BEREA, Ohio -- Billy Cundiff's 29-yard field goal to beat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday was not his first game winner for the Cleveland Browns.

Cundiff joked that his first winner came in a game when the Browns and Buffalo Bills "set fooball back 40 years."

He was only partially joking, because that game did feel like it set football back decades. It was in Eric Mangini's first season, after the Browns had lost four in a row to start the season. The Browns scored on two field goals and won 6-3. Quarterback Derek Anderson was 2-for-17 and the Browns won because a Bills punt returner fumbled a return.

Cundiff was with the Browns only because Phil Dawson was hurt.

"I was kind or re-establishing myself back in the NFL, letting people know I still had the ability to play at this level," Cundiff said. "That's exactly what it did. It was able to get me another job in Baltimore."

Where he kicked for two-plus seasons (and went to the Pro Bowl in 2010) before going to Washington for one season. He then joined the Browns late in training camp a year ago. Sunday was his first game winner in his second go-round. His only chance last season was from 58 yards in New England, which fell short (his career long is 56 in 2005).

"It's still early in the season," Cundiff said. "Obviously we don't want to put too much stock into one kick. But as the season goes on you want to be able to win close games, especially at home."

Cundiff is learning about the winds off Lake Erie and how they can affect the game. But he's also learned that offseason stadium renovations make the winds swirl more. He referred to something called "the Dawson flag," which is a flag former kicker Phil Dawson had installed to the right of the Browns bench.

"That was the flag that would tell you which way the wind was coming," Cundiff said. "Now it's not working."

Because the renovations added seating that enclosed the end zones.

Cundiff also knew the Saints would aggressively go after the kick, and they did.

"That was our fastest get-off time all game," Cundiff said. "I think it was clocked at 1.21 (seconds) and they almost got it. So it shows that we were really humming."

Which was good also because until that kick, the kicking trio of Cundiff, snapper Christian Yount and holder Spencer Lanning were responsible for the one-point differential. Yount's snap on the extra point after Tashaun Gipson's interception return for a touchdown was high and slipped through Lanning's fingers.

"As a specialist you guys know when we fail," Cundiff said, adding: "It's a tough feeling for the whole week knowing that your mistake led to a team losing."

Of course, the opposite is just as true when a kick wins a game.

Said Cundiff: "It's the feeling you live for."