Browns 23, Bengals 20
Peyton Hillis ran for 102 yards and a touchdown, Phil Dawson kicked three field goals and the host Cleveland Browns ended the Cincinnati Bengals’ record seven-game division winning streak with a 23-20 victory on Sunday.
Seneca Wallace threw for 184 yards and a touchdown in his third straight start for Cleveland (1-3), which handed the Bengals (2-2) their first AFC North loss since Nov. 20, 2008.
The Browns also beat Cincinnati for the first time since Sept. 20, 2008.
Cleveland overcame a huge day from Terrell Owens, who had 10 catches for 222 yards and a touchdown and moved into second place on the NFL’s all-time receiving yards list behind Jerry Rice.
The Browns’ defense had been victimized all day, but it came up with a big play when the Bengals were driving for the potential tying field goal.
After Chad Ochocinco was flagged for offensive pass interference, Matt Roth sacked Carson Palmer at the Cleveland 45-yard line, forcing a punt.
Cleveland then ran out the clock behind Hillis, who ran for a career-high 144 yards last week against Baltimore.
Palmer was 25 of 36 for a season-high 371 yards and two scores. His 3-yard touchdown pass to Brian Leonard cut the Browns’ lead to 23-20 with 10:44 left in the fourth.