Our NFL live blog gives you all the developments from Paul Brown Stadium with observations from cleveland.com and Plain Dealer reporters and columnists.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Yes. They are. Really.
Cleveland Browns, at 6-3, are your leaders in the AFC North.
A night of total, absolute domination left Bengals QB Andy Dalton the butt of Twitter jokes everywhere, the Browns rediscovered a running game, the Browns had three interceptions and a fumble recovery in storming to a 24-3 triumph over the Bengals (5-3-1).
Tonight, our NFL live blog gave you all the developments from Paul Brown Stadium with observations from cleveland.com and Plain Dealer reporters and columnists -- as well as comments from around the league.
The first-place Browns -- feel free to roll that around for the next 10 days. That's when we'll be back with our live coverage of the Texans game at FirstEnergy Stadium.
12:28 a.m.: From Bud Shaw on tonight's game:
"What's most remarkable about these Browns isn't that they eventually found the forbidden territory where front runners live. The odds of it happening at some point were on their side.
"What's most impressive is that they discovered relevance and first-place in a one-stop shopping spree at the expense of a playoff-tested Bengals team.
"All on the same night, the Browns put the snickers about the Jacksonville-Oakland-Tampa portion of the schedule behind them along with the Bengals and (even further behind) the Ravens in the AFC North."
12:22 a.m.: From NFL.com's Chris Wesseling on the impact of tonight's game:
"Now standing atop the AFC North, the Browns are off to their best start since 1994. They will be favored the next two weeks against the Texans and Falcons. Meanwhile, the Bengals hit the road for three straight games, starting with a forbidding matchup at New Orleans in Week 11."
12:17 p.m.: From Tim Warsinskey on the atmosphere at Paul Brown Stadium in the final quarter.
"Often in recent years, Browns fans have had to endure cheering visiting fans from Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and elsewhere while the home team struggled.
"It was interesting, then, to hear the opposite effect in Paul Brown Stadium as Browns fans could be heard cheering, loudly, on several occasions. It was especially noticeable following Desmond Bryant's consecutive sacks of Andy Dalton in the third quarter, the kind of plays the Dawg Pound would love.
"Midway through the fourth quarter, a "Let's go Hoyer'' chant filled the west end zone. At moments like that, with the entire stadium decked out in brown and orange, it was almost like being home."
12:13 a.m.: Hoyer in his press conference: "The best thing is we play as a team and nobody worries about getting credit. ... Maybe we're not good enough to beat teams man-for-man but we can do things as a team."
Said third week with Nick McDonald with the rest of the offensive line showed.
He consoled Hawkins before the game, that there are seven games left to go.
Calls Browns "a mature team," and "it's on to Houston now."
"There's a confidence about our team. It's a close team ... we've had close games and we just stick together."
He downplays the standings, saying the meaningful games come in December and late November. "Being first on Nov. 6 doesn't mean anything. We just have to keep pressing on."
12:07 a.m.: Pettine says Andrew Hawkins could have "gutted it out," but Pettine made the call to save him for the Texans. Hawkins might have played if he had gotten three more days and tonight's game was played on Sunday.
12:03 a.m.: On NFL Network, Deion Sanders says Leah Still is the strongest person in the stadium on Thursday, but tells Hoyer that he's the second strongest during the post-game TV interview. After a setup by Rich Eisen, Sanders says that if "(Andy Dalton) can make a 100 (million), this man can make a million.
"Pay The Man."
Hoyer laughs and tells Sanders that he had his posters in his bedroom. He also gives a nod to his alma mater, Michigan State, in Saturday's showdown with Ohio State.
12 a.m.: Mike Pettine's press conference: "The most complete game we've played all year."
Said the team grew increasingly confident as the game progressed. Praises how the team prepared in the short week. "It was just a matter of who executed. Our guys played their best game of the year."
He sidesteps a question on the changing of a franchise's recent history, saying just that "this is a tight group."
Credited defensive coordinator Jim O'Neill for his play-calling, and Joe Haden's work on A.J. Green. Said secondary was strong as a unit ... "it started with us stopping the run."
Said the Craig Robertson interception and the ensuing touchdown "got (the Bengals) back on their heels a bit."
11:54 p.m.: From Mary Kay Cabot's game story:
"In the biggest game of his life, on the huge national stage, Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer rose to the occasion, and his defense completely shut down, befuddled and embarrassed his Bengals counterpart Andy Dalton.
"As a result of the Browns' defensive dominance and Hoyer's superb outing, the Browns crushed Cincinnati 24-3 at Paul Brown Stadium to move into a tie for first place in the AFC North with the Steelers at 6-3 -- at least for a few days. The Steelers visit the 1-8 Jets on Sunday.
11:50 p.m.: From Tom Reed's quick analysis:
"The surging defense played its best game of the season. They forced four turnovers and turned Andy Dalton into nervous wreck who almost threw more passes out of bounds than into his receivers' arms.
"Jabaal Sheard had one of his best games as a Brown. He brought great pressure and drew a pair of holding calls on Marshall Newhouse. Desmond Bryant recorded a pair of sacks. Buster Skrine had a pair of picks. Safety Tashaun Gipson forced a fumble and Craig Robertson intercepted a first-quarter pass that led to Browns first TD.
"The Browns defense has forced 12 turnovers in the past four games.
"Dalton was simply awful. He finished 10-of-33 for 86 yards and three picks. He had a 2.0 passer rating."
11:45 p.m.: Enjoy it.
Final: Browns 24, Bengals 3
11:43 p.m.: Big hits by Craig Robertson and Chris Kirksey highlight the final possession. The Browns' 17-game road AFC North losing streak ends, and the Bengals lose at home for the first time in 14 regular-season games.
Browns 24, Bengals 3, 2:00 left in fourth quarter
11:38 p.m.: After three short West runs, we hit the two-minute warning.
"One of the great road wins in recent Browns history," says Jim Donovan on the radio.
11:36 p.m.: Jason Campbell now the Bengals QB. Hits Greg Little for eight. Toss to Burkhead gets four and a first down. Campbell incomplete to Little at the 40, Skrine covering well. Second-down pass broken up by K'Waun Williams at the 40, intended for Sanu. On third-and-10, Campbell pass to TE Kevin Brock dropped.
Huber's punt is his eighth, touched down at the 14.
Browns offense waves at the fans in the end zone.
11:32 p.m.: Of course, if this was a fight, the referee would be waving his arms and the seconds in the Bengals' corner would have thrown in the towel. But we have to play out the final seven minutes.
West for eight yards over left tackle, then after 35 seconds West gets another six for a first down. West for two to the 35, with Bengals calling second timeout with 5:31 left.
Browns have 160 rushing yards.
West for four yards as Bengals use last timeout at 5:26. Browns fans -- pretty much all that's left in the stadium -- boo.
On third-and-4, West loses three at right end and Browns punt.
Spencer Lanning's punt fair caught by Brandon Tate at 22.
11:23 p.m.: Dalton wide right of James Wright at Browns sidelines. Second-and-10 at the 34, Dalton to Hill gets 17, but guard Clint Boling flagged for being downfield on the pass. On second-and-15, Joe Haden deflects a pass and Green nearly hauls it in on his back at the Bengals 45 before it slips away. On third-and-15, Buster Skrine outwrestles Wright at the Browns 19 for a diving interception with 7:01 left.
This is a beatdown of Andy Dalton that almost has to have lingering damage, doesn't it?
11:18 p.m.: West loses three on first down -- Bengals know the Browns will likely be conservative. Nice hard six-yard run by West on second down. On third-and-7, Hoyer to Austin in the left flat -- Austin spins away from Jones for a first own at the 32. Nice move.
No gain on first down as clock drops under 9:00. Tate replaces West.
Browns line keeps pushing -- Tate gets five up the middle as NFL Network pulls out its Johnny Football tape package -- no point wasting old material. On third-and-5, Tate slips at the 27 for no gain. Bengals call first timeout with 8:01.
Cundiff attempts 44-yard field goal. Wind grabs it and it's wide right with 7:56 left.
11:13 p.m.: Bengals have to score a touchdown, so they have two plays to make three yards. On third-and-3 at the Browns' 34, Dalton intercepted by Buster Skrine at the 25 (intended for Greg Little), returned to the Bengals 44. He fumbles, but recovers the ball.
"First off, the route was terrible," says Phil Simms, cut off by another commercial break.
11:08 p.m.: Anything left in the Bengals?
Dalton misses Hill badly in right flat at the 20. On second-and-10, Gresham gets six on a flip over the middle. On third-and-4, Dalton scrambles right and dives head-first for a first down at the 31 -- by not sliding he gets the first down.
Hill on a rare run gets 11. At the Bengals 41, Dalton hits Sanu on a slant over the middle for 18 to the Browns' 41. Dalton throws his first-down pass away under heavy pressure from Kirksey. On second-and-10, A.J. Green for seven with a tackle by Phil Taylor chasedown. Taylor down with 12:01 left. Official timeout.
11:04 p.m.: Browns lead in yards, 323-121, as the quarter begins. On third-and-2, Tate around right and is stopped two feet short of the sticks. Browns aren't going to gamble.
Lanning punt bounds into the end zone. Touchback.
Browns 24, Bengals 3, end of third quarter
11 p.m.: Great blocking by Joel Bitonio helps Terrance West get seven over left tackle. Tate in. On second-and-3, Tate gets a yard. Browns no huddle on third-and-2, hits Tate in left flat for 23 yards chased OB by Adam Jones. Flag thrown on Tate for personal foul. Loss of 15 yards, but still a first down.
At the 19, Hoyer hands to West for four yards. Browns happy to take their time now. On second-and-6, West pops through a hole by Nick McDonald and gets 13 up the middle. At the 37, play action Hoyer is behind Taylor Gabriel at midfield. Browns have 115-12 lead in yards as Tate gets nine and the quarter ends. Make it 124-12.
10:54 p.m.: Adam Jones returns the Cundiff kickoff to the Bengals 29.
Dalton's first-down pass spiked to the turf by Paul Kruger on the left side, showing serious hang time. On second-and-10, Dalton sacked by Billy Winn, but Jabaal Sheard jumps offside. On second-and-5, Dalton looking long for Sanu, who is triple covered and nearly intercepted by Whitner -- the ball was tipped away by Buster Skrine.
On third-and-5, Dalton finally gets a positive play, hitting Gresham for 15.
At the Bengals 49, A.J. Green drops a pass with Haden covering at the Browns 40. On second down, Phil Taylor has the second spike of the drive by the defense. Bengals have totally abandoned anything other than Dalton pass mode.
In shotgun, third-and-10 pass caught and dropped by Green seven yards short of the sticks. Whitner covering.
Huber punt downed by Dre Kirkpatrick at the 3.
Browns 24, Bengals 3, 4:46 left in third quarter
10:46 p.m.: On second-and-10, Hoyer fakes bubble screen and hits TE Gary Barnidge for 28 yards to the 3. Tate on first down powers inside the 1. Hoyer on second-down sneak gets nothing. On third down, Browns call first timeout with 4:54 left.
FB Kiero Small and Terrance West in the backfield, with backup OT Paul McQuistan as an extra blocker. West leaps, fumbles into the end zone, but one linesman signals touchdown -- Bengals are called offside anyway.
"That's one of the sloppiest touchdown (drives) I've ever seen," says Dieken.
Play is reviewed. Touchdown confirmed.
10:39 p.m.: Jeff Triplette's crew is having a hard night -- replay reverses the fumble. Crowell on the sideline. Ben Tate in.
10:38 p.m.: West over right guard for three as NFL Network shows Marvin Lewis plowed by Dre Kilpatrick on the punt coverage. Crowell in, gets three at right tackle. On third-and-4, Hoyer to Miles Austin for 16 to the 41 -- there have been lots of yards to be found over the middle in front of the safeties.
Crowell for nearly five over left tackle. On second-and-5, Crowell has the first down after a tough run over right guard at the 31.
Marvin Lewis challenging the first down. Challenge overturns the first down, making it third-and-a-foot. John Greco fliches and it's third-and-5. Dieken thinks Hoyer wanted to get the Bengals to jump, but got his teammate.
Hoyer blitzed, throw to Gabriel incomplete but Iloka flagged for holding.
Crowell fumbles when his elbow hits the ground -- Niko Johnson recovers, but play is reviewed.
10:26 p.m.: Bengals need to show a pulse to keep the boobirds down.
Bengals split out OT Andrew Whitworth then run Hill up the middle for seven. Dalton on bubble screen to Sanu gets just two on nice tackle by Skrine. On third-and-1, Dalton tries to sneak and Jim Nantz on NFL Network says he's stopped short -- and he is.
Bengals ask for measurement. Ball short by two inches. Bengals will go for it at their 37. Hill dives over the middle for two yards and the first down.
At the 39, Dalton's floater is shockingly dropped by Gipson at the Browns 39. Hits him squarely in the stomach and falls to the turf. On second-and-10, Desmond Bryant sacks Dalton at the 33. Browns blitzed Kirksey as well. On third-and-16, Bryant sacks again, bursting through the middle of the line at the 25.
Huber's punt goes OB at the Browns 36.
10:19 p.m.: Browns get the ball to start the second half. Nugent kickoff is a touchback.
Do the Bengals stack the box to slow the Browns run game? There's eight in the box on first down, and Iloka stuff West's sweep left for no gain. On second-and-10, Hoyer misses TE Jim Dray at the 25, a little too far toward the sideline. On third-and-10, trips right for Browns, Hoyer to Tate on a dumpoff for four and it's three-and-out.
Bengals clearly moved safeties toward the line of scrimmage to deny the Browns the early short yards. Lanning punt caught by Jones at the Bengals 24 (52 yard punt), returned five.
10:07 p.m.: Bud Shaw on the Browns' running game: "Terrance West has figured out the formula (for the most part). The Browns will give him carries if he simplifies his running style. Kyle Shanahan's zone blocking running game asks the backs to make one cut and go. West looked much quicker hitting the hole before falling into bad habits late in the first half.
"Isaiah Crowell still looks like the best back on the Browns' roster when he shows up in games. Crowell got some time (and a touchdown) after a deep handoff to Ben Tate went nowhere early in the second quarter.
10:04 p.m.: Browns only have 81 yards rushing in the half, but they're keeping the Bengals occupied and Hoyer is getting plenty of time to throw.
Halftime: Browns 17, Bengals 3
10:01 p.m.: Dalton hit by Kruger and floater to Burkhead is OB. With 57 seconds, Dalton rolls right and fires into the bench, missing Green by a lot at 43 at the Bengals sidelines. Bengals give up and draw to Burkhead gets seven. Browns happy to get to halftime, not calling timeout.
Huber has to punt, though ... his 70-yard punt sails into the end zone as the half ends.
9:57 p.m.: How aggressive are Browns in final two minutes? Tate on toss sweep for seven. On second-and-3, Hoyer to Austin gets a first down at the 44 at the Browns' bench.
With 1:31 left, Hoyer scrambles for two yards with no one open. On second-and-8, Hoyer looks for Barnidge, and ball deflected by Nelson but falls to the ground. On third-and-8 with 1:16 left, Barnidge can't quite pull it in at the Bengals 42.
With Dieken fearing the block, Lanning just gets it off to Brandon Tate at the 20, returned four to the 24.
Browns 17, Bengals 3, 2:00 left in second quarter
9:52 p.m.: Crowell for five on first down with a nice spurt. Bengals call timeout with 2:19 left. "Kinda surprised they would call timeout with Browns getting five," says Doug Dieken on the Browns' radiocast.
Hoyer hits Austin for a first down at the 31. We hit the two-minute warning.
9:50 p.m.: After touchback, Bengals start at 20. Dalton is 4-of-12 for 30 yards and an interception.
Desperate for some offense, Dalton rushed by Sheard and throws it into sideline. Holding call on Newhouse and it's first-and-20.
Dalton looks for former Nebraska RB Rex Burkhead, but well defended by Chris Kirksey. On second-and-20, Burkhead gets five with Karlos Dansby stuffing the middle with Phil Taylor. On third-and-15 at the 15, Dalton dumps to Burkhead for eight with Dansby and Williams covering. More boos from Bengals fans.
Leonhard catches good Huber punt at the Browns 17 and returns to 21 with 2:26 left.
Browns 17, Bengals 3, 3:59 left in second quarter
9:46 p.m.: Crowell in backfield, gets four on first down on pitch left. On second-and-6, DE Carlos Dunlap breaks through for a two-yard loss -- Dunlap injured when he tumbles to the ground.
On third-and-8, Hoyer to Gabriel has a first down at the 39 -- illegal contact on Bengals declined. Nice rolling catch by Gabriel.
Crowell gets five yards before hard hit by Reggie Nelson. Hoyer on reverse fake hits Gary Barnidge for 18 at the Bengals 37.
Crowell first-down run for five around left end. Browns look as crisp as Bengals look flat. Pitch up the middle to Crowell gets five more for a first down at the 28.
West in, spins for two yards. On second-and-8, Hoyer to Benjamin for seven on quick square out. Hoyer sneaks for a first down at the 17.
No huddle pace. Hoyer bootleg pass for Benjamin deflected by Adam Jones at back of end zone. Threat of run game gave Hoyer lots of time. On second-and-10, Ben Tate around left end for five yards. Good block by Barnidge.
On third-and-5, Crowell in. Browns call second timeout with 4:42 left with some confusion.
After quick sideline meeting, bubble screen to Gabriel well defensed by LB Emmanuel Lemur.
Cundiff FG attempt from 37 yards in the swirling winds splits the middle.
9:33 p.m.: Peerman in for Hill after fumble. Dalton on first down hits Gresham for eight on delay over the middle. Browns have seven in the box on second down, Sheard and Gipson break through to stop Peerman for three-yard loss. On third-on-5, Dalton hit by Paul Kruger and his looping throw to Sanu is knocked away by K'Waun Williams at the 45.
Leonhard fair catch of Huber punt at Browns 22 with 9:55 left in half.
Nothing like commercial breaks on every change of possession.
9:28 p.m.: Hoyer looks long for Benjamin, who can't quite hold on at the 21, knocked away by Reggie Nelson. West on second down gets seven. On third-and-3, Hoyer nearly picked as throw for Gabriel is too high and nearly caught by Nelson.
Lanning juggles snap, punt to Brandon Tate caught at 19, returned to 26 with 11:17 left in half.
9:23 p.m.: Browns have been much, much more physical than the Bengals so far.
Cundiff's kickoff returned by Adam Jones to 21. Late flag on Browns LB Eric Martin for taunting Bengals sideline. Ball moves to Bengals 36.
So far, Andy Dalton could use the help. His first-down pass complete to A.J. Green against Haden, who injures left arm when it's hit by Donte Whitner.
Hill has 15 yards up the middle, but the ball is stripped free on a hit by Tashaun Gipson and caught by Haden, tackled at the Browns 28.
Bengals couldn't possibly be sloppier.
Browns 14, Bengals 3, 12:57 left in second quarter
9:19 p.m.: As Leah Still is honored with a $1.3 million check to pediatric cancer research, both teams stand and applaud.
Back to football. Tate in backfield, gets nothing on first down. Tate just looks much slower to the hole than West. On second-and-10, Hoyer's play action works again, with a nice stretching catch by Travis Benjamin at the 20, carried to the 8.
Isaiah Crowell in, carries for six after an initial slip. On second-and-goal, Crowell over right guard is called a touchdown after a good 12 seconds elapse.
Replay clearly shows the ball over the line. Crowell's fifth TD run of the season.
Browns 7, Bengals 3, end of first quarter
9:13 p.m.: West for two on first down. Second-down pass to Travis Benjamin on good play action for 17 yards over the middle to the Bengals 40.
West around left end for four. WR Rodney Smith enters game for Browns. On second-and-6, West -- running hard -- powers over left guard for a first down at the 30.
Quarter ends.
9:10 p.m.: An ineffective Dalton gets another chance.
Jet sweep by WR James Wright gets 13 on first down. Standard run by Hill for two. Dalton on second down hits Hill for six, but Bengals OT Marshall Newhouse called for holding Jabaal Sheard.
On second-and-18, Dalton tries a WR screen to Sanu, but it's well covered and Dalton fires it into the feet of Paul Kruger. On third-and-18, he finds Hill underneath for just six.
Huber punt bounces OB at the Browns' 41. Browns need to take more advantage of the Bengals' sluggish start.
9:04 p.m.: Marlon Moore returns four-yards deep and breaks up the middle for a 63-yard return, but Craig Robertson is flagged for holding at the 30 (questionable) and Browns start at their 12.
First down pass from Hoyer to Taylor Gabriel, who spins out of Adam Jones tackle for 18 yards. Geno Adkins storms through untouched and sacks Hoyer before he can get ball to Terrance West. Loss of four.
On second-and-14, pass to Miles Austin broken up by S George Iloka. On third down, Hoyer to Austin gets nine on the catch and four more on the run -- one short of the first down.
Spencer Lanning punt is fair caught by Brandon Tate at the Bengals 23. 4:07 left in quarter.
Browns 7, Bengals 3, 6:18 left in first quarter
8:56 p.m.: Best possible start for the Browns. How do the Bengals respond?
After a touchback (and a commercial or three), Hill gets another carry and eight yards up a gaping hole in the middle of the Browns' defense. Cedric Peerman gives Hill a blow and gets the first down at the 31, with Hill returning.
Dalton's first completion to Green good for about five on a juggling catch. On second-and-5, Hill around right end for three, with Robertson pulling him down on a nice chasedown. On third-and-2, Hill is swallowed up by Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard for a two-yard loss. Browns really good on short yardage plays.
Former Brown Greg Little flagged for a head butt and punter Kevin Huber blasts one caught by Jim Leonhard at the 15, who fumbles at the 32 by Shawn Williams.
Can't anyone here handle punt returns?
With a reprieve, Dalton goes play action to Mohamed Sanu and it's broken up by Buster Skrine -- wind looked to grab that one at the goal line. On second-and-10, Dalton misses Gresham badly and boos are heard. On third-and-10, Dalton to Little is incomplete at the 14 -- ball is high.
With the winds whipping, Bengals ignore a 50-yard Mike Nugent field goal attempt, and Browns call timeout with 7:22 left. Can the Browns wriggle out of the turnover?
Bengals still going for it. Dalton looks for Sanu at the 10, and Skrine is called for interference -- he was tugging on Sanu's left arm.
Ball placed at the 19, and Hill's cutback on first down gets nothing, Billy Winn holding the edge. On second-and-10, Dalton has his throw for Sanu in the left corner of the end zone is blown out of bounds. Bengals then penalized five yards for too many men in the huddle.
On third-and-15 from the 24, Dalton scrambles and throws the ball away a good three yards OVER the line of scrimmage. Flag is slow to arrive, but eventually Bengals hit for the penalty.
Nugent in for 43-yard field goal is good.
Browns 7, Bengals 0, 10:40 left in first quarter
8:38 p.m.: Terrance West over left guard for three. West again on second down reads the zone stretch well for six more. On third-and-1, Browns go two TEs and fullback Kiero Small and West gets a first and goal after initially colliding with Joe Thomas at the 11, moving the ball to the 5.
West cuts over left guard for two yard. In comes Ben Tate in the pistol with Hoyer. Tate carries into the end zone up the middle behind Nick McDonald for the touchdown. Bengals offside, declined.
8:35 p.m.: No surprise, Bengals test the Browns' run defense right away, with Jeremy Hill getting six yards on first down, two more on second. On third-and-2, it's Hill over the right side for a first down at the 31.
Andy Dalton's first throw to A.J. Green sails over his head at the 34, with Christian Kirksey and Joe Haden covering well. On second down, Bengals are confused lining up and call timeout at 13:27 left -- Green, Mohamed Sanu and Jermaine Gresham wandering across the line.
Dalton's throw to Gresham is too far in front and picked off by Craig Robertson at the 35 and returned to the Cincinnati 18.
8:30 p.m.: Billy Cundiff's kickoff is a touchback and we're underway.
8:26 p.m.: Browns choose tails, win the coin flip, defer and will go on defense to start the game.
8:19 p.m.: For a "showdown," there seem to be plenty of seats still unfilled at Paul Brown Stadium just five minutes before kickoff.
8:15 p.m.: OK, so the NFL Network wants to make sure the West Coast gets some primetime football during these Thursday broadcasts -- but hasn't kickoff seemed like it's taken a year to get to today?
If these late starts were so great, how come the Super Bowl always manages to get underway shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern?
8:09 p.m.: The other main storyline on NFL Network's broadcast tonight -- the first game that Leah Still, the daughter of Bengals defensive end Devon Still, gets to see her father play in person after extended treatment for leukemia.
8:05 p.m.: Deion Sanders says Browns fans should "put their hands together" for Brian Hoyer, because he's winning. Kurt Warner says he's eager to see Hoyer play.
Some serious love/curiosity going on.
8:02 p.m.: Browns pregame radio having lots of fun with Ian Rapoport's statement on NFL Network that some in Berea are "antsy" to see Johnny Manziel on the field. They conveniently downplay the end of Rapoport's "report" -- "if the Browns don't do well in the next three weeks."
Well, duh. At 5-6 with losses to the Bengals, Texans (at home) and at a struggling Falcons, contention would be pretty much over. Which is the most likely scenario for Manziel to get substantial playing time -- or start.
7:57 p.m.: With gusty winds, you have to triumph over the elements, right Rich Eisen?
7:51 p.m.: The inactive news brings bad tidings for the strapped Browns' offense, with WR Andrew Hawkins (hip, knee) ineligible tonight, along with concussed TE Jordan Cameron. Other Browns inactives are DB Johnson Bademosi, DB Pierre Desir, RB Glenn Winston, DB Robert Nelson and OL Vinston Painter.
Jim Dray will start at TE, and former Vikings WR Rodney Smith, who at 6-5 doesn't fit the mold of smurfs Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel, should get some playing time.
The Bengals’ inactives are CB Leon Hall, LB Rey Maualuga, LB Vontaze Burfict, OT Andre Smith, WR Dane Sanzenbacher, DE Will Clarke and RB Giovani Bernard.
7:50 p.m.: How is this game -- and more importantly, the Browns -- being interpreted before kickoff?
You have the bubbly enthusiasm of NFL Network's Rich Eisen, who sees a stunning success story as the possible result of a Cleveland win tonight, which is calls "more than possible, more than plausible."
"If they get to 6-3, after a mini-bye, the Browns would get Ryan Mallett's first start with the Texans -- in (the Browns') home stadium. They could be 7-3 ... and get Josh Gordon back in the lineup," Eisen said to pregame partners Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci (who were less sunny in their projections).
Then there is ProFootballTalk's Jon Ritchie, who wonders how the Browns can threaten the conference's best teams without injured center Alex Mack.
(Backup) Nick McDonald has ... been ... terrible," Ritchie said today. "I've always wondered what would happen when a zone stretch attack -- which requires athletic, mobile linemen -- has an unathletic lineman.
"Well ... voila!"