DENVER (Ticker) -- Clinton Portis faces his former college coach and the team he could've been playing for when the Denver Broncos host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Already one of the NFL's top running backs in just his second season, Portis played two years as a collegian under Browns coach Butch Davis while at Miami.
When Davis left Miami for the professional ranks, he passed on a chance to draft Portis in 2001. Instead, Davis opted for running back William Green with the 16th overall pick and Portis slipped into the second round, where he was taken by the Broncos.
Davis' decision to pass on Portis proved to be the wrong one. Green came on late in his rookie campaign but has been a major disappointment this season and is serving a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Meanwhile, Portis is enjoying a monster season. He is fourth in the NFL with 1,452 yards rushing to go along with 12 touchdowns. Portis also has five straight 100-yard games, rushing for 770 yards during that span.
With Portis carrying the offense, the Broncos are in the thick of the AFC wild card race. They are tied with Miami for the second wild card spot with three games left.
But the Broncos have a much harder schedule than the Dolphins. This is the Broncos' final home game before they finish the season with road contests against Indianapolis and Green Bay.
Miami has home games against Philadelphia and the New York Jets sandwiched around a road contest at Buffalo
Last Sunday, Portis enjoyed one of the best games of his career, rushing for 218 yards and five touchdowns in the Broncos' 45-27 victory over Kansas City. Denver rolled up 508 total yards and 26 first downs.
After making the playoffs in 2002, the Browns have endured a disappointing season and are in last place in the AFC North Division.
They are coming off last Monday's 26-20 loss to the St. Louis Rams. Starting quarterback Kelly Holcomb was pulled in favor of Tim Couch in the second quarter after throwing two interceptions. Couch played well in relief, completing 6-of-9 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown, and will get the start this weekend.
Couch, a former No. 1 overall pick, lost his starting job to Holcomb before the season.
Denver leads the series, 14-5.
