SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 6, 2014
Browns 24, Bengals 3: Cleveland's trio of running backs each scored touchdowns and the Browns' defense did the rest to snap a 17-game losing streak in AFC North Division road games.
Brian Hoyer improved to 9-3 as a starter for Cleveland, passing for 198 yards and connecting on 15-of-23 attempts as the Browns (6-3) controlled the clock by rushing for 170 yards on 52 carries to move into a tie for the AFC North lead. Terrance West led the three-headed running attack with 94 yards on 26 carries while Cleveland held Cincinnati to 165 yards offensively.
Andy Dalton was rattled and battered on a windy night, completing 10-of-33 passes for 86 yards as the Bengals (5-3-1) saw their 14-game unbeaten streak at home come to an end. The Browns, who have won three straight, sacked Dalton twice and picked him off three times while limiting him to a career-low passer rating of 2.0.
Dalton was intercepted on the Bengals' first possession and Ben Tate plowed in from 4 yards out to open the scoring. The Browns got another short scoring run by Isaiah Crowell and a 32-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff while limiting the Bengals to a 43-yard field goal by Mike Nugent to take a 17-3 lead into the break.
West dove in from a yard out to extend the Browns' lead to 24-3 late in the third quarter for the only scoring of the second half. Browns cornerback Joe Haden shut down Cincinnati's A.J. Green, limiting the All-Pro receiver to just three catches, and Jeremy Hill, who rushed for 154 yards a week ago, managed only 55 yards on 12 carries.
NOTEBOOK: The Browns played without leading receiver Andrew Hawkins (thigh/knee). ...Buster Skrine had two interceptions for Cleveland. ...TE Jermaine Gresham led the Bengals with 29 yards receiving but suffered a leg injury in the second half.