SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 7, 2012
Giants 41, Browns 27: Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes to Victor Cruz as New York overcame a sluggish start and sent visiting Cleveland to its 11th straight loss.
Ahmad Bradshaw shook off his fumble on the first play of the game and ran for a career-high 200 yards and a touchdown for the Giants (3-2), who rattled off 27 unanswered points.
The Browns (0-5), who had 10 days to prepare, jumped out to leads of 14-0 and 17-7 before a pair of costly turnovers allowed the Giants to take control. Rookie Trent Richardson ran for 81 yards and a touchdown and fellow rookie Josh Gordon caught two scores for Cleveland, which hasn't won since last November.
It looked like that streak might end early, but the Browns continually hurt themselves. Cleveland was leading 17-10 and threatening again midway through the second quarter when rookie Brandon Weeden's errant throw was intercepted by Stevie Brown and returned 46 yards. Two plays later, Bradshaw's 4-yard touchdown run tied the game.
After Josh Cribbs fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Cruz's second touchdown catch, a 7-yard score, made it 24-17. A 24-yard pass interference call near the end of the half led to a 40-yard field goal from Lawrence Tynes, and Cruz's 28-yard touchdown in the third made it 34-17.
GAME NOTEBOOK: It was an inauspicious start for the Giants, as Bradshaw fumbled on the first play of the game when he bumped into his offensive lineman and Cleveland recovered at the Giants' 22-yard line. One play later, Richardson burst through the middle nearly untouched for a 15-yard touchdown run. ... Cleveland took a 14-0 lead when Gordon took advantage of a coverage mixup and beat linebacker Chase Blackburn up the seam for a 62-yard touchdown. ... Weeden threw for 291 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.