Cleveland ? Tim Couch fell just short in his bid to rally the Cleveland Browns to victory.

However, he may have started his own comeback.

Cleveland’s quarterback saved the Browns from being humiliated Monday night on national TV, replacing starter Kelly Holcomb just before halftime and directing two touchdown drives in the second half.

However, Couch’s heroics — he played on a sprained knee — came up short when he was sacked on fourth down with 1:51 remaining and the St. Louis Rams held on for a 26-20 win.

For Couch, though, Cleveland’s sixth loss in seven games was a personal triumph.

His performance was just the latest chapter in a strange season in which the former No. 1 overall pick lost his job, got it back, lost it again, got hurt and was then asked to bail out the Browns.

Holcomb threw two interceptions in 35 seconds of the second quarter, prompting Browns coach Butch Davis to bring in Couch, who responded by going 5-for-5 on his two scoring drives and throwing a 28-yard TD pass to Quincy Morgan.

“We were looking for somebody to go in and play effectively, and Tim did,” said Davis, whose decision to bench Couch before the season may be the single biggest reason why the Browns are 4-9.

Following the game, Davis refused to say who his quarterback would be for Sunday’s game in Denver.