Cleveland 34, Cincinnati 24

The Cleveland Browns earned their first win of the season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. Here are thoughts, news and opinions while watching the game.

Opening Rant

Nice going Scott Fujita: once again selfishly putting yourself ahead of your team.

Instead of practicing and being a leader on the field (he's inactive today), you're spending time challenging Roger Goodell over the bounty scandal. D'Qwell Jackson suffered a concussion last week and he's going to play today.

Memo to Fujita: Give it up. End this distraction.
Focus on rehabbing your phantom shoulder ... er ... neck ... er ... whatever injury you have and get on the field. This has gone on long enough. It's time for you to be accountable and take ownership for your actions/non-actions when you were with the Saints.

Pre-Game

Happy Birthday to rookie QB Brandon Weeden who turns 29 today. 43 Bengals are younger than Weeden.

The Browns have lost 11 straight games (4 straight against Cincinnati). Head Coach Pat Shurmur is 0-8 vs. the AFC North (team has lost 12 straight against Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore).

Browns Inactives today include WR Massaquoi, WR Benjamin, WR Norwood, OL Miller, LB Fujita, DB Patterson, DB Gipson and DT Rubin. More on Fujita below.

The transfer of the Cleveland Browns ownership from Randy Lerner to Jimmy Haslam III could take place this week. Pro Football Talk reports that Haslam could also keep a minority stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

First Quarter

Richardson and Pinkston getting checked on the sidelines.

Weeden picked off – that's 10 in 6 games. Pass tipped by Geno Atkins and Michael Johnson picked it off. Browns have now committed at least one turnover in 24 straight games dating back to end of 2010 season, longest current streak in NFL.

TD Bengals. Jermaine Gresham 55-yards. Young and Robertson missed tackles. Cleveland has to be one of the worst tackling teams in the league.

John Greco replaces Jason Pinkston at LG

Bengals sniff out the swing pass to Chris Ogbonnaya on 3rd down - loses 5 yards on 3rd and 7

Gresham drops a pass from Andy Dalton that could have gone for another TD. Browns catch a break.

1st Q stats: Richardson 7/23 & 2rec/17, Weeden 6/10 61 & INT, Cooper 2/39; Dalton 3/5 64 TD, Gresham 2/59 TD, Green-Ellis 4/13

Cincinnati 7, Cleveland 0

2nd Quarter

Weeden another bomb to wide open Josh Gordon on 3rd & 8, 71 yards for the TD; sweet 1 handed catch 7-7. Gordon got behind Reggie Nelson. Josh Gordon's last 3 catches: 62y TD, 20y TD, 71y TD.

Browns 5 of 6 and a TD on third downs.

Alex Mack hits with unsportsmanlike conduct after a running play. Backed the Browns back to their 10-yard line.

Joe Haden was sorely missed. Great first game back. A.J. Green just two catches. Haden with numerous pass breakups and key tackles especially on the 3rd down shovel pass to Leonard.

Andy Dalton to A.J. Green 4-yard TD; 14-7 Bengals w/ 1:54 to play in the half (4 plays 27 yards). Short field set up by a huge punt return by Brandon Tate.

In 6 games, the Browns have given up scores 5 times in final 5:00 of 1st half for total of 23 points. (10 v. NYG).

Bengals leave points on the field - can't get spike play off from the Browns 16. Time runs out.

Halftime Stats: Weeden 9/14 139 TD/INT; Dalton 13/18 163 2TD; Richardson 11/31 & 2/17; GreenEllis 10/45; Cooper 2/39, Gordon 1/71 TD; Green 4/53 TD

Cincinnati 14, Cleveland 7

3rd Quarter

Browns now have 0 TDs on opening possession of 2nd half in 30 games

Owen Marecic drops another pass - why is he on the field? Can't block, can't catch - bad combo for a FB

Josh Cribbs with 60 yard punt return to Bengals 30 yard line

Phil Dawson 41-yard FG - now 11-11 on the season

Since Gordon TD, the Browns have run 19 plays for 15 yards

Joe Haden with an INT - picks off Dalton who was looking for AJ Green

Weeden sacked - 7 straight offensive 3 & outs for Browns

Everyone will freak out about the play call on 3rd and 1 but Richardson has to make his block there.

Dawson 12-12 with 38 yard FG to cut Bengals lead to 1 at 14-13 w/ 6:27 to play in the 3rd

Browns tried reverse flea flicker -Weeden hands to Hardesty in motion, flips to Cribbs, wanted to throw, no one open so 8 yard run.

Montario Hardesty will be the running back going forward. Trent Richardson is out after the pain of a helmet hit to his side early in the game got worse.

The Browns spent a lot of effort for that QB sneak on 3rd and 1

Cincinnati 14, Cleveland 13

4th Quarter

Montario Hardesty 1 yard TD run give the Browns lead for 1st time today 20-14 with 14:56 to play in the 4th (10 plays 66 yards 5:17).

Mike Nugent 44 yard FG cuts it to 20-17 with 11:11 to play

Josh Cribbs with a 44-yard kickoff return - after a 60-yard punt return earlier this half.

Weeden finds Ben Watson wide open for 2 yard TD with 8:00 left. Cleveland 27, Cincinnati 17

Sheldon Brown a pick 6 of Andy Dalton - 19 yards for at TD. Cleveland 34, Cincinnati 17. 3rd INT ret for TD of Dalton this year. Brown now has 6 career defensive TDs

Dalton bomb to AJ Green 57 yards cuts it to 34-24

Andy Dalton sacked by Emmanuel Stephens (first career sack), fumble recovered by Billy Winn - races 35 yards and that should be the final nail

Final Score: Cleveland 34, Cincinnati 24

The Browns won the 1st & last games of the Randy Lerner era. They defeated the Jets the game after Al passed away.

Coincidentally, the Bengals were also the victims in the Browns’ last home win of the Art Modell era in 1995 and were the team against which the Browns ended their only other 11-game losing streak in 1975.

A.J. Green finishes with 135 yards receiving and two touchdowns (one against Usama Young, one vs. Joe Haden)

Andy Dalton, who threw 46 times for 381 yards and three TDs, but was intercepted three times.

Pat Shurmur earns his first career win agaisnt a team with a winning record.

Keys to victory today: (1) Joe Haden return (2) Montario Hardesty filling in nicely for Richardson (3) Strong defense (4) Three Joshs - Gordon, Cribbs, Cooper