Browns rise up

CLEVELAND – Through weeks of frustration, injuries and a near-quarterback change, the Cleveland Browns never lost hope in this season. Monday night, they may have saved it.

With quarterback Derek Anderson outplaying Eli Manning, Braylon Edwards making big catches and Eric Wright returning an interception 94 yards for a touchdown, the Browns won on Monday night for the first time since 1993, ending New York’s 11-game road winning streak with a 35-14 victory over the defending Super Bowl champions.

Anderson, whose job was in serious jeopardy just a few weeks ago and may have been down to one more loss, threw one of his two touchdown passes to Edwards, who announced his team’s return to the NFL’s prime-time weekday slot by performing a cartwheel and back flip during pregame introductions and then making the Giants look foolish.

In their first four games, the Browns (2-3) had shown no signs of living up to high expectations following a 10-6 season.

Now, they have something to brag about.

“This is us,” Anderson said. “These were the guys who made plays all last season.”

Anderson finished 18 of 29 for 310 yards, Edwards caught five passes for a career-high 154 yards and Jamal Lewis scored on a 4-yard run for the Browns, who handed the Giants (4-1) their first loss.

Manning was picked off three times and the Giants, so dominant in their first four games, were roughed up by the Browns.

Aside from some more silly penalties, the Browns were superior to the Giants, who had reeled off 11 straight wins – 12 counting the Super Bowl – outside of New Jersey.

But Manning was not himself and New York, which embarrassed Cleveland during the exhibition season, missed an opportunity to open a two-game lead in the brutal NFC East.

“I threw three interceptions,” Manning said. “That’s unacceptable. That’s not the way we win games. You’re going to lose a game every once in a while, but we don’t like the way we played. That’s what’s disappointing.”

Browns 35, Giants 14

Cle—FG Dawson 28

NY—Jacobs 7 run (Carney kick)

Cle—Lewis 4 run (Dawson kick)

Cle—Dinkins 22 pass from Anderson (Dawson kick)

NY—Burress 3 pass from Manning (Carney kick)

Cle—FG Dawson 26

Cle—Edwards 11 pass from Anderson (Dawson kick)

Cle—E.Wright 94 interception return (Edwards pass from Anderson)

A—73,102.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—New York, Ward 10-101, Jacobs 14-67, Manning 1-13. Cleveland, Lewis 21-88, Harrison 2-41, Cribbs 1-12, J.Wright 1-3, Vickers 1-2, Anderson 4-(minus 2).

PASSING—New York, Manning 18-28-3-196. Cleveland, Anderson 18-29-0-310.

RECEIVING—New York, S.Smith 9-94, Burress 4-58, Ward 2-1, Boss 1-24, Matthews 1-13, Hixon 1-6. Cleveland, Edwards 5-154, Heiden 5-59, Harrison 2-26, Stallworth 2-19, Dinkins 1-22, Steptoe 1-20, J.Wright 1-6, Lewis 1-4.

MISSED FIELD GOAL—Cleveland, Dawson 51 (WL).