willing to face. I made a vow to myself and my family and my teammates to try not to ever perform like that again.

“I can’t really focus on what I did then. I can only focus on what I can do this year.”

And so, the scene is set for Sunday, when McDonald and the Browns have a chance to redeem themselves against the Broncos at Invesco Field.

Cleveland is just 3-10 all-time in Denver, including losses in the 1988 and 1989 AFC championship games, but ancient history won’t be on either team’s side when the ball is kicked off at 4:15 p.m.

Their most recent meeting, though, could play a role in the outcome – as it isn’t often an NFL team blows a 23-10 lead with 5:40 left in the third quarter as the 2008 Browns did.

“I’ll always remember it because it was one of the worst games of my life,” McDonald admitted. “I felt like I let a bunch of people down by the performance that I had, so I took it upon myself to challenge myself, to see if I could bounce back, and I thought I did fairly well.”

McDonald’s disaster against Denver was the kind of game that would have broken a lesser man, but actually had the opposite effect on “B-Mac.”

After being benched for one play the following week, the confident corner bounced back by playing the best football of his career.

McDonald recorded four interceptions in Cleveland’s final seven games, had his most productive contest in terms of tackles, and scored his first NFL touchdown. The latter came as part of a two-interception – and team-record 122 return-yard – performance on Monday Night Football in Philadelphia.

“I think I’m just a little more smarter now,” the 5-foot-10, 185-pounder said. “I’m not going to say I’m more aggressive, but I just try to challenge guys at the line of scrimmage.

“I’m still trying to go up, but I thought I played fairly well (after the Denver game).”

McDonald’s late-season turnaround earned him the respect of his teammates and of the Cleveland chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America, which named him its “Good Guy” award winner for answering any and all questions during the trying year.

Now, just 10 short months later, the Memphis product is considered one of the key players on the Browns’ defense and someone they could ill afford to lose to an injury.

“We’ve got some very good young defensive backs and Brandon is definitely one of them,” veteran safety Mike Adams said. “He showed what he was made of last season and I think it made him a better player. He’s got all the tools to be a starting corner here for a long time.”

Those words are music to McDonald’s ears, at least temporarily – because, as he is quick to point out, a cornerback is only as good as his last play.

“I know as a corner, you have to have a short memory,” he said. “You can’t really stress on the bad plays. If you take that negative energy over to the next play, it’ll keep happening, so I just try to be as positive as I can be and try to make as many plays as I can.”

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.

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