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Cleveland Wins The Easy Way

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The Associated Press

Published: November 26, 2007

CLEVELAND - No drama, controversy or overtime needed. The Cleveland Browns finally won normally.
Derek Anderson threw two TD passes, Jamal Lewis rushed for 134 yards and a TD and Kellen Winslow had 10 catches as the Browns, whose season has been filled with one thriller after another, improved their playoff profile with a 27-17 win against Houston on Sunday.

With their fifth straight victory at home and fifth in six games overall, the Browns (7-4) stayed within striking distance of first place Pittsburgh in the AFC North and among the wild-card contenders.

And for the first time in four weeks, they didn't have to sweat out the final seconds.

The Browns' three previous games had all been decided by three points, two in OT. Last week, they needed an unforgettable 51-yard field goal at the end of regulation by Phil Dawson to slip past Baltimore.

But when Lewis barreled from the 1-yard line with 5:48 left, the Browns led 27-10 and were far enough ahead that a late TD by the Texans did nothing more than make the score look more respectable.

The Texans (5-6) weren't able to do much against Cleveland's league-worst defense, which was missing two injured starters.

Houston's Matt Schaub finished 22 of 36 for 256 yards and two TDs. But he was picked off twice and had several other passes batted down by the Browns' suspect secondary, which lost rookie starting cornerback Eric Wright to a knee injury last week.

Dawson, who bounced one through off the left upright and crossbar last week against the Ravens, kicked field goals of 25 and 27 yards. With 759 points, he moved past Hall of Famer Jim Brown on Cleveland's career scoring list.

Hou-Walter 17 pass from Schaub (K.Brown kick), 2:23.

Second Quarter

Cle-Edwards 19 pass from Anderson (Dawson kick), 9:55.

Hou-FG K.Brown 41, 7:09.

Cle-Winslow 7 pass from Anderson (Dawson kick), :16.

Third Quarter

Cle-FG Dawson 25, 7:24.

Fourth Quarter

Cle-FG Dawson 27, 8:32.

Cle-Lewis 1 run (Dawson kick), 5:48.

Hou-Daniels 6 pass from Schaub (K.Brown kick), 3:12.

A-72,730.

RUSHING-Houston, Dayne 16-78, Schaub 1-7, Jones 1-(minus 8). Cleveland, Lewis 29-134, J.Wright 3-14, Vickers 1-0.

PASSING-Houston, Schaub 22-36-2-256. Cleveland, Anderson 24-35-1-253.

RECEIVING-Houston, Daniels 7-82, Walter 6-65, Davis 3-51, A.Johnson 3-37, Dayne 2-7, Jones 1-14. Cleveland, Winslow 10-107, Jurevicius 5-55, Edwards 4-57, J.Wright 3-21, Lewis 2-13.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-Houston, K.Brown 46 (WR).

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