This time, Browns don’t blow it, beat Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Turns out the Cleveland Browns aren’t quitters after all. And they have Phil Dawson to thank for this wild win.

Dawson capped a five field-goal outing by hitting a career-long 56-yarder with 1:39 remaining to secure the Browns’ 29-27 win over the reeling Buffalo Bills on Monday night. Cleveland snapped a two-game skid and avoided wasting a 13-point lead for a third straight time.

The Bills (5-5) had a chance to win with a clutch kick of their own, but Rian Lindell missed a 47-yard attempt with 38 seconds left.

It was a morale-boosting win for the Browns (4-6), who appeared on the verge of completely unraveling after running back Jamal Lewis accused his teammates of quitting during a 34-30 loss to Denver on Nov. 6.

“We got tired of what happened the previous two weeks, getting a lead and losing it in the fourth quarter,” receiver Braylon Edwards said. “As a team, we rallied.”

Buffalo has lost four straight and five of six, looking nothing like the team that got off to a 4-0 start. Trent Edwards endured another sloppy performance, tossing three interceptions in Buffalo’s first four possessions.

Edwards’ 1-yard sneak gave the Bills a 27-26 lead with 2:35 left in the fourth, but Cleveland responded with a six-play, 28-yard drive that stalled on the Bills 39.

Without hesitation, Browns coach Romeo Crennel sent out Dawson, who calmly got off an easy kick that started toward the right goal post, before curling in to split the uprights.

“On the spur of the moment, you’ve got to be confident. So as soon as we threw the incomplete pass on third down, I was ready to go,” Dawson said. “I gave Romeo a nod, and he had the confidence to send me out there.”