The Browns got off to a fast start in Cincinnati as they bounced the Bengals and moved into a first-place tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North at 6-3. Watch video

CINCINNATI - 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.

Dalton was so bad -- three interceptions and a career-low 2.0 rating -- that Bengals coach Marvin Lewis finally put the fans out of their misery and inserted Jason Campbell with a little over four minutes remaining.

The Bengals, meanwhile, slipped to 5-3-1 and lost for the first time at home since the end of the 2012 season. They had been unbeaten in 14 straight games here, going 13-0-1 overall and 4-0-1 this season before Thursday night.

The Browns also busted their 17-game road losing streak in the division, the longest skid in the NFL since the 1970 merger. The Browns hadn't won a division game on the road since a 20-12 victory at Cincinnati on Sept. 28, 2008. They also now have their best record through nine games since 1994, when they started 7-2.

Hoyer (15-for-23, 198 yards, 92.3 rating), who needs to keep winning to prove to the Browns he's their long-term answer, consistently hit big plays and improved to 9-3 as a Browns starter. His stellar performance came just two days after GM Ray Farmer indicated the Browns are still grooming Johnny Manziel to be their quarterback of the future. 

By the end of the game, chants of "Brian Hoyer'' reverberated throughout Paul Brown Stadium. They were even louder than the boos for Dalton, who was harassed by the dominant Browns defense into the worst game of his career.

Dalton was picked off once by Craig Robertson and twice by Buster Skrine. He completed only 10 of 33 attempts for 86 yards. The 86 yards were the third-fewest in his career. He completed as many passes to Browns defenders as he did to star receiver A.J. Green, who was completely frustrated and rattled by the Browns secondary, especially his nemesis Joe Haden. And he completed more to the guys in the white jerseys than he did to his leading receiver Mohamed Sanu, who caught only two of the seven passes thrown his way for 20 yards.

Playing without his starting right tackle in Andre Smith, Dalton was pressured all night by the Browns defensive front, especially Paul Kruger, who also batted down two passes. He was hurried, harassed, and menaced into throwing bad passes, especially ones that sailed toward his bench and a a frustrated Lewis. Heading into the game, Lewis cautioned that Dalton needed to protect the football. Instead, he ran his interception total to eight in five games.

The Browns, conversely, now have 12 takeaways in their last four games. If they keep forcing turnovers at this rate, they could surprise the NFL and make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

The Browns' running game -- and their three-headed monster in the backfield -- also resurfaced against the Bengals 30th-ranked run defense. The Browns rushed for 170 yards overall, including 94 by Terrance West, 41 by Isaiah Crowell and 34 by Ben Tate. All three running backs rushed for a TD, the first time the Browns have had three backs accomplish that since 1994. Incidentally, that was also the last year the Browns won a playoff game.

The Browns also improved to 2-2 in the division and handed the Bengals their only loss in the AFC North. 

Browns dominate first half

The Browns led 17-3 at the break on touchdown runs by Ben Tate and Isaiah Crowell and  32-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff. The Bengals, frustrated by a dominant Browns defense, managed only a 43-yard field goal by Mike Nugent at the break and ran into the locker room with their fans lustily booing them.

The Browns picked off Dalton once, and forced rookie running back Jeremy Hill to fumble to help build their halftime advantage.

At the end of the first quarter, Dalton had a 0.0 rating on 2-of-9 passing for 11 yards. At the end of the half, it was 14.6 on 5-of-16 passing for 38 yards.

Browns linebacker Craig Robertson set the tone early when stepped in front of a Dalton pass to tight end Jermaine Gresham on the Bengals opening drive and picked him off. Robertson returned the ball 15 yards to the Bengals' 18. Five plays later, Ben Tate plowed in from 4 yards to put the Browns up 7-0. Gresham had broken off his route on the play, and earned a lecture from coach Marvin Lewis on the sidelines afterward.

The pick marked the ninth Browns takeaway in three games, and Dalton's sixth interception in four outings. He also threw two last week in a 33-23 victory over the Jaguars.

The Browns headed into the game determined to menace Dalton into a bad game, and they accomplished it early on thanks largely to relentless pressure off the edge by Paul Kruger. Heading into the game, safety Donte Whitner stressed that the Bengals' offensive performance would depend on Dalton's effectiveness, and he was right. 

"I believe he can get it done with his arm. He can make all of the throws, he can get it done with his legs, but that offense goes as he goes,'' said Whitner. "If he's having a good game, if he's getting the ball to his playmakers, then more than likely their offense is playing really well. If he's not getting it to the playmakers or throwing interceptions, then more than likely their offensive isn't playing well, so it's our job to go out there and try to make sure that he doesn't play well.''
 
After the Browns' opening TD, the defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing drive, and former Browns receiver Greg Little aided his old team's cause by shoving cornerback K'Waun Williams to earn a 15-yard unnecessary-roughness penalty. But Jim Leonhard had the ball knocked loose on the punt return to start Cincinnnati at the Browns' 32.

A 13-yard pass interference call against Buster Skrine on fourth and 10 kept the drive alive for the Bengals. They went on to kick a 43-yard field goal seven plays later to cut the deficit to 7-3 with 6:18 left in the first quarter.

The Browns extended their lead to 14-3 on a 2-yard TD run by Crowell, who totaled two carries in the previous two games. It marked Crowell's team-leading fifth touchdown run of the season. Key plays on the drive were passes of 17 and 22 yards to Travis Benjamin.

On the Bengals' next drive, Browns safety Tashaun Gipson forced Hill to fumble, and Joe Haden recovered and returned the ball to the Browns' 28, but the offense couldn't convert the turnover into points this time. Billy Cundiff tacked on the 32-yard field goal with 3:59 left in the half to give the Browns their 14-point edge.

Three-headed monster returns

The Browns' missing running game was located in Cincinnati against the Bengals run defense, which was tied for 30th with the Browns heading in with an average of 139.6 yards per game. 

They rushed for 81 yards in the first half alone,  getting 35 yards from Terrance West, 29 yards from Crowell and 16 from Tate. The running game opened things up in the passing game and enabled Hoyer to hit some of his vintage chunk plays.

What's next

The Browns will host the Houston Texans on Sunday Nov. 16 at FirstEnergy Stadium, where they hold a 2-1 edge over the Texans. It will mark Texans' first game in Cleveland since Nov. 23, 2008. They lead the series 4-3. Houston this week named Ryan Mallett its starting quarterback for that contest.

The Browns and Bengals had two of the NFL's worst defenses against the rush. The Browns improved while the Bengals went backwards.

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Quick hits and long bits from the Browns' 24-3 victory over the Bengals in Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday:

The Browns and Bengals began Thursday virtually tied for 30^th in rushing defense, allowing 140 yards per game.

Something had to give, and in this case, it was the Bengals. Cleveland ran the ball better than it has in several weeks while the Bengals running game could not rescue quarterback Andy Dalton, who suffered through one of the worst games of his career.

The Browns ran 50 times for 170 yards, just six yards shy of their season high against Tennessee on Oct. 5.

Cleveland had 158 yards rushing in its previous three games combined.

Terrance West led Cleveland with 94 yards rushing on 26 carries with one touchdown.

Isaiah Crowell returned from being benched and gained 41 yards on 12 carries with one TD. He had one carry in the previous two games.

Ben Tate also had a rushing TD and gained 34 yards.

The Browns were noticeably improved running between the tackles, where new center Nick McDonald had struggled in the wake of Alex Mack's season-ending injury.

The Bengals had 86 yards rushing on 22 carries.

Cincinnati played for the second straight week without injured halfback Gio Bernard. His replacement, rookie Jeremy Hill was held to 55 yards on 12 carries. Hill was coming off a 154- yard, two-TD game against Jacksonville.

Cleveland was effective in shutting down the run up the middle, thanks in part to the return of Phil Taylor from a knee injury.

Turnover town: The Browns forced four turnovers, including two interceptions by Buster Skrine and one by Craig Robertson. Joe Haden recovered a fumble.

Tashaun Gibson, who leads the NFL with six interceptions, dropped one that was right in his gut.

Gilbert injured: Browns rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert left late in the first quarter with a heel injury, but he returned in the fourth quarter.

Taylor left the game with another knee injury in the fourth quarter.

Fair game: The Browns' struggles to catch and return punts continued.

Browns return man Jim Leonard fumbled at the Cleveland 32 following a short return in the first quarter, setting up a Bengals field goal. It was Cleveland's second lost fumble on a punt return.

The Browns entered the game with 13 fair catches, and 14 punt returns and a 2.6-yard average.

Bengals return man Adam Jones, who leads the league with a 15-yard punt return average, extended his streak to 90 returns since his last fair catch, which was in 2006.

For perspective, 36.7 percent of all fielded punts were fair caught in 2013.

Dawg Pound South: 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.

Lockdown: Bengals wideout Mohamed Sanu was held without a catch until the fourth quarter when the Browns had a 24-3 lead.

He led the Bengals with 39 catches for 626 yards (16.1-yard average) and four touchdowns.

Payment declined: Bengals receiver Greg Little head-butted rookie defensive back K'Waun Williams in the first half, drawing a personal foul penalty.

Little, who was cut by the Browns in May, said this week the game was "personal" and "somebody has to pay.''

The payment was not received. Little caught one pass, from former Browns QB Jason Campbell, in the final minutes of the game.

Weather check: Game time temperature was 42 degrees with a wind chill of 35 degrees, and it had stopped raining by kickoff. The temperature dipped into the 30s by game's end.

Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine was asked about his team's fast start in Cincinnati and where his team goes from here after playing the Bengals on Thursday night.

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine talked with reporters after his team's 24-3 win Thursday night over the Bengals. Pettine was asked about the play of his defense, which forced key turnovers; the play of quarterback Brian Hoyer; and where his team stands in the AFC North.

Here are the highlights of his comments:

Introductory remarks:
"Obviously a huge win. As complete a game as we've played. All three phases complemented each other, but it all fed off the defense. I thought the early turnover set the tone and we were able to get a touchdown out of that instead of a field goal. I just thought the guys grew more and more confident as the game went on. . .

"I compliment the staff, the players how we handled the short week, very different schedules, practicing at night, walking through, not doing any live reps, limited game plan stuff. It was a matter of who could go out and execute, and our guys responded and played their best game of the year."

On ending the Browns' past AFC North road futility:
"I don't get into looking back like that now. We are in the business of compartmentalizing. We just go week to week. We want to get better. We know the history's out there, but we can't let that affect us one way or the other. We're playing well and the players have bought in to what we're selling as a staff. This is a tight team and they care about each other, and it shows on the field. It is a tight group."

Why the defense played so well:
"I thought the plan was good, I thought Jim O'Neil called an outstanding game. I think he had a really good feel. It took a lot of work. . . I thought we had a real good sense of what (the Bengals) were trying to accomplish. I thought it started with Joe (Haden) matching up with A.J. (Green), and having a big night. That was big for us. . .

"To me, I thought our secondary covered as well as they have. They (the Bengals) missed some throws. . . and I think the wind might have been a factor. It was swirling pretty good on the field. But it started with us stopping the run. . . if we could stop the run and get a team behind the sticks and then cut it loose."

The importance of being able to score the first TD on all running plays:
"It was critical the fact we were able to pound it in without attempting a pass was a statement. The biggest part there was converting it into a touchdown. . . to jump out and take advantage of that turnover I think got them on their heels a little bit."

On the Browns' running game success:
"I think it starts up front. . . I thought the backs ran hard, I thought there were holes there, and I felt what we were doing schematically was helpful as well. I thought Kyle called a good game, kept them off-balance. . . . We had a pretty good feel for what we liked in the run game even though it was a short week. We felt much better about the run game this week than we had in recent weeks."

The play of the Browns' secondary:
"It started with the safeties, I thought they did a good job disguising coverage. There were times where even I was like, 'Are you sure you called that? It doesn't look like we're in it.' And then at the snap of the ball, they rotated and got to their jobs. So I thought they did a good job with the disguises, and they just went out and executed. That's a group that's just been getting better. We do some (different) things in the secondary, and it just takes time."

On what the win means:
"It's just a huge confidence boost for our guys. Just look at the streaks we ended. . . There were not many people giving us a chance. . . The Browns had lost 17 division games in a row on the road. We took that, 'Hey, it's us against the world' mentality. Nobody really thinks we can come down here and do this.' . . That's where I thought the turnover was huge. It got our guys pumped up early. We were able to convert that into a touchdown and then roll from there."

Preparing in a short week:
"We felt good about the plans. . . It's such a rushed week, you really don't get much time to sit and say, 'How do we feel about it.' . . . I know we felt good about the plans. I felt good about our players being mentally fresh and physically fresh after how we handled the week, and it certainly showed."

On the play of Brian Hoyer:
"He didn't try to do too much. He went out and made his throws. . . .To me, it's him and everybody else. This is a 'do your job and good things will happen' game.. . . He does throw a tight spiral. I didn't see too many flutter. I think people underestimate his arm a little bit. He can throw it."

About the play of Phil Taylor:
"That was a real positive for us. Knowing how successful they were running the ball. . . I did see him do some good things out there."

On the running back rotation:
"The way we kept it was by personnel groupings. . . . There were a couple of changes here and there. It was important for us to have fresh backs in there, and it showed."

Why Andrew Hawkins didn't play with his injury:
"He could have gutted it out and gone, but for him to be close to 100 percent against Houston, that's why we held him out. . . . He would have gone if this had been a Sunday game."

 

Bengals receiver Greg Little had nothing but praise for his former Browns teammates following Cleveland's 24-3 victory Thursday.

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Bengals wide receiver Greg Little summed up his big letdown against the Browns on Thursday with a popular, dismissive cliché that often follows defeat:

"It is what it is,'' he said.

What it was wasn't much, especially when he promised much more against the team that cut him in May.

Little caught one pass for eight yards, from former Browns quarterback Jason Campbell, during garbage time of the Bengals' 24-3 loss to Cleveland in Paul Brown Stadium.

Little was targeted three other times by starter Andy Dalton, according to the official stats, but with the way Dalton was overthrowing receivers and tossing interceptions, it sometimes was difficult to say who was the target.

"It's disappointing because we lost so bad on national television, not necessarily because it's an old team,'' he said.

"We didn't show who the Bengals really were. That's the most frustrating thing. For it to be a game that presumably was for the division was bigger than anything I had going on with the Browns.''

Little made waves in Cleveland this week when he said the game was "personal" and "somebody has to pay.''

Little delivered no such payment. His lone stat before the catch was a personal foul for head-butting defensive back K'Waun Williams.

"It was just chatter. It is what it is. It's football,'' Little said.

Speaking in a matter-of-fact tone, Little said he didn't see his statements as an issue.

"I voiced my opinion,'' he said. "It's what I felt from my heart. It's not different from anybody else if you have a regular day job. I'm pretty sure if Mac lets you go and you go to IBM, I'm pretty sure you're going to feel some type of way about that.''

Little had nothing but praise for the Browns defense.

"They played a good game. You've got to give it to them,'' he said. "They came out ready to go from the jump and we made some mistakes on offense that we have to correct. They made some plays on defense, and we can't beat ourselves.

"I have a great respect for those guys. They fought hard.''

Little was signed by the Bengals on Oct. 14 after being released by Oakland before the opener. He had four catches in three previous games.

He had 159 catches and eight touchdowns in three seasons with the Browns.

Listen to the archive of our postgame show, recorded immediately after the Browns' win over the Bengals.

• Is it time to really start talking playoffs?
• What does this win mean for this franchise?
• Was this Brian Hoyer's best game?
• Where do the Browns go from here?

See how Thursday night's Browns' win over the Bengals unfolded on Twitter in real-time.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Browns beat the division-rival Bengals, 24-3, Thursday night in Cincinnati. They move to 6-3 overall and, for the moment, are tied for first place with Pittsburgh.

While the game wasn't nearly as stressful as previous weeks, Twitter was still trapped in a glass case of emotion throughout. Take a look at the Storify below to see how the game unfolded on Twitter in real-time.

Joe Haden continues his dominance of Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Joe Haden knew he had to get wide receiver A.J. Green uncomfortable if he wanted to ascend into unfamiliar territory.

Another shutdown performance against Haden's familiar foe helped lead the Browns to a 24-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night at Paul Brown Stadium.

The victory means the Browns (6-3) share first place in the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3).

And that moves Haden into a position he's never been in this late in the season. He was overwhelmed with joy.

"This was so much fun," Haden said. "This is amazing."

Haden's shutdown defense on Green was a big part in the Browns victory Thursday night. But Haden has had his way with the elite receiver over the past two seasons. The Haden-Green matchup was the focus of Thursday's Showdown.

Green was limited to three catches for 23 yards and appeared frustrated. Quarterback Andy Dalton, who struggled miserably, targeted Green 10 times. Haden had three tackles and two pass deflections. Safety Donte Whitner also broke up a pass to Green.

"A.J.'s a great player," Haden said. "I know I have to be on my A game when I play against him. I just locked in [on him]. I studied the film on him and I knew whenever we go against them, and the coaches put me no A.J., I have to limit him if we're going to be successful. So I just wanted to go out there and do my part."

Haden had a big part in the Browns shutting down one of the most explosive offenses in the league. The Bengals are among league leaders in scoring average (24.2) and total offense (498 yards per game). But the Browns kept the Bengals out of the end zone, held them to 165 total yards, and frustrated their offense. Dalton was 10-of-33 for 86 yards. He threw three interceptions and finished with a 2.9 quarterback rating.

"You see them getting frustrated," Haden said. "We were jamming up receivers, and our defensive line was getting after the quarterback. We were just doing our job and people were locked in. We kept the pedal down."

Haden made Green work. Haden played him close on the line most of the time. Green made one catch in the first quarter. Dalton's struggles aided in Haden's success. Green managed some success with two short receptions on slant passes, but either he couldn't get open or Dalton rushed his throws.

"If you're A.J. Green and you're a very good receiver and you're used to catching the ball a lot, you get a little upset when you're not [catching the ball]," Haden said.

Green returned to action last week after missing several weeks with turf toe. And it also didn't help his return that Haden picked up where he left off in 2013. Haden had two INTs and held Green to seven yards on two catches in their game last season in Cincinnati. In their first meeting last season in Cleveland, Green caught seven passes for 51 yards.

Over their career, Green has been targeted 35 times and has 16 catches with one touchdown. Green's biggest game was 110 yards on three catches in their second meeting in 2011. Haden has six breakups and two interceptions in their series.

The frustration continued for Green on Thursday.

"It's hard to play like that after we worked our butts off," Green said. "We all had a hand in it, but you can't play like that on national television."

The Browns find themselves in a tie for first place in the AFC North.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The bandwagon is rolling for the Cleveland Browns.

That disjointed loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 19 now seems like an unreal nightmare. Since then, the Browns have won three in a row, including Thursday night's impressive 24-3 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati.

Perhaps even more unreal: The Browns, at 6-3, are in a first-place tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North Division. (Go here to listen to an analysis of the game from The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and Cleveland.com's Dan Labbe.)

"Obviously a huge win," Browns coach Mike Pettine said. "As complete a game as we've played. ... It's just a huge confidence boost for our guys. ... There were not many people giving us a chance. ... The Browns had lost 17 division games in a row on the road. We took that, 'Hey, it's us against the world' mentality."

With Brian Hoyer and quarterback and an improved coaching staff, the Browns find themselves a team of relevance, says The Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw:

Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer dominated his matchup with Cincinnati's Andy Dalton on Thursday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quarterback Brian Hoyer made all of the dropbacks for the Browns in their 24-3 victory over the Bengals on Thursday night in Cincinnati. Hoyer went 15-of-23 for 198 yards.

Here is a capsule look at Hoyer's performance based on a dvr review of the CBS telecast:

Three words: Hoyer The Destroyer.

Winning, Inc.: The Browns improved to 6-3, all with Hoyer as the starting quarterback. They have won three in a row and five of six.

Trending up: As of midnight Thursday, every team in the AFC North had played nine games. The Browns and Steelers are 6-3, the Bengals 5-3-1 and the Ravens 5-4.

Thunderous two-pack: Hoyer's Browns, in a span of five games, have humiliated the Steelers (31-10 on Oct. 12 in Cleveland) and the Bengals.  

Long streaks busted: Hoyer helped the Browns end their road losing streak in division games at 17 and Cincinnati's non-losing streak in regular-season home games at 14 (13-0-1).

Hoyer and the Browns did so in front of a national-TV audience. 

Prime-time player: In one of the biggest games for his franchise since 1999, Hoyer delivered a terrific performance in all areas. He appeared completely comfortable, as if it were pickup football in the school yard.

Hoyer made smart, quick decisions throughout. He released the ball quickly and accurately. He did not commit a turnover and avoided being sacked.

Most importantly, Hoyer was in total control of an offense that played with rhythm and tempo, moved the chains, and scored 24 points -- all in tricky weather on the road.

Finding a way: Hoyer's offense more than did its job despite the absences of receivers Josh Gordon (NFL suspension) and Andrew Hawkins (leg injury); tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion); and center Alex Mack (broken leg).

All about the Benjamin: Hoyer's third and fourth completions of the game went to receiver Travis Benjamin in the same possession. Both resulted from quality throws, routes and catches.

On second-and-8 from the Cleveland 43 late in the first quarter, Hoyer connected with Benjamin for 17 yards on a precision comeback over the middle. On second-and-10 from the Cincinnati 30 early in the second quarter, Hoyer found Benjamin over the middle for 22 yards.

Two plays later, running back Isaiah Crowell scored on a 2-yard blast. The extra point made it 14-3.

Locked in: Hoyer was at his best during a third-quarter TD drive that covered 63 yards in 10 plays and lasted 5:30. Two passes stood out:

*On third-and-4 from the Cleveland 43, Hoyer fired a strike to receiver Miles Austin over the middle for 16 yards. Everything about the play was smooth, capped by Austin's snatch-catch after coming from the right.

*On second-and-10 from the Cincinnati 31, Hoyer connected with tight end Gary Barnidge on the left side for 28 yards.

Hoyer faked a screen to receiver Taylor Gabriel on the left, looked downfield and threw a superb pass into the wind and a tight window. Barnidge did his part by reaching to grab the ball over flailing safety Reggie Nelson and in front of safety George Iloka.

CBS analyst Phil Simms, a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, said: "Beautiful throw, good route. The safety, George Iloka, does not get over quickly enough and Brian Hoyer just knifes it through the wind.''

Three plays later, running back Terrance West scored on a 1-yard dive. The extra point made it 24-3.

Showcasing his skills: Even when the Browns were in cruise control, Hoyer impressed Simms.

On third-and-7 from the Cincinnati 40 in the fourth quarter, Hoyer connected with Austin near the left sideline for 8 yards. Austin's 5 yards after the catch included eluding corner Adam Jones and diving for the first down.

Simms said: "Brian Hoyer is just playing the position so well. He wants to throw it deep down the field (to Gabriel at the 25). It's covered, so he takes what the defense gives.''

The drive ended with a missed 44-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff. The wind factored heavily in the miss.

Teamwork: Hoyer was far from the only Brown to excel, of course.

*The defense dominated, turning Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton into Brandon Weeden. Dalton, a fourth-year player who guided the Bengals to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons, went 10-of-33 for 86 yards and was intercepted three times. The leather lungs at Paul Brown Stadium, for as long as they stuck around, booed the well-compensated Dalton.

Linebacker Paul "Commodore'' Kruger, lineman Desmond Bryant and corner Buster Skrine seemingly were everywhere.

Cornerback Joe Haden controlled standout receiver A.J. Green.

*Three Browns running backs combined for 48 carries, 169 yards and three touchdowns. Plenty of the yards were well-earned, the result of smash-mouth runs. 

*The receivers ran precise routes and displayed soft hands.

*The offensive line was solid, on balance, in the running game and superior in the passing game. Hoyer enjoyed clean pockets on the majority of dropbacks.

Left tackle Joe Thomas played at a high level once again. This season is shaping up to be the best of Thomas's eight, which is saying something given his Pro Bowl distinction in each of the previous seven.

*Cleveland's staff, led by head coach Mike Pettine, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil, coached circles around the Bengals' staff.

One team was prepared and hungry. The other wasn't. 

The Browns would be wise to prevent Shanahan from answering any phones, because his stock as a potential NFL head coach rises by the minute. It is difficult to imagine an OC who has done more with (perceived) less -- at least in terms of unproven NFL talent.

Summary: Hoyer played a complete game as the Browns crushed the Bengals in Cincinnati in front of a national-TV audience.

Overall grade: A

(Previous grades: B, A, B, A, A, F, C+, B+)

Michigan State is only favored by 3.5 points. But almost everyone seems to be going with the Spartans at home.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We posted our Outrageous Predictions for Ohio State-Michigan State on Thursday. Check it out for the Bill Landis wig alone. Our full score picks for the No. 14 Buckeyes vs. No. 8 Spartans will go up today at noon.

In the meantime, you can see us discuss the game in the video above from our weekly Ohio State show.

For a showdown like this, the Buckeyes' first chance to beat a ranked team since the Northwestern game last season, everyone has an opinion. With the line at around a field goal, this should be close. And the picks should be split.

They aren't.

At BTN.com, Tom Dienhart polled 25 writers and analysts from around the country. Guess how many went with the Buckeyes? Four. And one of them was Joey Galloway.

The rest of the web wasn't much more on board with the Buckeyes.

• FOXSports.com: Both Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel went with the Spartans. Feldman said 21-13, Mandel 27-21.

• CBSSports.com: Including six writers and one Prediction Machine, only one picked the Buckeyes.

• ESPN.com: Among six writers who cover the Big Ten, just one chose the Buckeyes. Austin Ward called it 24-23 for Ohio State. ESPN's FPI projection, whatever that is, says the Buckeyes have a 52 percent chance to win

• BTN.com: Of the three writers and one guest picker, all four picked Michigan State.

• USA Today: Seven writers - six for the Spartans.

• MLive.com: Our friends covering the Spartans and Wolverines pick all the Big Ten games each week. This week, all three went Michigan State.

ESPN loud talking person ... what would you call Skip Bayless exactly? .... will be in East Lansing with his ESPN show Friday, and he made his choice clear on Thursday.

MICHIGAN STATE: We will be there tomorrow 10-12E. Come watch me annihilate Stephen A the way your team will Ohio State.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 6, 2014

Then this happened.

.@RealSkipBayless #GoBucks Beat Sparty! pic.twitter.com/Kowh7rICI7

— Brutus Buckeye (@Brutus_Buckeye) November 6, 2014

So while Dienhart's poll went 21-4 for the Spartans, our little spin around the web found a 27-4 edge for Michigan State.

One of those four for the Buckeyes is former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, a native of Dublin in the Columbus suburbs.

Remember, check back at noon for our picks. I'll tell you this. We disagree.

Meanwhile, here's our coverage from Thursday if you missed anything.

• While Buckeyes win on recruiting trail, Spartans try to keep up on the field

• Connor Cook could be first opposing QB to beat Ohio State twice since ...

• A matchup to watch: OSU DE Joey Bosa vs. MSU OT Jack Conklin

• OSU CB Doran Grant needs win so his dad doesn't sing the MSU fight song

• Ari did an OSU podcast with Chris Fedor

• Two great HS backs and recruits who will soon be on opposite sides of the OSU-MSU game

• Those RBs, L.J. Scott and George Hill, debate the game for us

• Why East Lansing might be the perfect place for a big Ohio State win

Things to look for when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Denver Nuggets to end their three-game road trip.

DENVER, Colo. – It has only been four games for the Cavaliers, but a lot has transpired in that short amount of time.

Cleveland's plan is to end this three-game road trip with a win tonight while the Denver Nuggets surely have other plans. Winning in the Mile High City is never an easy task for opponents; especially considering the issues Cleveland is currently through.

Panic is setting in however if they can take a step in modifying a few things, they'll be on their way to reaching their full potential. Here are a few things I'm looking for this evening.

--

Can LeBron and Kyrie coexist on the court?

Better yet, can they successfully coexist and translate it into a boatload of wins? Will that locker room exchange in Portland go in vain or will it bring them together? So far these two haven't complimented each other well on the court. It's not easy playing along side James if you're a ball dominant guard but if you buy into it, history shows he'll make you look good. Irving has a huge decision to make. Hopefully he makes the right decision tonight.

Does Blatt have command of this team?

It's too early to tell but judging by on the court, it's not looking too good. In pressers, Blatt is very cautious with his choice of words. It's extremely visible. You can tell he doesn't want to say the wrong thing to get on the bad side of one of his players, which is understandable. However, I wonder if he has what it takes to say what's on his mind to his players behind closed doors. Blatt is a good guy so I'm pulling for this to work out for him. This just isn't a good start.

Defensive woes

It has been ugly, to say the least. At times it's difficult to see if there's even a defensive strategy they're following. It's a mixture of defensive lapses and flat-out disinterest on that end of the floor. Cleveland can score all they want but if they can't get stops, the chance of winning diminishes significantly. They have to pick it up in a hurry to be taken seriously.

Miller missing

Mike Miller hasn't made one three-pointer during this young season. Then again, he has only launched two. He was brought in because of his ability to spread the court and play well with stars. He and James have tremendous chemistry going back to their days in Miami. For some reason, David Blatt hasn't utilized him much. And when he has, there's no movement to get him looks. James said on Wednesday that he would like to play with Miller more than he has. We'll see if Miller starts to get a boost in his minutes.

Probable starting lineups

Denver Nuggets (1-3)

F Wilson Chandler

F Kenneth Faried

C Timofey Mozgov

G Arron Afflalo

G Ty Lawson

Cleveland Cavaliers (1-3)

F LeBron James

F Kevin Love

C Anderson Varejao

G Shawn Marion

G Kyrie Irving

It's early but the Cleveland Cavaliers are off to a shaky start. And in Cleveland it's never too early for fans to start worrying -- Bud Shaw's You Said It.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You Said It is based on the premise that the only thing Cleveland sports fans need more than a championship is a sense of humor...

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Weekend Edition)

Hey Bud: Has a NBA team ever won a title with a starting point guard that averages 4 assists a game? – James

I'd be more concerned about a team winning a title if the starting point guard averages one argument every three games with the best player in the world.

Bud: Is it possible the Browns now have a better passing attack than the Cavaliers?  -- Jim Lefkowitz, Pepper Pike

Just be happy this Thanksgiving that you aren't sitting between Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving waiting for somebody to pass the gravy.

Hey, Bud: As the years go by will more Cleveland fans claim to have attended LeBron's first game back or Lenny Barker's perfect game?--Tim, Twinsburg

I'd guess Barker. Looking at the stat sheet, I'm pretty sure LeBron didn't attend LeBron's first game.

Bud: LeBron does know that the team already has a head coach, right?  -- Jazzman, Cortland

Yes. And as soon as he looks up during a timeout, he'll realize it's not still Mike Brown.

Hey Bud, I see where James Harrison thinks Terrell Suggs is a dirty player. Talk about a kinder, gentler version of oneself. What's next, playing the Church Lady on SNL?  -- Ted in Concord

I was thinking more along the lines of this guy:

Bud: When Greg Little said he was going to make the Browns pay, was he talking about his speeding tickets? – Warren Friedman, Highland Hts

First-time You Said It winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

Bud: Have I been traded to the Miami Herald? -- Michael Sarro

Repeat winners are often shopped but never traded.

Hi Bud: I loved the sweatshirt with the big "M" Brady Hoke was donning for the MSU game. I did see the plastic sword they shoved into the turf as well but I thought when the amusement park does not guess your weight you were also supposed to get the hat with mouse ears or a propeller? – Jack Chase, Brook Park

Some repeat winners wear their allegiance on the sleeve of the only T-shirt they'll get.

Browns limit a divisional opponent to a field goal for the first time in a decade. Watch video

CINCINNATI, Ohio – As the son of preacher and a veteran of 11 NFL seasons, Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby has listened his share of powerful speeches, sermons and testimonies.

What he heard from teammate Donte Whitner in a downtown hotel meeting room here Thursday morning could have moved any congregation, lifted any locker room.

"It was real motivating, man, a special speech," Dansby said. "It came from his heart. It got everybody in a mindset, got everybody focused on the task at hand."

Hours before the Browns produced their most meaningful win in seven years – a 24-3 thumping of the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium – Whitner delivered an emotional address to the defense. The Glenville graduate shared his personal journey of overcoming adversity. He spoke of growing up with a father in prison and learning how to walk again after being hit by a car at age 6. He expressed what Cleveland and the "orange helmet" meant to him.

Joe Haden shed tears. Others did, too.

Prior to each contest, defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil designates someone to speak to his unit. On a day he made many good calls in limiting the league's 12^th-ranked offense to a field goal his best one was selecting Whitner.

"I just gave them my story on being a Cleveland kid, the hardships I went through as a kid and compared it to the game of football." Whitner said. "I let them know the game of football is easy compared to the game of life."

The Browns' defenders went out and made it look effortless. They played with verve, passion, joy. They forced four turnovers, allowed the fewest points in a divisional game in a decade and harassed Andy Dalton into one of the worst prime-time performances by a quarterback in recent memory.

View full sizeThe Browns' Donte Whitner (31) and Karlos Dansby (56) tackle Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) during Thursday night's 24-3 win at Paul Brown Stadium.Associated Press 

The Bengals quarterback was intercepted three times, completed just 10-of-33 passes for 86 yards and finished with an unsightly 2.0 passer rating. Dalton sprayed so many balls into the bench areas he resembled a member of a spirit team shooting T-shirts into stands during television timeouts.

In a jubilant visitors locker room, several players said the inspiration behind the dominant defensive effort was the tone-setting talk from Whitner.

"I teared up a little," said Haden, who recovered a fumble and broke up a pair of passes. "Donte just gave us real talk, a good speech. He let us know it's football, it's a game we've grown up playing and that it's our time. It's our time to start making plays and just change the culture, which is what we're trying to do here."

Defensive lineman Billy Winn was more succinct: "I know I went out there and played for him, being a Cleveland guy and knowing how much this meant to him."

The Browns (6-3) haven't enjoyed such a prosperous start to a season since 1994 when they opened 7-2 under another former defensive coordinator. Coach Bill Belichick relied on a stout defense, one that imported leaders such as Pepper Johnson and Carl Banks from Super Bowl teams.

Twenty years later, first-year coach Mike Pettine is doing the same. He used free agency to acquire Whitner and Dansby to help ready the Browns for big games like the one Thursday night. Cleveland had lost 17 straight road games within the division and hadn't beaten the Bengals here since 2008.

But as Whitner recounted earlier in the week the Browns had previously dropped 18 of 19 games to Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who they made look ordinary in a 31-10 win on Oct. 12.

"Whitner is a special guy, you know what I'm saying," explained Dansby, the Browns leading tackler. "He's got a special spirit. Me being a pastor's son I know what it looks like."

The Browns' defense, so suspect in the season's first month, began to turn it around in the Steelers' win. In the past four games it's created 12 turnovers. In the last three games it's limited opponents to an average of 11 points.

Big plays are becoming the defense's currency and it wasted no time cashing in against the Bengals as inside linebacker Craig Robertson intercepted Dalton's second pass and returned it 15 yards to the Bengals' 18. The turnover led to the Browns' first touchdown.

"I'm always down to get the party started, whether it's getting guys hyped on the sideline or whatever," Robertson said. "I could probably be a hype man when I'm done playing or something."

The punishing hits and turnovers kept coming. Cornerback Buster Skrine intercepted two passes. Safety Tashaun Gipson forced a fumble that Haden recovered. Defensive end Desmond Bryant registered two sacks and edge rusher Jabaal Sheard played one of his finest games with five tackles while drawing a pair of holding penalties.

With each defensive stop you could see Dalton shrinking in the moment. His passes and thinking grew more erratic, committing silly mistakes like throwing a pass yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Dalton is no stranger to flameouts on the big stage, particularly in January, but on Thursday he was Brandon-Weeden, pro-debut bad.

Midway through the third quarter in a battle for Ohio and first place in the division, the Bengals had 97 yards total offense. They finished with 165.

The Bengals were awful, but the Browns' defenders played their part. They're generating the big plays that demoralize an offense, make it tentative. That impact on a game can carry a team a long way.

"We're starting to jell," Whitner said. "Early in the season we weren't used to really playing with each other and a new scheme."

The safety is playing his best football of the year. His crunching hit on the Raiders' Darren McFadden forced a fumble and helped rescue the Browns from potential back-to-back losses to previously winless teams.

Whitner supplied nothing as dramatic against the Bengals, recording four tackles and a pass defensed. But his morning speech served as a catalyst for the Browns' best defensive outing in a divisional game since 2004 when they held the Ravens to a field goal in the season opener.

"All the guys walked up (after his talk) and shook my hand," Whitner said.

Life isn't easy. Neither was beating the Bengals in Cincinnati until a son of Cleveland shared his testimony and the importance of the orange helmet.

 

LeBron James challenges Kyrie Irving to become a better playmaker, sources tell NEOMG.

DENVER, Colo. – LeBron James challenged Kyrie Irving to be a better playmaker following the Cavaliers' blowout loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, league sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group.

ESPN was first to report that the two had a verbal exchange leading to Irving exiting without addressing the media.

One source said James viewed Tuesday's 19-point thumping as the perfect time to address his concerns with how his point guard went about getting guys involved in the offense, and he challenged Irving to get better.

Irving struggled, going 3-of-17 from the floor. Those 17 shots were the most taken on either team.

James said during exhibition play that confrontations are going to happen.

This is the first time in Irving's NBA career that he is being held accountable on the court to this magnitude. Storming out of the locker room was expected. This is new, championship aspiration territory he's in and James knows what it takes.

"He just wants Kyrie to be the best player he can be," a source with knowledge of the exchange told NEOMG. "In order for that to occur, confrontations must take place."

Up to this point, we're told the two haven't revisited that night in Portland. It's all about action from here on out. Besides, James made his point.

It is unclear if James' challenge has sunk in. In Wednesday's buzzer-beat loss to Utah, Irving did provide a game-high of 34 points, but failed to get a single assist in 45 minutes.

James has stressed that this is a process and being the leader of this team, he knows he's going to have to ruffle some feathers. It's all part of the process of becoming a legitimate championship caliber squad.

"There are a lot of bad habits," James said after the loss to Portland. "A lot of bad habits have been built up the past couple years. When you play that style of basketball, it takes a lot to get it up out of you."

It's been a slow start to the season, but James isn't concerned. He even sent a one-word message via Twitter on Thursday afternoon. 

In the words of the great @AaronRodgers12 "RELAX"

— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 6, 2014

A look at how all of the local teams fared in the OHSAA regional quarterfinals.

A look at how all of the local teams fared in the OHSAA regional quarterfinals.

No. 7 Bay upset No. 2 Crestwood, 18-7, in an ugly game for both sides.

No. 7 Bay upset No. 2 Crestwood, 18-7, in an ugly game for both sides.

Dustin Crum threw four touchdown passes to lead Midview past Walsh Jesuit in the OHSAA football playoffs.

Dustin Crum threw four touchdown passes to lead Midview past Walsh Jesuit in the OHSAA football playoffs.

The Benedictine Bengals football team advanced to the regional semifinals in Division IV, Region 11 with a 24-20 victory against Perry.

The Benedictine Bengals football team advanced to the regional semifinals in Division IV, Region 11 with a 24-20 victory against Perry.

No. 7 Keystone lost a thriller to No. 2 Bellevue, 40-32, in the first playoff game in school history.

No. 7 Keystone lost a thriller to No. 2 Bellevue, 40-32, in the first playoff game in school history.