ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Turns out the Cleveland Browns aren't
quitters after all. And they have Phil Dawson to thank for this
wild win.
Dawson capped a five field-goal outing by hitting a career-long
56-yarder with 1:39 remaining to secure the Browns' 29-27 win over
the reeling Buffalo Bills on Monday night. Cleveland snapped a
two-game skid and avoided wasting a 13-point lead for a third
straight time.
The Bills (5-5) had a chance to win with a clutch kick of their
own, but Rian Lindell missed a 47-yard attempt with 38 seconds
left.
It was a morale-boosting win for the Browns (4-6), who appeared
on the verge of completely unraveling after running back Jamal
Lewis accused his teammates of quitting during a 34-30 loss to
Denver on Nov. 6.
"We got tired of what happened the previous two weeks, getting
a lead and losing it in the fourth quarter," receiver Braylon
Edwards said. "As a team, we rallied. We came together when we
were supposed to and made the plays necessary to win."
Buffalo has lost four straight and five of six, looking nothing
like the team that got off to a 4-0 start. Trent Edwards endured
another sloppy performance, tossing three interceptions in
Buffalo's first four possessions.
Edwards' 1-yard sneak gave the Bills a 27-26 lead with 2:35 left
in the fourth, but Cleveland responded with a six-play, 28-yard
drive that stalled on the Bills 39 when Braylon Edwards couldn't
hold on to Brady Quinn's pass at the right sideline.
Without hesitation, Browns coach Romeo Crennel sent out Dawson,
who calmly got off an easy kick that started toward the right goal
post, before curling in to split the uprights.
"On the spur of the moment, you've got to be confident. So as
soon as we threw the incomplete pass on third down, I was ready to
go," Dawson said. "I gave Romeo a nod, and he had the confidence
to send me out there."
Quinn earned his first victory in his second career start. The
2007 first-round pick went 14-of-36 for 185 yards. Backup running
back Jerome Harrison scored on an electric 72-yard run on the first
play of the fourth to put the Browns up 23-13, and Braylon Edwards
finished with eight catches for 104 yards.
Cleveland's defense also stepped up, limiting the Bills to 334
yards. That's a significant improvement after it surrendered 564
yards in the loss to Denver - and 993 in its previous two games
combined.
Cornerback Brandon McDonald keyed the resurgent D, picking off
an Edwards pass and forcing a fumble after he was burned on Eddie
Royal's 93-yard touchdown that sparked the Broncos' comeback.
McDonald took advantage of a struggling Edwards, who finished
16-of-26 for 148 yards and a touchdown. At one point, Edwards had
as many completions as interceptions.
The miscues - two poor reads and a pass tipped by defensive
tackle Shaun Rogers at the line of scrimmage - were an extension of
the troubles Edwards has had in his previous three games. Over a
10-quarter span, including the first quarter against Cleveland,
Edwards has thrown eight interceptions, lost two fumbles and given
up a safety.
"It's frustrating right now. I don't really have any good
answers," he said. "I'm frustrated with myself and the way I
performed."
At least the Bills rushing attack found its groove. Marshawn
Lynch had 119 yards on the ground, which is more than the 90 yards
Buffalo managed in its previous two games. For Lynch, it was his
first 100-yard game of the season, and he also had 58 yards
receiving, including an 18-yard TD catch.
Leodis McKelvin also scored on a 98-yard kickoff return for
Buffalo, that came immediately after Harrison's touchdown run. Josh
Cribbs had a 2-yard TD run for Cleveland.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)