Michael Grabner snapped a tie with a short-handed goal and the Islanders beat the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Saturday.

Associated PressNew York Islanders' David Ullstrom (41) of Sweden, looks down as a shot by teammate Josh Bailey, not shown, gets past New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (30) for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — This time, the New York Islanders got a couple of lucky breaks on the road.

Michael Grabner snapped a tie with a short-handed goal and the Islanders beat the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Saturday for their first road win of the season.

"Our guys battled. They battled the last nine periods," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "We did get some breaks tonight. It takes a few breaks to win a game. I'm just glad they got the two points."

Matt Moulson and Josh Bailey also scored for New York, which earned its third victory this month and improved to 1-5-2 on the road. Al Montoya had 24 saves.

Adam Larsson and Adam Henrique scored for New Jersey. Martin Brodeur made 23 saves.

The Islanders led 2-1 before Henrique sent a backhander past Montoya's outstretched glove 3:59 into the third.

Grabner responded two minutes later when poked the puck away from Ilya Kovalchuk in the defensive zone and snapped his seventh goal of the season over Brodeur's glove while Bailey was in the penalty box for hooking. Grabner's first short-handed goal of the season came at 5:51.

"It's nice to get the one," Grabner said of his game winner after noting he was on the ice for both of New Jersey's goals. "I think we created some offense on the PK but it's just good that we killed off the penalty."

Kovalchuk alternated between brilliance and foolishness. He assisted on both Devils goals but also was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct with 5:40 remaining.

Kovalchuk had been clipped by John Tavares' stick and complained loudly when a penalty was not called. The Devils star eventually was assessed the two-minute minor.

"They missed that one for sure," Kovalchuk said of the unpenalized high stick.

Zach Parise nearly tied it with two seconds left but the apparent goal was disallowed after a video review. Parise whacked at Montoya's glove to free the puck and replays showed the New Jersey captain may have kicked the puck in the goal.

Parise shouted at referees Dave Jackson and Kelly Sutherland immediately after the final horn sounded.

"It definitely hit my skate but is that a kicking motion? I definitely don't think it was," Parise said later. "Of course I was angry and then they make the wrong call."

Added Devils coach Peter DeBoer: "I watched the play (and) I'm not sure I agree with the decision based on my view of the replays. To me, it wasn't what I would consider a distinct kicking motion."

Moulson opened the scoring 11:28 into the game with his seventh goal of the season. Linemate P.A. Parenteau skated up the right wing boards before feathering a centering pass to Moulson in the right face-off circle. Moulson then snapped a shot over Brodeur's glove.

Larsson's second goal of the season tied it 4:20 into the second. The rookie defenseman snapped a shot over Montoya from the high slot after Henrique won a battle for a puck in the defensive zone.

Bailey's second goal of the year gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead at 11:59 of the second period. David Ullstrom dislodged the net as Bailey's shot sailed into the goal, but the score was allowed after a review.

Brodeur kept the deficit at 2-1 with spectacular glove and stacked pad saves on Grabner and Kyle Okposo with 38 seconds left in the second. He gloved Grabner's wrist shot but could not control it as he tumbled to the ice. Okposo jumped on the loose puck but Brodeur threw his legs into the air to stop the ensuing shot.

Despite the brilliant sequence, Brodeur focused on what went wrong on Grabner's goal.

"I was looking at my stick and didn't see Kovy go in front of me. I wasn't ready to challenge Grabner," Brodeur said. "Two mistakes, I guess."

The teams had 26 shots apiece. Neither team was able to capitalize on the power play; New York went 0 for 2, while New Jersey was 0 for 3.

NOTES: Grabner had six short-handed goals last year. ... Nino Niederreiter was scratched for the third straight game. The New York right winger tweeted during the first intermission that he "didn't know" in response to tweets he received regarding why he has not played. Capuano was asked for his response to Niederreiter's tweet but an Islanders spokesman interrupted and said the organization would "deal with it later." ... New York entered the game 30th in goals per game (1.90) and 29th in goals against (3.25). ... New Jersey now will go on the road for four games. ... The announced attendance was 16,014. ... Parise has not scored a goal since November 16.

The top two backs are active in the same game for the first time since Oct. 16.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerPeyton Hillis, along with Montario Hardesty, will play against the Bengals today.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Browns running back Peyton Hillis will be active today after missing five games, and most of a sixth, with a hamstring muscle injury.

Hillis has not played since hurting his hamstring in the first quarter of the Oakland game on Oct. 16. He has not had a full week of practice in team drills since then, though he practice in a limited role on Friday.

Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbonnaya also are active. Hardesty has not played since suffering a calf muscle tear early in the San Francisco game on Oct. 30. The Browns confirmed that Hardesty did not feel the calf muscle was at 100 percent in pre-game warmups and he would be available only "as needed."

The Browns would not say which running back would start.

Fullback Owen Marecic (concussion) is among the team's inactive players. It's possible the Browns could ease Hillis back in a fullback role, but Alex Smith lined up as the fullback in pre-game work.

It bears noting that a fine mist fell on the field in Paul Brown Stadium in early warm-ups. Forecasts called for rain all day.

Other Browns inactives: QB Thad Lewis, SS T.J. Ward, OL Steve Vallos, OL Oniel Cousins, LB Quinton Spears, DE Jayme Mitchell.

Bengals inactives are: S Robert Sands, LB Dontay Moch, OG Clint Boling, OT Anthony Collins, TE Donald Lee, WR Ryan Whalen and DE Carlos Dunlap.

Join cleveland.com's live chat during the Browns vs. Bengals game today at 1 p.m. Interact with cleveland.com producer Joey Morona and The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff as they describe the action on the field, post scoring updates and tackle your questions and comments.

PD FilePeyton Hillis and Colt McCoy lead the Browns against the Bengals. Join our live chat at 1 p.m.

Can the Browns win their second game in a row as Peyton Hillis returns from injury?

Join cleveland.com's live chat during the Browns vs. Bengals game today at 1 p.m.  Interact with cleveland.com producer Joey Morona and The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff as they describe the action on the field, post scoring updates and tackle your questions and comments.

You can also get updates from The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot on Twitter and in their in-game blog.

After the game, stay tuned to listen to Manoloff and Morona break down the game and take your chat room comments and questions.

Enter your name and log onto the chat room below. Java is required to participate in the chat. Download it here

Note: To turn off audio alerts, click on round button on bottom left of chat room and click on preferences.

Live audio: Click on play about 10 minutes after the end of the game to listen to our live post-game show with The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff.

Greg Little makes three plays on a field-goal drive, and then scores his first TD at end of first half. Little also has three drops. Peyton Hillis making an impact.

View full sizeAl Behrman, Associated PressColt McCoy is efficient in the first half against the Bengals, overcoming some drops by his receivers to throw two TD passes.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Notes, observations and some facts on the second quarter ...

• Nice 13-yard run by Greg Little on a pitchout. Little lined up in the backfield. Little then catches pass for 15-yard gain on third-and-4 from Bengals 40. Colt McCoy looking good managing the offense.

• Peyton Hillis steams ahead for 10. That's a run from last season!

• McCoy sacked for 4-yard loss looking to the end zone.

• On third-and-14 from the 18, McCoy, again looking to end zone, forced to scramble for small gain. Phil Dawson makes 32-yard field goal.

• Usama Young almost intercepts handoff to Bernard Scott. Tackles him for 7-yard loss. Titus Brown then shows up on defense and sacks Andy Dalton on third down.

• Hillis loses a handoff. Alex Smith recovers.

• Little drops a McCoy pass on the money at the Bengals' 47. He had running room, too.

• Bengals begin 5-minute offense with extra tackle and Cedric Benson in the backfield. Benson makes a first down with a screen pass, but is hurt on ankle tackle by Brian Schaefering. After a minute, Benson hops off and walks off with slight limp. He returns next play.

• Jabaal Sheard pressure forces Dalton throwaway. Sheard is doing a number on Andre Smith all game.

• After first down by Hillis, Browns have first down at Bengals 40 at 2-minute mark.

• Little has his third drop. Browns' two-minute drive expires in three plays. Punt.

• Dimitri Patterson has made two tackles for losses on Browns punts.

• Dalton is intercepted by Mike Adams, who laterals to Joe Haden. But Eric Hagg was called for holding before the pass.

• Sheard beats Smith again and strip-sacks Dalton. Scott Paxson recovers. After the play, offsetting penalties gives Browns ball at Bengals 14.

• McCoy avoids sack and runs for 4 to Bengals 10.

• Jordan Norwood is creamed at the 3 after making a catch. Browns use their final timeout with :14 left.

• McCoy's first down pass is thrown out of the end zone. With :09 left, McCoy tosses to Little in the corner. Little hangs on and celebrates his first career touchdown.

The Browns were aggressive when given a late scoring opportunity, and capitalized.

View full sizeAl Behrman, Associated PressPeyton Hillis wasn't getting big runs in the first half (42 yards in 10 carries), but his power between the tackles was earning the Browns some needed first downs.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Some halftime scribbles as the Browns build a 17-7 lead over the Bengals.

1. The best part of the game was how Browns coach Pat Shurmur allowed Colt McCoy to make a few throws into the end zone at the end of the first half -- with Greg Little catching a touchdown pass.

2. My biggest concern for the Browns was their offense -- could they score enough points? I figured the defense would play its usual solid game. But the Browns were sliced up for 133 yards in the first quarter. Cedric Benson had runs of 33 and 16 (for a touchdown). The tackling was poor, the holes big. The Browns were lucky to have allowed only seven points on the Bengals' first two possessions. The Browns stopped Cincinnati on the 1 on a terrific fourth-down tackle by Kaluka Maiava. On the Bengals' next possession, they drove right down the field for a touchdown -- three plays, 47 yards.

3. But then the defense settled down. Rookie Jabaal Sheard had an excellent tackle for a loss along with a strip-sack of Andy Dalton that led to Scott Paxson recovering a fumble. The rookie defensive end had several strong rushes. Titus Brown had a sack. As they put pressure on Dalton, the rookie began to struggle. A.J. Green had one catch in the first half for 24 yards.

4. It was nice to see Peyton Hillis looking healthy. He helped run the ball out from the goal line in the first quarter. He had only 15 yards on his first six carries, but two attempts picked up tough first downs. They kept giving him the ball and he had 42 yards on 10 carries in the first half. Best of all, he ran hard.

5. Chris Ogbonnaya had 16 yards on three carries and the Browns averaged 4.7 yards per attempt.

6. The Browns ran an effective pitch and sweep to Little as the receiver dashed for 13 yards. Little did drop three passes in the first half, but McCoy kept looking to him -- and he delivered with that catch in the end zone.

7. McCoy completed a 36-yard pass to Jordan Norwood, which could have gone for a TD as the Bengals defender slipped -- but the pass drifted near the sidelines and Norwood went out-of-bounds. Three plays later, he hit Norwood for a 24-yard score. Norwood had two catches for 60 yards on the first possession; he came into the game with 11 catches (11.6 average) this season. Norwood has very good hands and is working his way into being a regular.

8. Yes, that was the Browns' first touchdown in a first quarter this season -- it was 9-play, 82-yard drive.

9. Montario Hardesty's calf muscle "didn't feel right" during warmups, and it made me wonder if the starter next season will be ... Brandon Jackson? He's the veteran free agent they signed from Green Bay. It also made me wonder what would happen if Hillis does have a strong finish. Don't the Browns need to have serious talk with Hillis, assuming he stays healthy and productive?

Phil Dawson's 54-yard field goal -- his seventh of 50 or more yards -- puts Browns up by 10 points.Andy Dalton responds with 22-yard TD to Jermaine Gresham over rookie Eric Hagg.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerJabaal Sheard's strip-sack of Andy Dalton late in the second quarter led to a Browns touchdown.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Notes, observations and some facts on the third quarter ...

• Andy Dalton comes out throwing, hitting Jermaine Gresham for 7 and 16 yards.

• Emmanuel Stephens downgraded to questionable.

• Cedric Benson resurfaces with 12-yard run to Browns' 27. Dalton then delivers a rope off play-action to Andre Caldwell at the Browns 11.

• Joe Haden right with A.J. Green on corner route in end zone. Green had to run out of end zone to catch it.

• Dalton keeps it the 5. Dimitri Patterson is down with a left ankle injury after Phil Taylor rolls over his legs at the sideline.

• Mike Nugent's 23-yard field goal makes it 17-10, Browns.

• On third-and-18, Colt McCoy scrambles for 20 yards and first down at Bengals 40. Browns sent three tight ends on patterns with Jordan Norwood as the sole wideout.

• Phil Dawson's 54-yard field goal increases lead to 20-10. Dawson now 7 for 7 on 50-plus yard field goals.

• Green beats Haden. Green comes back to make 35-yard catch on underthrown ball. Could have been 57-yard TD with better throw.

• Dalton comes right back and spots mismatch for TD -- Jermaine Gresham over rookie Eric Hagg on 22-yard lob in right corner.

• Bengals doing great job containing Josh Cribbs on kickoffs.

The move was not unexpected after the NBA and its players closed in on a new collective bargaining agreement that would see training camps opening on Dec. 9.

View full sizeDon Ryan, Associated PressCarmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James won't be playing hoops in Akron this week after their charity game was called off.

AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Akron Web site says the Dec. 1 Google+ Homecoming Tour stop at the University of Akron, featuring LeBron James and his friends, has been canceled. The announcement was confirmed by one of the organizers.

However, it appears that James will go ahead with plans for a flag-football challenge against Kevin Durant on Wednesday in Akron. Although the specifics are not known, James did tweet on Sunday, "Getting my playbook together for the showdown on Wednesday night vs Team @KDTrey5.'' Durant uses the twitter handle KDTrey5.

According to the UA site, tickets for the basketball game will be refunded at point of purchase only. Internet and phone orders will automatically be canceled and refunded.

With the NBA and its players on the verge of reaching a new labor agreement that would see training camps start on Dec. 9, it was expected that the games, also featuring Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Camelo Anthony and Chris Bosh, would be called off. After stopping in Akron, the tour was continue to New Orleans on Dec. 4, Chicago on Dec. 7 and East Rutherford, N.J., on Dec. 10. Each stop was to include charitable community events and basketball skills clinics for local children.

Proceeds from the tour would have benefited each player’s charitable foundation. For James, that meant The LeBron James Family Foundation initiative Wheels for Education that reinforces the importance of reading and staying in school.

Browns offense can't muster any fourth-quarter points as Bengals sweep season series.

View full sizeTom Uhlman, Associated PressBengals tight end Jermaine Gresham clutches a TD pass from Andy Dalton against the coverage of safety Eric Hagg in the third quarter Sunday. The score narrowed the Browns' lead to 20-17 as the Bengals eventually claimed a 23-20 victory at Paul Brown Stadium.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Notes, observations and some facts on the fourth quarter ...

• Colt McCoy makes big mistake, throwing the ball up in no-man's land before getting smashed by Geno Atkins. Reggie Nelson intercepts at the Bengals 46 on first play of quarter. Greg Little apparent target.

• Andy Dalton, with good protection, makes big-time throw to Jermaine Gresham for 15 yards and first down at Browns 28.

• Dalton overthrows Andrew Hawkins one-on-one with Dimitri Patterson in end zone. Mike Nugent's 40-yard field goal ties it at 20.

• Josh Cribbs, seven yards deep, is tackled after return to Bengals' 19. Bengals continue shutting Cribbs down.

• Rey Maualuga tackles Peyton Hillis for 4-yard loss at Bengals 15.

• McCoy creamed again by Thomas Howard just after short completion. Browns have to punt from deep in own end.

• Big play for Browns defense. Bengals have third-and-12 from own 29. Chris Gocong defends pass for Grehsam and almost makes diving interception. Punt.

• Another piece of great coverage by Bengals on punt. Cribbs going nowhere.

• On third-and-4, Geno Atkins beats Shawn Lauvao and sacks McCoy. Punt.

• Eric Hagg breaks up third-down pass for Gresham. Another Bengals punt. Cribbs held in check again.

• Away from short second-down completion, Kelly Jennings called for holding. First down for Browns at their 40.

• Third-and-6 from Browns 44. Big play needed. Greg Little for 19 yards.

• At the edge of Phil Dawson's range, it's Hillis time. Up the middle for two, but a pitch to the left loses two.

• Third and 10 from the 37, Greg Little has the ball knocked away by Nate Clements, who might have gotten there early.

• Against the wind from 55 yards, Dawson is short and left. Ryan Pontbriand's snap was a roller to Brad Maynard. Now Bengals have great field position with 1:51 left.

• Dalton heaves one out of bounds on first down. A fullback slant on second down? It gains just two yards and runs the clock down. Third and seven and Dalton lobs it down the middle where A.J. Green leaps above everyone and hauls it in. Runs to the 2.

• False start vs. Bengals with 58 seconds moves it back to the 7. Browns must use their timeouts to save time with hopefully just a three-point deficit.

• Benson shakes one tackler to reach the 5. Time out.

• Benson gets maybe a yard up the middle, as Browns call second timeout.

• Nothing fancy on third down, and Scott Paxson blows up a handoff to Benson for a five-yard loss. Final Browns timeout.

• Just a long extra point for Mike Nugent, who drives through the 26-yarder with 38 seconds left.

• Is there a big return in Cribbs' bag? He gets it to the Browns 26.

• Sideline pass to Chris Ogbonnaya bounces short. Second down is another drop by Little over the middle. Nothing wrong with the pass, which is chest-high.

• Another outlet pass to Ogbonnaya, who steps out of bounds after four yards without trying to move further downfield. Fourth down.

• A 50-50 ball to Cribbs is broken up by Kelly Jennings. Ballgame.

Browns mistakes late prove costly as Cincinnati's rookie receiver A.J. Green shines brightest to help the Bengals pull out the victory.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerCincinnati's A.J. Green leaps above the Browns' Joe Haden for a 51-yard catch-and-run that set up Mike Nugent's game-winning field goal in Sunday's 23-20 Bengals victory over the Browns at Paul Brown Stadium.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- For the first time in six games, Peyton Hillis was shouldering the load at running back for the Browns. Their receivers, in general, were healthy. This is, for the most part, what the offense was supposed to look like all season.

And for three quarters, it was nearly enough against the Cincinnati Bengals.

But then came what typically happens with the Browns this season: mistakes. A costly interception from quarterback Colt McCoy led to a tying field goal. Another low snap from long snapper Ryan Pontbriand on a potential 55-yard field goal from Phil Dawson.

Finally, dazzling rookie receiver A.J. Green soared high to snag a 51-yard reception with less than two minutes remaining to set up Mike Nugent's 26-yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining as Cincinnati topped the Browns, 23-20, in front of 48,260 at Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns fell to 4-7 and the Bengals improved to 7-4 in the Battle of Ohio.

Hillis' return to the lineup came earlier than expected after missing five games and most of a sixth with a hamstring injury. Though originally ruled out by coach Pat Shurmur at the beginning of the week, Hillis said a platelet-rich plasma injection he received on his hamstring two weeks ago helped him recover with remarkable speed.

His return offset the loss of Montario Hardesty, who was expected to return from a torn calf muscle. However, Hardesty didn't feel right during warmups, and never saw a snap.

Still, Hillis' return helped spark the offense to the point where the Browns scored in the first quarter for the first time this season. The passing game was open early for McCoy, who connected with Jordan Norwood and Greg Little for touchdowns as the Browns built a 17-7 halftime lead. Little's 3-yard reception was the first touchdown catch for the rookie, who also had several drops on Sunday.

When Dawson drilled a 54-yard field goal with 3:50 left in the third quarter, the margin was 20-10 for the Browns. It was his seventh field goal of at least 50 yards this season.

But it unraveled quickly when Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton tossed to tight end Jermaine Gresham for a 22-yard touchdown pass -- a score that was set up by Green's 35-yard reception one play earlier.

McCoy tossed an interception on the first play of the fourth quarter, a first-down play from the Cleveland 35. The Browns' defense stiffened, as Nugent tied the game from 40-yards out.

Several unproductive series for both teams followed before McCoy began a drive from the Browns' 32. The key play was a 19-yard Little reception, which moved the ball to the Bengals 38. But two runs by Hillis went for naught and an incomplete pass left Dawson with a 55-yard attempt. Pontbriand's snap rolled to holder Brad Maynard -- much as his deflected snap had done in the Rams game two weeks ago. Dawson's kick was short and left.

Given a short field, it took just one big play for the Bengals to get into scoring position -- a 51-yard Dalton pass up the middle, as Green leaped high above cornerback Joe Haden to grab the ball and scurry downfield.

McCoy was 16-for-34 for 151 yards, while Hillis finished with 65 yards on 14 carries in his return. For the Bengals, Dalton was 21-for-31 for 270 yards, Green had three catches for 110 yards and Cedric Benson rushed for 106 yards on 21 carries.

For the Browns, could have been -- should have been -- so much better than a loss at Cincinnati.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerScott Paxson's fumble recovery late in the second quarter set up a Browns touchdown Sunday against the Bengals. After controlling the game for most of three quarters, the Browns couldn't finish the deal in a 23-20 loss.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- It shouldn't have been like this.

The Browns shouldn't have lost, 23-20, in Cincinnati, certainly not like this. This being another botched field goal attempt ... a bouncing snap that led to a missed 55-yard field goal. Had Phil Dawson made the kick -- and he converted a 54-yarder earlier -- this would have been an entirely different result.

But don't blame Dawson.

This was another breakdown on the special teams. It was another poor snap by Ryan Pontibriand, the Pro Bowler snapper who also had lousy snap in the final moments of what became the Browns' 13-12 loss to St. Louis. It was the fourth time this season a field goal was missed because of a block and/or bad snap.

Four times in 11 games.

No need to dwell on the obvious about how that didn't seem to happen at all the last few years, when the Browns made special teams very special. But you also won't win road games in the AFC North with mistakes like that.

But there was more, so much more. It wiped out some very good work by the Browns for much of the afternoon.

Yes, the field goal was a mess, but the score was still 20-20. The Bengals had the ball on their own 45 with 1:51 left. Plenty of time to stop them, and get the ball back. Instead, rookie quarterback Andy Dalton connected with leaping rookie receiver A.J. Green -- and it went for 51 yards as the Browns stumbled in coverage.

It's as if they were surprised Dalton would go to Green. Anyway, that set up the game-winning field goal.

Here's the discouraging part for the Browns -- the Bengals were down, 20-10, and appeared still a bit shaken after losing the last two weeks to Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The game came down to the final two minutes. The Browns had the ball. And they blew it.

A bungle, a stumble and a loss in a game that could have been won.

Fickell was named interim coach after Jim Tressel was forced to resign. Buckeyes, short-handed much of season because of suspensions, went 6-6.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerLuke Fickell (photo) was named Ohio State's interim head coach on May 30, replacing Jim Tressel, who had been the Buckeyes' head coach for 10 seasons.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio State Buckeyes finished the 2011 regular season with a 6-6 record, the team's worst showing since 1999, when they went 6-6 with coach John Cooper and did not play in a bowl game.

Ohio State is bowl-eligible this season. Rumors swirl that Saturday's 40-34 loss at Michigan -- or a potential bowl game appearance -- was, or would be, the final game for Luke Fickell as the Buckeyes' head coach.

Fickell was named interim head coach for this season on May 30, when former coach Jim Tressel was asked to resign in the aftermath of Ohio State's memorabilia for tattoos/cash scandal.

From the start, it was understood that Fickell's job would be difficult, Not only would he be replacing the coach that in 10 years had led OSU to three national championship game appearances, including the 2002 season national title.

Fickell would also begin the campaign with an inexperienced quarterback. Terrelle Pryor, the Buckeyes' three-year starting QB but also involved in the memorabilia scandal and other controversies, decided to leave school with one year of eligibility remaining.

Thus, Ohio State began the season with senior Joe Bauserman, 25 and a former minor league baseball player, and true freshman Braxton Miller as its top two quarterbacks. Bauserman got the biggest share of the playing time in the early games, before Miller took over the full-time role as mid-season approached.

The scandal also resulted in multiple-game suspensions for Buckeyes' stars such as offensive tackle Mike Adams, running back Dan Herron and wide receiver DeVier Posey.

Now, the speculation is that Urban Meyer will soon be named as Ohio State's next coach. Meyer, who has taken off the last year from coaching, led Florida to national championships in the 2006 and 2008 seasons. He was born in Toledo, played at Ashtabula St. John High School and the University of Cincinnati, and earned a Master's Degree at Ohio State while serving as a graduate assistant coach in the 1980's.

It is generally acknowledged, even among those who thought that Fickell could have made better coaching decisions, that he did a good job of keeping the team together despite the distractions prior to and during the season. Fickell, 38 and a Columbus native, made 50 straight starts as an Ohio State defensive lineman from 1993-96 and had been the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator before being named the interim coach.

Ohio State's game results this season: 42-0 win over Akron; 27-22 win over Toledo; 24-6 loss at Miami (Fla.); 37-17 win over Colorado; 10-7 loss to Michigan State; 34-27 loss at Nebraska: 17-7 win at Illinois; 33-29 win over Wisconsin; 34-20 win over Indiana; 26-23 loss at Purdue; 20-14 loss to Penn State; 40-34 loss at Michigan.

Listen as The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Joey Morona as the broke down the Browns' 23-20 loss to the Bengals.

Listen to cleveland.com's post-game show. (AP Photo)

Listen as The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Joey Morona broke down the Browns' 23-20 loss to the Bengals during the post-game show.

They talked about the big plays, the questionable decisions late in the game, Colt McCoy's performance and more.

Click on play to listen or download the MP3 here.

Talk about the Browns' game against the Bengals with other fans in our open Browns Fan Chat room. Just remember to play nice with others.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy (12) hands off to running back Peyton Hillis (40) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Talk about these topics and whatever you like with other fans in our open Browns Fan Chat room. Just remember to play nice with others.

Then Monday afternoon, listen and fire away with your questions for Tony Grossi as he'll join us for an audio chat at noon.

Note: To turn off audio alerts, click on round button on bottom left of chat room and click on preferences.

Texans, Titans, Panthers also win. Wells, from Akron Garfield and Ohio State, sets Cardinals' one-game rushing yards record.

Associated PressJets quarterback Mark Sanchez after throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 1:01 left in the game, giving New York a 28-24 win over the Buffalo Bills.

NFL early afternoon games roundup

Jets 28, Bills 24

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey -- One down for the New York Jets -- barely. Five more to go in their desperate playoff push.

Mark Sanchez threw a career-high four touchdown passes, including the winning 16-yard score to Santonio Holmes with just over a minute remaining, as the New York Jets kept pace in the AFC playoff race with a 28-24 comeback victory over the Buffalo Bills.

With several Jets players saying they needed to win each of their last six games to reach the postseason, things appeared bleak with New York (6-5) trailing 24-21 after Dave Rayner's 53-yard field goal and facing a third-and-11 from the Bills 36.

But Sanchez connected with Plaxico Burress, who made an impressive one-handed grab for 18 yards and the first down. Sanchez quickly ran a quarterback sneak and then, on the next play, rolled out to his right to buy some time and found Holmes alone in the right corner of the end zone to give the Jets the lead with 1:01 left.

The Jets then had to overcome a valiant comeback attempt by the Bills (5-6), who have lost four straight. With Buffalo driving for a winning score, a wide-open Stevie Johnson dropped a pass that would have gone for a long gain. Ryan Fitzpatrick also threw behind Johnson in the end zone with 8 seconds left that might have been a touchdown.

Sanchez wasn't great in this one, going 17 of 35 for 180 yards and an interception, but came through with the game on the line. He also threw two touchdown passes to Dustin Keller and another to Burress as the Jets rebounded from a disappointing loss to Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos 10 days ago.

Fitzpatrick was 26 of 39 for 264 yards and three touchdowns, but couldn't pull out one more in the end. Buffalo played without several injured starters, including Fred Jackson and George Wilson.

Johnson had one of the Bills' touchdown catches late in the first half when he got up and mocked being shot in the thigh, clearly making fun of Burress who served 20 months in prison for shooting himself in the leg in a nightclub in 2008 while he was with the Giants. Johnson then ran to the left side of the end zone mocking the "flight" celebration the Jets often use after scoring and fell to the ground, getting flagged 15 yards for excessive celebration on the play that gave Buffalo a 14-7 lead.

That penalty was enforced on the kickoff and helped the Jets score the tying touchdown.

New York was already going to have good field position, but Rayner flubbed a squibbed onside-kick attempt that hit off the Jets' Marquice Cole, who recovered the ball at Buffalo's 36.

The Jets moved to the 14 when Buffalo's Marcell Dareus was hit for a 15-yard penalty for using his helmet to make contact with Sanchez. Three plays later, Burress caught a 14-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to tie it at 14 with 1:03 left in the half. Burress simply bowed to the crowd and ran to the stands and handed the ball to his son Elijah, as he always does after scoring receptions.

The Jets' offense started the third quarter with a nice drive capped by Keller's second touchdown catch of the game that gave New York a 21-14 lead with 3:50 remaining in the period. Keller had a nice leaping 22-yard grab earlier in the drive, and two plays later, the Jets tight end caught a pass from Sanchez at the 6, broke the tackle of Da'Norris Searcy and trudged into the end zone for the score.

After the Jets held the Bills to three-and-out late in the third quarter, Buffalo got the ball right back when cornerback Antonio Cromartie -- who doesn't normally return punts -- muffed the fair catch and Leodis McKelvin recovered at New York's 36. McKelvin injured his ribs on the play and left the game.

Fitzpatrick went for a big play right away, throwing a ball up deep down the right sideline to Brad Smith, who got a hand on it -- along with Cromartie -- and tapped the ball up, grabbed it out of the air as the defender fell and took off into the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown that tied it at 21 with 2:11 remaining in the third quarter.

Buffalo took a 7-0 lead with 1:38 left in the first quarter on an 8-yard touchdown catch by David Nelson, capping a 13-play drive that covered 90 yards. The Bills had three third-down conversions on the drive, which was also helped by a 15-yard facemask penalty on Brodney Pool on the second play.

On first-and-20 from the Jets 46 following a holding penalty on the Bills' Chad Rinehart, Fitzpatrick connected with Johnson for 15 yards. Two plays later, Spiller had a 13-yard grab on third-and-2 to put the ball at the 15. Facing a third-and-1 from the 6, the Bills went with an option play -- shades of what the Jets saw often against Tebow and the Broncos in their last game -- and Spiller got a yard. Two plays later, Fitzpatrick found Nelson in the back of the end zone.

One play after nearly connecting with Holmes for a touchdown, Sanchez pulled off a nice play-action fake and found a wide-open Keller in the left corner of the end zone to tie it at 7 less than 3 minutes into the second quarter.

Falcons 24, Vikings 14

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Atlanta Falcons know how to build a big lead against an overmatched opponent.

Makings things easy at the end? That's another story.

Matt Ryan tossed three touchdown passes and the Atlanta defense came through with a goal-line stand after Percy Harvin's 104-yard kickoff return, preserving a 24-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

This one should have been much easier for the Falcons (7-4). Minnesota (2-9) was without star running back Adrian Peterson, who didn't play because of a sprained left ankle, and the Vikings lost three more players to injuries in the first half.

Associated PressAtlanta quarterback Matt Ryan setting up to pass from his own end zone during the Falcons' 24-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Atlanta raced to a 17-0 lead by halftime. Ryan hooked up with Harry Douglas on a 27-yard touchdown and Roddy White on a 6-yarder. The Vikings had only two first downs and 38 yards until their final possession of the first half, when they padded their numbers a bit against the prevent defense. Still, Minnesota went to the locker room with five first downs and 97 yards.

Instead of putting the Vikings away, the Falcons let them back in the game.

Toby Gerhart, filling in for Peterson, scored on a 1-yard run late in the third quarter. Then, after Dominique Franks inadvertently touched a punt the Falcons were trying to run away from, allowing the Vikings to recover, Christian Ponder went to Harvin for a 39-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-13 to make it 17-14.

Ryan responded with two long completions to White before hitting backup tight end Michael Palmer with a 3-yard touchdown that extended the lead with 6:40 remaining.

Still, the Vikings wouldn't go away.

Harvin took the ensuing kickoff 7 yards deep in the end zone, found a wall of blockers to the right and took off right in front of the Falcons bench. Christopher Owens dived to make a saving tackle at the 3, and that might've saved the Falcons.

The Vikings got it to the 1 and decided to go for the touchdown on fourth down. But Sean Weatherspoon burst into the backfield and stuffed Gerhart right after he took the handoff, throwing him for a 2-yard loss. The Falcons ran out the clock and breathed a big sigh of relief.

The game was a near repeat of Atlanta's performance the previous week against Tennessee, and doesn't bode well for this team -- considered a Super Bowl contender before the season -- making a long run in the playoffs even if they do get in.

The Falcons built a 20-point lead on the Titans but staggered to the finish, barely preserving a 23-17 win.

Now, another close call.

Ryan completed 27 of 34 for 262 yards. White, showing signs of turning around a disappointing season, had his second straight big game with 10 catches for 120 yards.

Ponder was 17 of 25 for 186 yards but was sacked four times and had to scramble away from pressure several more times. Gerhart managed only 44 yards, while Harvin had eight catches for 95 yards to go along with his big return.

Texans 20, Jaguars 13

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- If the Houston Texans are going to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, they might have to do it with their third-string quarterback.

Matt Leinart injured his throwing shoulder, overshadowing Houston's 20-13 victory against the offensively inept Jacksonville Jaguars.

Arian Foster ran for 65 yards and a score, Leinart delivered a perfect touchdown pass to Joel Dreessen before leaving the game and the Texans (8-3) sacked Blaine Gabbert six times. It was good enough for their fifth consecutive win, which moved them a little closer to clinching the AFC South.

But Leinart's shoulder could be a serious setback.

The Texans already lost starter Matt Schaub for the season with a right foot injury. Now, they are down to T.J. Yates and newly signed Kellen Clemens.

Yates completed 8 of 15 passes for 70 yards in relief of Leinart, doing just enough to help the Texans beat the Jaguars (3-8).

Jacksonville benched Gabbert in the fourth quarter. Luke McCown led the team to a late field goal, but his fourth-down pass with about a minute remaining fell incomplete.

Leinart and Schaub stood next to each other for the final snaps, Leinart in a sling and Schaub in a walking boot.

Leinart, making his first start in two years, was hit hard by defensive end Jeremy Mincey late in the second quarter. Leinart completed 10 of 13 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, a 20-yard pass to Dreessen under heavy pressure. He got hurt on the next possession.

Yates replaced him and drove the Texans into position for a field goal that put them ahead 20-10 at halftime.

That was enough to beat Jacksonville, which outgained Houston 255-215 in total yards.

McCown, named the starter five days before the season opener and then benched after two games, replaced Gabbert for the final two series. But he failed to do enough for a comeback.

McCown was 7 of 11 passing for 62 yards. Gabbert was 13 of 29 for 136 yards, with an interception.

The Texans finished with seven sacks, four of them coming from Connor Barwin.

Maurice Jones-Drew was the lone bright spot for Jacksonville's offense. He ran 18 times for 99 yards and caught four passes for 67 more.

Tight end Marcedes Lewis, all alone in the end zone, dropped a pass that would have put Jacksonville ahead 14-7 in the second quarter. Instead, the Jaguars had to settle for a short field goal and a 10-7 lead.

Jacksonville's only touchdown came on Ashton Youboty's 38-yard fumble return on the opening series. Foster fumbled for the first time in 172 carries this season, coughing up the ball on Paul Posluszny's tackle.

Foster bounced back with a 43-yard gain on the next possession and later scored on a 1-yard plunge. It was his fifth consecutive game with a rushing touchdown.

Neil Rackers made it 17-10 with a franchise record-tying 53-yard field goal into a stiff breeze. Jacksonville's Josh Scobee missed a 55-yard attempt, which gave the Texans a short field for Yates.

Andre Johnson, back in the starting lineup after missing several games because of a hamstring injury caught two passes for 22 yards.

Titans 23, Buccaneers 17

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Chris Johnson may quiet the boos and critics for at least a few days, and the Tennessee Titans keep hanging around in the playoff chase.

No matter how ugly it may look.

Johnson ran for a season-high 190 yards, and Matt Hasselbeck threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Damian Williams on fourth-and-2 with 3:01 left and the Titans earned a 23-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Titans (6-5) forced five turnovers and overcame four turnovers of their own. The Bucs outscored them 14-3 off mistakes even though Tennessee got the ball three times on Tampa Bay's side of the field.

But the Titans got the ninth and final turnover of the game when rookie linebacker Colin McCarthy intercepted Josh Freeman with 2:19 left.

The Bucs (4-7) lost their fifth straight even with LeGarrette Blount running for 103 yards.

Freeman threw for 199 yards and a touchdown, but he had an interception and lost a fumble. He also fumbled the snap on fourth-and-1 before being tackled with 40 seconds left to seal the Titans' victory.

Tommie Campbell took a reverse from Marc Mariani and ran 84 yards for a kickoff return, Dave Ball had two sacks, and Rob Bironas kicked field goals of 31, 52 and 38 yards as the Titans keep chasing the Houston Texans (8-3) in the AFC South.

Johnson ran for 44 yards, including a season-long 34-yarder, as Tennessee drove 80 yards to go ahead. But the Titans had to go for it on fourth down, and Hasselbeck rolled right before finding Williams at the back of the end zone for a 20-17 lead. He finished 19 of 34 for 160 yards and two interceptions.

Tampa Bay had been giving up 133.5 yards rushing per game. Johnson shredded the Bucs at times for the third-best rushing game of his career after being booed heavily most of this season after signing a $53.5 million extension.

On a rainy day with a cold front dropping the temperature more than 15 degrees, both teams had a hard time holding onto the ball.

The Bucs tied it up at 10-all just before halftime off Tennessee's second turnover. Javon Ringer fumbled after a short pass from Hasselbeck with the ball popping straight to Bucs safety Tanard Jackson, and he took it 13 yards to the Tennessee 13. Freeman needed only 46 seconds before tossing a 3-yard pass to Mike Williams to tie it up.

It only got worse in the third quarter when the teams had four turnovers combined.

Johnson opened the half running well only to be stripped on his third carry after 13 yards by Aqib Talib. The Bucs had the ball all of three plays before Titans safety Jordan Babineaux stripped it from receiver Mike Williams after a catch. Talib picked off Hasselbeck and ran it back 27 yards for the TD and a 17-10 lead with 12:04 left in the third.

Blount had his second fumble after a short pass from Freeman when Titans rookie tackle Jurrell Casey stripped him of the ball and recovered at the Bucs 29. The Titans got nothing from the turnover. Adrian Clayborn sacked Hasselbeck, and the Titans went three-and-out.

Panthers 27, Colts 19

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Carolina finally found a venue where it could win on the road -- Indianapolis.

Cam Newton threw for 208 yards and ran for one touchdown, while DeAngelo Williams scored twice to help the Panthers hold off the winless Colts 27-19 for their first road victory in nearly two years. Carolina had lost 12 consecutive road games since beating the Giants in New York on Dec. 27, 2009.

Jonathan Stewart ran 10 times for 70 yards, while Williams finished with 15 carries for 69 yards. Newton ran nine times for 53 yards.

The Panthers (3-8) never trailed, but they couldn't put away Indianapolis until the final minute.

Carolina broke a 10-10 halftime tie with a nifty 25-yard TD run from Williams, who sidestepped one defender in the middle of the field, then cut right and outran the Colts defense for the score.

After Indy closed to 17-13 on a 31-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri, Williams scored on a 2-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

But the feisty Colts rallied behind oft-criticized quarterback Curtis Painter. He found Reggie Wayne over the middle, and the receiver slipped a tackle, turned left and sprinted into the end zone for a 56-yard TD, his longest pass play of the season. Austin Collie couldn't haul in Painter's 2-point conversion pass, making the score 24-19.

Carolina followed that with an 81-yard kickoff return by Kealoha Pilares that led to a 41-yard field goal and appeared to have the game wrapped up when Chris Gamble picked off Painter's underthrown ball in the end zone, right in front of Pierre Garcon.

Instead, the Colts defense forced a punt, and Painter converted on fourth-and-5 to get Indianapolis back inside the Carolina 10 with a little more than a minute left. But two plays later, Collie couldn't hang onto Painter's pass, and Sherrod Martin snagged it out of the air and toe-tapped the end line for an interception that finally sealed it.

Carolina built an early 10-0 lead only to see the Colts tie the score on Vinatieri's field goal with 1:46 left in the half. Painter was 2 of 6 in the first half but still set up Vinatieri for a 43-yard kick.

Wayne caught five passes for 122 yards, and Donald Brown ran 14 times for 80 yards for the Colts, who have lost six home games in a season for the sixth time since moving to Indy in 1984.

Newton was 20 of 27 through the air.

Painter was 15 of 29 for 226 yards with one TD and the two interceptions.

Cardinals 23, Rams 20

ST. LOUIS, Missouri -- Beanie Wells ran wild all day. Patrick Peterson needed one touch to make a huge contribution for the Arizona Cardinals.

Peterson tied the NFL record with his fourth punt return for a touchdown this season, Wells set a franchise mark with 228 yards rushing on 27 carries, and the Cardinals won their seventh in a row in St. Louis with a 23-20 victory over the Rams.

Associated PressChris "Beanie" Wells, from Akron Garfield High School and Ohio State, after his 228 rushing yards set a franchise record for the Arizona Cardinals in their 23-20 win over the Rams in St. Louis.

Wells is from Akron Garfield High School and Ohio State. His career day included gains of 71 and 53 yards, the latter setting up Jay Feely's go-ahead 22-yard field goal with 4:12 remaining. Rookie Sam Acho also had a career day on defense with two sacks and a fumble recovery.

That was enough for Arizona (4-7) to overcome another awful outing by John Skelton, who threw two interceptions.

Brandon Lloyd's 16-yard TD catch from Sam Bradford tied it at 20 midway through the fourth quarter. Nick Miller had an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter for the Rams (2-9) only three days after he re-signed with the team.

Peterson was untouched on an 80-yard return up the middle in the third quarter, dodging just a few tacklers before finding clear sailing to put Arizona up 20-10. His 99-yarder in overtime beat the Rams three weeks ago in Arizona, and St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo had vowed that the rookie would not beat them again.

The cornerback from LSU, the fifth pick in the draft, is the fourth player with four punt returns in a season and the first in NFL history with four returns of 80-plus yards.

Wells was an even bigger factor, eclipsing the previous franchise mark of 214 yards by LeShon Johnson in 1996 at New Orleans. In the earlier meeting against the Rams, Wells had just 20 yards on 10 carries.

Acho has five sacks, three against the Rams. His fumble recovery set up Wells' 7-yard scoring run midway through the third quarter.

The Cardinals overcame three turnovers to keep their dominance going in St. Louis, the town they fled for the desert in 1987. It's their longest winning streak against any opponent. They're only 2-5 on the road this year, also winning at Philadelphia earlier this month.

The Rams re-signed Miller on Thursday after placing wide receiver Mark Clayton on injured reserve with a knee injury. He gave them the lead on their only big play of the first half, skirting the defense and scoring untouched with a convoy the last 30 yards of the return.

Arizona was 0 for 5 on third down in the half and had one big play, too. Wells' career-best 71-yard run to the 11 late in the first quarter set up a short field goal.

Poor clock management might have cost the Rams a chance for another touchdown at the end of the half.

Lloyd adjusted his route on an underthrown 26-yard pass to the Arizona 3 with 43 seconds left, then St. Louis went backward with a false start and Acho's second sack for a 9-yard loss. Coaches wasted at least 10 seconds before calling the last timeout with 12 seconds to go, and Bradford overthrew Lloyd in the end zone before the Rams settled for a field goal and a 10-3 lead.

The other players with four punt returns for a TD are Devin Hester (2007), Rick Upchurch (1978) and Jack Christiansen (1951), who was a rookie when he first set the record.

A shortage of scholarship players will likely welcome the new coach for the struggling Zips program.

View full sizeUA photo"We haven't begun those type of discussions yet, myself and the president, about the type of candidate we're looking for," Akron athletic director Tom Wistrcill said after Saturday's dismissal of football coach Rob Ianello.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Now that Akron athletic director Tom Wistrcill has dismissed his hand-picked football coach after just two seasons, the focus will be squarely on the next head coach of the Zips, and how fast that man can create a Mid-American Conference contender.

When Wistrcill let J.D. Brookhart go after the 2009 season, and eventually hired Rob Ianello, the AD proclaimed that Akron "is not a rebuilding job. The cupboard is not bare."

If he sold a full cupboard to Ianello, what does he have for the next coach? What is Wistrcill seeking in a coach that he didn't want before?

"That's a great question," he said Saturday. "I think you first have to decide on the type of person you are looking for. We haven't begun those type of discussions yet, myself and the president, about the type of candidate we're looking for. We're going to look for the best fit we feel can help grow our program here. We'll leave it at that."

Akron has some issues to deal with, not the least of which is a shortage of players. In 2008 Akron was limited to 80 scholarships, five under the 85 limit, for failure to meet the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate. In 2009 the team lost a number of scholarship players during the transition to the Ianello regime.

The Zips were believed to be down to 75 scholarship players at the end of this season, not counting 14 seniors who exhausted their eligibility. With the normal attrition that comes with a coaching change, Akron could be under the 85 limit again next season.

That's not ideal for any new head coach inheriting a 2-22 team over the last two seasons.

Names, names, names: If Akron fans have their way, Jim Tressel and Luke Fickell would be the two finalists. More realistic options include Paul Winters, currently the head coach at Wayne State University. Another possibility is Toledo offensive coordinator Matt Campbell.

Winters is a former offensive coordinator with the Zips under Lee Owens, before rebuilding the WSU program in Detroit. Winters, a native of Akron, has WSU at 10-3 and in the NCAA Division II regional finals.

Campbell, from Massillon, played and graduated from Mount Union, was an offensive line coach at Bowling Green, and has been the offensive coordinator for the high-scoring Rockets the past three seasons.

The end game: The MAC Championship is Friday in Detroit's Ford Field, pitting East winner Ohio (9-3, 6-2) against West champ Northern Illinois (9-3, 7-1).

The teams are near identical in most stat categories with the biggest difference being in points allowed. NIU gives up 32.0 points per game, while the Bobcats allowed 22.0. The teams shared four common opponents - Bowling Green, Ball State, Central Michigan and Kent State -- and each went 3-1. The Huskies lost to CMU, 48-41, while the Bobcats lost to Ball State, 23-20.

Peyton Hillis returned to the lineup, and while his 65 yards against the Bengals wasn't spectacular, it helped open up the Browns' offense.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerPeyton Hillis struggles to pull away from Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium.

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Like an old-time villain, Peyton Hillis swaggered out of the locker room at Paul Brown Stadium adorned in head-to-toe black. Black shirt, black pants, black sports coat. On his feet, a pair of black-and-white cowboy boots.

It was the Peyton Hillis of old.

The Hillis who shot to stardom last season with 1,177 rushing yards was known for his quirky training habits that included pulling pick-up trucks, his brute-force running style in piling up yards, and his penchant for cowboy boots with any type of off-field attire. The Arkansas native's Southern style paired with his thick accent was a constant reminder of his humble roots.

So it made sense that in his first game back since sitting out five with a hamstring injury, he'd try to recapture the Hillis of old.

The Madden NFL 12 cover boy has had a tumultuous season in his first year as a featured back. He missed five games and most of another with a pulled hamstring. He sat another game with strep throat, earning criticism for taking the medical advice of his agent. He traveled out of town mid-week to get married instead of receive treatment for his hamstring injury.

He had an intervention-type conversation with other Browns. And he's had contentious contract renegotiations with management while trying to manage his newfound celebrity status after appearing on the cover of the popular Madden video game.

All the while, he's more often worn flip-flops and sneakers instead of cowboy boots.

Sunday, in the 23-20 loss to the Bengals, Hillis had a chance to start all over again. It wasn't spectacular, but it was a start. He logged 65 yards on 19 carries after originally being ruled out earlier in the week.

Hillis said his recovery from the hamstring injury was aided by a plasma-rich platelet injection, a type of therapy that is thought to aid in muscle repair. He practiced Friday for the first time since he aggravated the hamstring injury in a practice three weeks ago, and passed his pre-game warmup test Sunday afternoon.

However, running mate Montario Hardesty did not. Hardesty felt pain in his torn calf muscle during warmups, so Hillis ended up shouldering the bulk of the load.

"I don't think it's a setback, it's just something I've got to work through," Hardesty said. "I just wasn't ready to go out there and go full, 100 percent on it."

After Chris Ogbonnaya was on the field for the first snap, Hillis slid into the role he held in his breakout season last year. He started slowly, but his presence was enough to keep Cincinnati off-balance enough that QB Colt McCoy had more room to throw.

"Especially early," McCoy said. "I felt like we were moving the ball at will, pretty much."

Hillis wasn't sure what to expect, but was encouraged as the game progressed. In the second quarter, Hillis had 29 yards on five carries, an average of 5.8 yards per carry. Throughout, the former college fullback displayed his blocking skills.

"It's tough when you don't know how things are going to go until you get in the rhythm of things," Hillis said. "Things started going well toward the middle of the game and toward the end. I expect big things. I expect to progress and I'm looking forward to next week."

It wasn't spectacular, but it was a start.

"He did surprisingly well as far as timing and making the right cuts," left tackle Joe Thomas said. "I think he'll be really happy watching the tape."

It's not exactly the cowboy boot-wearing Peyton Hillis of old, but it was a step toward recapturing it.

St. Ignatius plays Pickerington Central on Saturday in a Division I game. Division II Avon meets Trotwood-Madison and Division V Kirtland plays Coldwater in Friday games. Links to stories.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerKirtland's Nick Dhondt celebrates after intercepting a tipped Bucyrus Wynford pass and running it back 30 yards for a touchdown during the Hornets' 42-0 state semifinal win on Friday in Canton.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- St. Ignatius, Avon and Kirtland carry the banner for area teams as Friday and Saturday's high school football state championship games approach.

St. Ignatius (12-2) will play Pickerington Central (11-2) for the Division I state title on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Canton Fawcett Stadium.

St. Ignatius has a 10-1 record in 11 championship contests -- all of them since 1988. The Wildcats earned their last title in 2008.

Pickerington Central's Tigers lost the only championship game in school history, in 2006.

The Division II state championship game will match Avon's Eagles (13-1) against Trotwood-Madison's Rams (14-0) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Avon's advance to this season's Final Four was the fifth in school history -- all since 1996 -- but this will be the Eagles' first championship game appearance.

The Rams are 0-2 in title games, including last season's 45-33 loss to Maple Heights.

Kirtland's Hornets (14-0) play Coldwater's Cavaliers (11-3) in Friday's 11 a.m. Division V championship game at Tiger Stadium.

Kirtland has now advanced to seven Final Fours -- all since 1990 -- but this will be the first championship game in Hornets' history.

Coldwater is 2-3 in state title games, including a 51-21 loss to Youngstown Ursuline last season.

St. Ignatius defeated Toledo Whitmer, 17-6, in a state semifinal on Saturday night, as The Plain Dealer's Bob Fortuna wrote in his game story. The PD's Tim Rogers wrote that defense keyed the Wildcats' win. And, some thoughts on the game from The PD's Tim Warsinskey. Also, a PD photo gallery on the St. Ignatius-Toledo Whitmer game by Joshua Gunter.

In a Friday night state semifinal, Avon defeated Aurora, 43-20, as Bob Migra wrote in his PD game story. And, a PD photo gallery on the Avon-Aurora game by Gus Chan.

The Aurora community grieved the loss of sophomore lineman Paul McGhee, who had died in a one-car accident on Thanksgiving afternoon. The Plain Dealer's Tim Warsinskey wrote about the tragedy and the feelings of some who knew Paul.  

In another Friday night state semifinal, Kirtland routed Bucyrus Wynford, 42-0, as detailed in the game story by The PD's Joe Maxse. Also, another Kirtland-Bucyrus Wynford story by Joe Magill for The PD. And, a PD photo gallery on the Kirtland game by Joshua Gunter.

The opponents

Pickerington Central advanced to its championship game matchup with St. Ignatius by defeating Cincinnati St. Xavier, 14-7, in a Saturday night state semifinal, as Steve Blackledge wrote for the Columbus Dispatch.

Game story on the Pickerington Central win by Tom Ramstetter for the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Trotwood-Madison held on for a wild 47-44 win over Marion-Franklin in a state semifinal on Friday night, advancing to the title game against Avon. Steve Blackledge wrote the game story for the Columbus Dispatch.

Trotwood-Madison's 47-44 win over Marion-Franklin, by Marc F. Pendleton of the Dayton Daily News.

FoxToledo.com video highlights of Coldwater's 41-21 state semifinal win over Hicksville, moving the Cavaliers into the state title game against Kirtland.

Game story on Coldwater's 41-21 state semifinal win over Hicksville, by Brian Smith for The Evening Leader in St. Marys.

A third man charges Fine with sexual abuse, and a ESPN audiotape indicates Fine's wife knew of alleged "issues".

View full sizeAP fileIn this March 25, 2010, file photo, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim (left) and associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine sit on the bench at the end an NCAA West Regional semifinal college basketball game against Butler in Salt Lake City. Fine was fired Sunday in the wake of an investigation of child molestation allegations against him. In statement released Sunday night, Kevin Quinn, the school's senior vice president for public affairs, says Fine has been "terminated, effective immediately."

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse University fired associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine on Sunday in the wake of an investigation of child molestation allegations against him.

"At the direction of Chancellor Cantor, Bernie Fine's employment with Syracuse University has been terminated, effective immediately," Kevin Quinn, the school's senior vice president for public affairs, said in a statement.

The 65-year-old Fine was in his 36th season at his alma mater. He had the longest active streak of consecutive seasons at one school among assistant coaches in Division I.

Fine's firing comes in the wake of new revelations Sunday, including a third accuser. Syracuse had placed Fine on paid administrative leave when accusations first surfaced.

Two former Syracuse ball boys were the first to accuse Fine, who has called the allegations "patently false."

Zach Tomaselli, 23, of Lewiston, Maine, said Sunday that he told police that Fine molested him in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room. He said Fine touched him "multiple" times in that one incident.

Tomaselli, who faces sexual assault charges in Maine involving a 14-year-old boy, said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press that he signed an affidavit accusing Fine following a meeting with Syracuse police last week in Albany.

Tomaselli's father, meanwhile, maintains his son is lying.

Two former Syracuse ball boys were the first to accuse Fine, who has called the allegations "patently false."

Bobby Davis, now 39, told ESPN that Fine molested him beginning in 1984 and that the sexual contact continued until he was around 27. A ball boy for six years, Davis told ESPN that the abuse occurred at Fine's home, at Syracuse basketball facilities and on team road trips, including the 1987 Final Four.

Davis' stepbrother, Mike Lang, 45, who also was a ball boy, told ESPN that Fine began molesting him while he was in fifth or sixth grade.

No one answered the door at the Fine home Sunday. Earlier in the day, his attorneys released a statement saying Fine would not comment beyond his initial statement.

"Any comment from him would only invite and perpetuate ancient and suspect claims," attorneys Donald Martin and Karl Sleight said. "Mr. Fine remains hopeful of a credible and expeditious review of the relevant issues by law enforcement authorities."

Pete Moore, director of athletic communications at the university, said head coach Jim Boeheim "is not commenting further on the subject at this time."

When a reporter called Boeheim after Fine was fired, he hung up.

During his long career with Syracuse, Fine tutored the likes of Derrick Coleman, LeRon Ellis and John Wallace in his role of working with post players. Coleman was the top pick in the 1990 NBA draft, Ellis was the Clippers' 22nd overall choice in 1991, and Wallace was picked 18th in 1996 by the New York Knicks.

Boeheim and Fine met at Syracuse University in 1963, when Fine was student manager of the basketball team. Fine graduated in 1967 with a degree in personal and industrial relations and went into business for himself.

In 1970, Fine was named basketball and football coach at Lincoln Junior High in Syracuse and went to Henninger High School the next year as the junior varsity basketball coach. He became varsity basketball coach in 1975. When Boeheim was chosen to succeed Roy Danforth at Syracuse in 1976 Boeheim offered Fine a job as an assistant.

Fine was an integral part of the staff that guided Syracuse to the national championship in 2003. During his tenure the Orange also made two other appearances in the NCAA title game, losing in 1987 to Indiana and in 1996 to Kentucky. He also guided the U.S. Maccabiah team to a silver medal at the 1993 World Maccabiah Games in Israel and has served as director of a successful basketball camp in the Northeast.

Tomaselli said the scandal at Penn State involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky prompted him to come forward. Sandusky is accused in a grand jury indictment of sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year period.

"It was the Sandusky stuff that came out that really made me think about it," Tomaselli said in the phone interview. "A lot of people were slamming ESPN and Bobby for saying anything. I wanted to come out. ... It made me sick to see all that support for Fine at that point. I was positive he was guilty."

Tomaselli told the Post-Standard that he didn't ask Syracuse police or federal authorities for help in getting the criminal charges dismissed against him in Maine.

Tomaselli was arrested in April on 11 warrants charging gross sexual assault, tampering with a victim, two counts of unlawful sexual contact, five counts of visual sexual aggression against a child and unlawful sexual touching and unlawful sexual contact, Lewiston police said Sunday. They did not say what led to the charges. He has pleaded not guilty.

Tomaselli told the Post-Standard he met Fine after he and his father, Fred, attended a Syracuse autograph session on campus in late 2001.

The newspaper reported that Fine later called Tomaselli's parents to arrange for Tomaselli to go to Pittsburgh with the athletic department staff on a chartered bus, spend the night in Fine's hotel room and attend the team's game on Jan. 22, 2002.

Tomaselli told the Post-Standard that he had dinner with the team, then returned to the hotel room where he accused Fine of putting porn on the TV and fondling him in bed.

Tomaselli attended the basketball game the next day, sitting several rows behind the bench, and rode the chartered bus back to Syracuse, the newspaper reported.

"The one time there was multiple incidents in that one night, but there was only one night that he ever sexually abused me," Tomaselli told the AP.

However, during a phone interview with the AP, Fred Tomaselli said: "I'm 100 percent sure that Bernie Fine was never in contact with Zach. He never went to Pittsburgh to a game, never been to that arena."

"I brought him to a couple of games in Syracuse. We always sat in the nosebleed section and left after the game. He never stayed for any overnighters and never even got within shouting distance of Bernie."

The Post-Standard also reported that Zach Tomaselli was invited by Fine to a party at his home after the Syracuse-Pitt game on Feb. 1, 2003 -- a game where Zach Tomaselli said Fine arranged seats for him and his father several rows behind the bench.

Tomaselli told the newspaper his father, who was unable to attend the party, allowed him to go to Fine's house and stay the night.

While there, Tomaselli told the AP, Fine asked him to get into bed and that Fine's wife, Laurie, was there when it happened.

"I told them (police) that Laurie was standing right there when Bernie asked me to sleep in a bed. Laurie knew all about it," he said during the phone interview.

On Sunday, ESPN played an audiotape, obtained and recorded by Davis, of an October 2002 telephone conversation between him and Laurie Fine.

Davis told ESPN he made the recording, which also has been given to Syracuse police, without her knowledge because he knew he needed proof for the police to believe his accusations. ESPN said it hired a voice recognition expert to verify the voice on the tape and the network said it was determined to be that of Laurie Fine.

Davis also acknowledged in an interview with ESPN that he and Laurie Fine had a sexual relationship when he was 18, and that he eventually told Bernie Fine about it.

"I thought he was going to kill me, but I had to tell him," Davis said. "It didn't faze him one bit."

During the call to the woman, Davis repeatedly asks her what she knew about the alleged molestation.

"Do you think I'm the only one that he's ever done that to?" Davis asked.

"No ... I think there might have been others but it was geared to ... there was something about you," the woman on the tape said.

On the tape, she also says she knew "everything that went on."

"Bernie has issues, maybe that he's not aware of, but he has issues. ... And you trusted somebody you shouldn't have trusted ... "

During the call, Davis tells her he asked her husband in the late 1990s for $5,000 to help pay off his student loans.

"When he gave you the money, what does he want for that?" she asked.

He tells her that Fine wanted to engage in sexual activity in several ways.

"... And I'd try to go away, and he'd put his arm on top of my chest. He goes, 'If you want this money, you'll stay right here,'" Davis said.

"Right. Right," she said. "He just has a nasty attitude, because he didn't get his money, nor did he get what he wanted."

On Friday, federal authorities carried out a search at his Fine's suburban Syracuse home but declined to comment on what they were looking for.

New York State Police spokesman Jack Keller said troopers were called to assist the U.S. attorney's office at the search. At least six police vehicles were parked on the street during the search, which lasted around nine hours. Officers carted away three file cabinets and a computer for further examination.

Tebow completed several key passes as the Denver offense began to rally late in the first half and the defense excelled. Patriots all but end would-be "Dream Team" Eagles' playoff hopes. Sebastian Janikowski's six field goals key Raiders' win.

Associated PressBroncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) eludes pressure from Chargers outside linebacker Travis LaBoy during Denver's 16-13 overtime win at San Diego.

NFL late afternoon games roundup

Broncos 16, Chargers 13

SAN DIEGO -- Tebow Time had just seconds to spare in overtime before the Denver Broncos beat the staggering San Diego Chargers.

Matt Prater kicked a 37-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in overtime to lift Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos to a 16-13 victory over the Chargers, who've lost six straight games for the first time in 10 years.

The Broncos narrowly avoided the first NFL tie since Cincinnati and Philadelphia ended deadlocked at 13 on Nov. 16, 2008.

Tebow, now 5-1 as the Broncos' starter, led Denver from its 43 after San Diego's Nick Novak was wide right on a 53-yard field goal attempt with 2:31 left in overtime. Novak made a 53-yarder in the first quarter, a career-best, and was wide right on a 48-yard try early in the fourth quarter.

Tebow had a 12-yard gain and Willis McGahee ran 24 yards up the middle to set up Prater's winning kick, which was right down the middle.

Tebow, the talk of the NFL because he runs the read option and sometimes struggles while passing, carried 22 times for 67 yards -- the most carries by a quarterback in a game since at 1950, according to STATS LLC. He also threw for one touchdown and finished with a better rating than Philip Rivers, 95.4 to 77.1. Rivers was pressured all day by Elvis Dumervil, who had two sacks, and rookie Von Miller, who had one.

The Broncos (6-5) won their fourth straight game and remained in second place in the AFC West. The Chargers (4-7) are on their longest streak since ending 2001 with nine straight defeats and are last in the division, three games behind Oakland with five to play.

Tebow's first start was also an overtime win, 18-15 at Miami on Oct. 23.

Tebow got a final chance to try to win it in regulation after the Broncos forced the Chargers to punt. Starting on his own 26, Tebow kept the drive going with a 39-yard completion to Eric Decker -- which the Chargers unsuccessfully challenged -- and a 23-yarder to Dante Rosario. The Broncos had to settle for Prater's 24-yard field goal that tied it at 13 with 1:34 to go.

Referee Jeff Triplette confused the crowd and TV viewers by saying each team would get a possession in OT. He then corrected himself, saying it would be sudden-death.

The Broncos won it on their third possession in OT.

McGahee ran 23 times for 117 yards. A week after having a critical fumble in a loss at Chicago, San Diego's Ryan Mathews ran 22 times for 137 yards.

Rivers was 19 of 36 for 188 yards. Tebow was 9 of 18 for 143 yards. Again, he didn't throw an interception. Tebow has thrown just one interception in 143 passes this season.

The Chargers took a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter when Rivers hit Antonio Gates on a 6-yard scoring pass in the back of the end zone to cap a 15-play, 91-yard drive. On San Diego's first drive, Novak kicked a career-best 53-yard field goal.

The Broncos forced a Chargers punt and started a drive with 1:27 left before halftime at the San Diego 46. Tebow threw a 20-yard pass to Daniel Fells, who fumbled near a swarm of defenders. Somehow, Denver tackle Orlando Franklin recovered at the 24. After a 1-yard gain by Tebow and a penalty against cornerback Quentin Jammer, Decker slipped behind the coverage and Tebow hit him for an 18-yard TD to pull to 10-7.

The Chargers had to settle for Novak's 25-yard field goal early in the third quarter. Denver had a long drive later in the quarter before Prater kicked a 41-yard field goal to pull to 13-10.

Patriots 38, Eagles 20

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania -- Tom Brady had his way against the Philadelphia Eagles -- again.

Brady threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns and the New England Patriots earned a 38-20 win over the Eagles in a rematch of the 2005 Super Bowl.

Filling in for the injured Michael Vick for the second straight game, Vince Young couldn't keep Philadelphia's fading playoff hopes alive despite throwing for a career-best 400 yards passing. The Eagles (4-7) are all-but-mathematically eliminated from playoff contention in a season that began with Super Bowl expectations.

Angry fans made their feelings known about coach Andy Reid, chanting "Fire Andy!" in the second half.

The defending NFC East champions fell to 1-5 at home and have lost eight of nine at the Linc, including a playoff loss to Green Bay last January.

Down 10-0 early, the AFC East-leading Patriots rallied behind Brady. New England (8-3) scored on five of its next six possessions, excluding a kneel-down at the end of the first half.

Brady and coach Bill Belichick improved to 4-0 against Reid's Eagles, including a 24-21 win for their third NFL title in four years after the 2004 season.

Brady finished 24 of 34, Deion Branch had 125 yards receiving and Wes Welker caught eight passes for 115 yards and two TDs.

Brady, a two-time NFL MVP, has completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 1,232 yards, nine TDs and no interceptions in four career games against Philadelphia.

Young led the Eagles to a 17-10 win against the New York Giants last week in his first start in nearly a year. He put up decent numbers against the worst-ranked defense in the league, but couldn't overcome another inept performance by the Eagles' defense.

Young finished 26 of 48. It was just his third career game over 300 yards.

Vick broke two lower ribs in a loss to Arizona on Nov. 13. He got hurt on the second play of that game and stayed in, but hasn't practiced the last two weeks. It's uncertain whether Vick can play when Philadelphia visits Seattle on Thursday night.

After a fast start, the Eagles fizzled.

Brady engineered a 70-yard drive capped by BenJarvus Green-Ellis' 4-yard TD run to cut it to 10-7. The Pats converted two third downs on the drive, including two by penalty.

Helped by a missed call, New England's defense then forced a three-and-out. Young was sacked by Rob Ninkovich, who spun the quarterback down by pulling his facemask. But the referees didn't see it, eliciting loud boos from the crowd when the replay was shown on the video screen.

One play after just-signed Tiquan Underwood dropped a wide-open pass, Brady connected with Branch for 63 yards to the Eagles 1 on a third-and-13. Green-Ellis scored on the next play to put the Patriots up 14-10.

Antwaun Molden intercepted Young's deep pass intended for DeSean Jackson on Philadelphia's next play and returned it 27 yards to the Eagles 34. But the Patriots couldn't convert the turnover into points. Stephen Gostkowski missed a 39-yard field goal wide right.

No problem for Brady and Co.

The Eagles went three-and-out again, and the Patriots went to a no-huddle when they got the ball back.

Welker blew past the secondary and Brady hit his wide-open target in stride for a 41-yard TD pass to give New England a 21-10 lead.

DeSean Jackson dropped what should've been a 4-yard TD pass and the Eagles settled for a 22-yard field goal to get within 21-13.

It was the second time in the first half that Jackson appeared to shy away from contact and dropped a pass across the middle. Fans let him hear it with a chorus of boos. Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, is in the final year of his rookie contract and has been unhappy that he didn't get a new deal. He dropped a deep pass that should've been a TD in the third quarter.

The Patriots got the ball to start the second half and Brady led them into the end zone again, tossing a 9-yard TD pass to Welker for a 31-13 lead.

Brady threw a 24-yard TD pass to Rob Gronkowski to extend it to 38-13 in the fourth quarter.

Young came out firing. He tossed a 22-yard pass to Brent Celek on the first play from scrimmage. Then he connected with Riley Cooper for 58 yards to the Patriots 4. LeSean McCoy ran in from the 2 to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.

Young hit Jackson for a 44-yard gain to the Patriots 36 on the first play of the next series. The Eagles' drive stalled at the 25 after three consecutive dropped passes, and Alex Henery kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

Besides Vick, the Eagles didn't have leading receiver Jeremy Maclin or nickel cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha didn't start after injuring his knee in practice on Thanksgiving Day, though he played in some situations.

The Patriots played without three starters: cornerback Devin McCourty, safety Patrick Chung and center Dan Connolly.

Raiders 25, Bears 20

OAKLAND, California -- Sebastian Janikowski kicked a team-record six field goals and the Oakland Raiders took advantage of three interceptions from Chicago's fill-in starter Caleb Hanie in a 25-20 win over the Bears.

Carson Palmer threw for 301 yards and Michael Bush iced the game with a touchdown run in the fourth quarter to lead the Raiders (7-4) to their third straight win against a Bears team missing starting quarterback Jay Cutler.

Hanie struggled in his first career start in place of Cutler, who broke his right thumb last week in Chicago's sixth straight win to put a major obstacle into what had been a promising season for the Bears (7-4).

Palmer completed 21 of 37 passes, with no touchdown throws and one interception.

Hanie had his moments. He completed 18 of 36 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Johnny Knox caught a 19-yard TD pass from Hanie, and finished with four receptions for 145 yards.

Hanie and Knox connected on an 81-yard pass to set up Hanie's 9-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Davis, pulling Chicago to within 25-20 with 2:11 left.

Oakland then recovered an onside kick at its 46, before having to punt. The Bears took over on their own 4 with 1:01 to go, and had advanced to their own 46 when time ran out.

Redskins 23, Seahawks 17

SEATTLE, Washington -- Rex Grossman finally came up with a game-winning pass to help the Washington Redskins end their six-game losing streak.

Grossman threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Armstrong on third-and-19 midway through the fourth quarter to cap Washington's rally from 10 points down as the Redskins earned a 23-17 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Grossman was brilliant early, shaky in the middle and then great again in the fourth quarter for Washington (4-7).

The loss all but ended what little hopes the Seahawks (4-7) had of getting back into the NFC playoff picture.

Grossman threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Fred Davis as part of Washington's nearly perfect first quarter, threw a pair of interceptions in the second and third quarters, then led two touchdown drives in the fourth after Seattle took a 17-7 lead.

Grossman finished 26 of 35 for 314 yards. He was 7 of 9 in the fourth quarter with no throw bigger than his long pass for Armstrong, who out maneuvered Seattle cornerback Brandon Browner in the corner of the end zone.

The touchdown came one play after Grossman was called for intentional grounding while getting driven to the turf. Grossman stepped up in the pocket to avoid the pass rush, then unloaded his toss for Armstrong.

Washington's defense then held Seattle twice in the final 6 minutes, the last time when Seattle QB Tarvaris Jackson failed to get rid of the ball against a blitz on fourth-and-5 at his 23 with 2:07 left.

The Redskins ended their longest skid since losing the first seven games of the 1998 season.

Rookie running back Roy Helu added a highlight-reel 28-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter -- his first NFL rushing touchdown -- and finished with 108 yards on 23 carries.

Graham Gano added a 25-yard field goal with 1:06 left after having a 23-yarder blocked earlier in the game.

Marshawn Lynch rushed for 111 yards and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, but Seattle saw its chance at the first three-game win streak under coach Pete Carroll crumble under too many mistakes.

Jackson was 14 of 30 for 144 yards and was intercepted in the final minute by DeAngelo Hall. Seattle also committed nine penalties.

For a while, it looked as if the Redskins would match that losing mark from 13 years ago. Seattle took a 17-7 lead early in the fourth quarter when Jackson found Golden Tate on a 15-yard touchdown. But that 10-point lead was short-lived.

Washington quickly went down the field finally showing some of the offensive pop missing since the first quarter. Grossman was 4 of 5 passing on the drive, before Helu's first rushing touchdown.

On third-and-3 at the Seattle 28, Helu took a quick pitch out of the shotgun, sprinted into an opening, hurdled over Seattle defensive back Roy Lewis and through the tackle attempt of safety Kam Chancellor on his way to the touchdown run.

Washington immediately forced a three-and-out with LaRon Landry and Brian Orakpo arriving to sandwich Jackson for a painful third-down sack and Washington was at its own 44 with 7:55 left following the punt.

The Redskins got to the Seattle 38 but Grossman was flagged for intentional grounding on second-and-7, before making his toss to Armstrong. The extra point was blocked.

Washington had 172 yards in the first quarter and scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the first time all season when Fred Davis caught a 2-yard pass from Grossman for a 7-0 lead.

It was just the Redskins' second first-quarter touchdown of the season and a drive kept alive by a third-down defensive holding penalty on Browner away from the play early in the possession.

Browner and Richard Sherman later intercepted Grossman, with Browner's pick leading to Lynch's touchdown catch on a swing pass. Steven Hauschka also made a 36-yard field goal to give Seattle a 10-7 lead in the third quarter.

Browns cornerback Joe Haden left Sunday's game in a testy mood after getting beat A.J. Green on the 51-yard pass that set up the game-winning field goal for the Bengals.

View full sizeAl Behrman, Associated PressJoe Haden shoves A.J. Green out of bounds after Green's leaping catch of an Andy Dalton pass moved the Bengals deep into Browns territory late in Sunday's game. "Andy just threw a great timing ball," said Green. "I just went up and got it."

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Joe Haden left Sunday's game with a nasty black eye, a red-hot temper and a big Green nemesis.

For the second time this season, Bengals rookie receiver A.J. Green destroyed the Browns on a huge play -- this time a 51-yarder over Haden to set up the game-winning field goal in Cincinnati's 23-20 victory. He would've scored on the play, but Haden caught up and knocked him out of bounds at the 2.

"It doesn't matter who did it, it still sucks," said Haden. "No matter who would have caught the ball, he ended up doing it. We lost. They made more plays than us."

Green, who caught a 41-yard game-winner on a quick snap in the first meeting in September, caught three passes for 110 yards. All came against Haden and all led to scores. His 24-yarder in the first quarter set up Cedric Benson's 16-yard TD run and his 35-yarder in the third set up Jermaine Gresham's 22-yard TD catch.

"It was just a good player making good plays," said Haden. "I don't know what the hell happened [on the 51-yarder], but he's a really great player who made a really great play."

The deciding play began with 1:08 remaining, with the Bengals facing third-and-8 at their 47. Quarterback Andy Dalton launched the strike over the middle just before Browns tackle Ahtyba Rubin hit him. The 6-4 Green jumped up over the 5-11 Haden and snatched the high pass at the 30, then dashed to the right with Haden in hot pursuit.

"He ran a dig route and we were all over it," Haden said. "He fluttered it up in the air and we went for the undercut. He just jumped, he was high and caught the ball. It was everybody there and he just broke out."

Explained Green: "It was an in route. I got the inside leverage with him. And Andy just threw a great timing ball. I just went up and got it. [Haden] was undercutting a lot of stuff that was under. I just went right in front of him and got it."

Green, the No. 4 overall pick, admitted that he's virtually untouchable in that situation. "Nothing's too high if I'm running that fast," he said. "Once I get a running start, I can probably get anything."

In the opener, Green caught only one pass -- the game-winner. All told, it's now four catches against the Browns -- and two that won games.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerAndy Dalton withstood Ahtyba Rubin's hard rush to deliver the game's deciding pass to A.J. Green.

In the first meeting, Green was targeted four times, but Haden broke up five passes that day and shut Green down until the quick snap at the end. This game, Green won the battle between the two first-round picks that promises to be lively for years to come.

"Oh, it's friendly, man," said Green, who played for Georgia against Haden's Florida Gators. "Joe's a great player. I had the privilege of playing him [twice] in college. He's going to be a good one. I look forward to that challenge two times a year."

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis admitted he's never seen a receiver better at getting to the ball than Green.

"He's the best first-round draft pick that I've ever been around," said Lewis. "He continues to amaze me every day. Practice, games, whatever it is. His demeanor. His abilities. Whatever he does. He's a phenomenal athlete."

Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden knew the Browns would be in man-to-man with a safety deep on third-and-long.

"We wanted to give [Dalton] some options," Gruden told the team's Web site. "We had Jermaine running down the seam, [receiver Andre] Caldwell down the seam, [receiver Jerome Simpson] on a back-side route, and A.J. across the middle and if we got [man-to-man] we wanted A.J. to release inside and try to work [cornerback Joe] Haden. Their best against our best and it worked out for us."

He described the dynamic duo of rookies Dalton and Green "beyond their years athletically and knowledge of football."

Said safety Mike Adams: "If he wouldn't have gone up and gotten the ball, it would've fell right in my hands. I would've gotten it, but coulda, shoulda, woulda. He made a big play. That's what they expect out of him, man. He's their No. 1 guy so kudos to him. It was a great catch and a play like that is a heartbreaker."

But Adams isn't ready to canonize the rookie.

"He had three catches," said Adams. "I think he's okay. He's going to be good. But I'm not ready to take him to the Pro Bowl yet."

On Twitter: @marykaycabot