CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns knew it was going to be a long afternoon when Ray Rice gashed them for 30 yards on his first play of the game. They didn’t know it was going to be this humiliating or embarrassing.

By the end of the first quarter, he had 75 yards. By the end of the half, 107. By the end of the game, a career-high 204. By then, the Browns were soggy, beaten up and red in the face.

“We got slaughtered,” said defensive lineman Scott Paxson. “They kicked our butt up front. We’ve just got to swallow it and move on.”

Rice became the first player to rush for 200 yards against the Browns since Pittsburgh’s Willie Parker gained 223 on Dec. 7, 2006. The team’s 290 rushing yards were the most against the Browns since they surrendered 303 vs. the Steelers that day.

“They just flat out whupped us up front,” said linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. “It wasn’t anything special. The front line, the defensive line, the linebackers, we didn’t get it done. They embarrassed us.”

Rice opened the scoring with a 6-yard TD run at the start of the second quarter and then stuck the dagger in with a 67-yard blast to the Browns’ 6 just after Cleveland had pulled to within 10-3 in the third quarter. That set up a Ricky Williams TD that increased the Ravens’ lead to 17-3.

“I missed that tackle,” said safety Mike Adams, who played with a shoulder injury. “I could’ve made that tackle, coming down wide open. I want to see where my angle was.”

The defense stopped Rice for no gain on fourth and 1 on the Ravens’ first drive. Chris Gocong and Phil Taylor got credit, but Jackson looked to be there, too. But the floodgates re-opened on the next drive when Rice pumped out runs of seven, 14 and 10 yards on the first three plays. He wound up with 48 on that drive alone, including the 6-yard score.

“It was a slap in the face today,” said Jackson. “A lot of guys put a lot of time into it and to give up that many yards — Ray is an extremely talented back and they have a good team. They came to play tonight and we had no answer for it.

“It wasn’t complicated runs, but we just couldn’t get off blocks and we weren’t making enough plays. I just want the guys to know that this is not acceptable at all.”

The Ravens’ dominance spoiled spirited efforts on the parts of rookie Jabaal Sheard and Paxson. Sheard had strip-sack for the third game and a tackle for a loss, and Paxson forced and recovered a fumble, but it was reversed.

“I’ve just got to find a way to make better plays,” Sheard said. “I missed a few plays out there.”

Said Paxson: “We knew coming in that Ray Rice was their stud. We knew that not only did he run the ball out of the backfield, but he was a check-down guy, a screen guy. We did know that, but we couldn’t stop it.”

That’s because Rice hit the rewind button at halftime.

“I knew I was over 100 yards at halftime,” he said. “Coach [Wilbert] Montgomery said ‘you know what, let’s start all over.’ So when I came back out, I had a carry for nine or 10 yards. I came back to the sideline and he said ‘you got ten yards’, meaning that we started all over again because it was a new half.

“Once he knew I was getting closer to that 200-yard mark, he did let me know when I needed like four yards. I was like ‘I need to get these four yards before it eats me alive.’”

When the game was briefly close in the third quarter, Rice knew another big play was needed.

“We had to make a play then and there,” he said. “Then we were up by two scores. That’s the difference. That was the turning point in the game.”

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Notes, observations and some facts on the first quarter …

• Greg Little suffers drop on first play of the game. Short pass.

• Peyton Hillis running hard early. Gains of 7, 9 and 8 yards. Good lead block on one by Owen Marecic.

• Hillis’ running sets up third-and-2 from Ravens’ 39. From there, Colt McCoy’s pass is batted in his face by Haloti Ngata. Browns punt to set up field position. Christian Yount’s first long snap is a tad high. Got the first one out of the way.

• Jayme Mitchell blown off the line of scrimmage on Ravens’ first play. Ray Rice runs through giant hole, makes one move, and tackled after 30-yard run.

• On third-and-1, Ricky Williams gets the call. Twelve-yard run. Everything is through the Browns’ right defensive side.

• Joe Flacco completion sets up fourth-and-1 from Browns 26. Handoff to Rice. He burrows real low but can’t push the pile. D’Qwell Jackson, Ahtyba Rubin, Phil Taylor on the stop.

• Jordan Norwood has catch of 11 yards. Unhappy with tackle, he flips ball at facemask of Bernard Pollard and gets penalized.

• Dannell Ellerbe blows up attempted screen pass to Chris Ogbonnaya. Away from ball Arthur Jones levels McCoy. McCoy stays down with a right knee injury and has to leave. Welcome, Seneca Wallace.

• Wallace completes a 4-yard pass and Browns punt. Perfect snap.

• Rice takes a quick toss and runs for 14 yards. Then 10 more on an iniside handoff.

• Flacco shows some mobility, throwing on the run and completing pass for nine yards. Sets up another fourth-and-1 for Ravens at Browns’ 21. Flacco sneaks it over for first down.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Nov. 20, 2011

CLEVELAND — Colt McCoy took a knee on Cleveland’s sideline, closed his eyes and the young quarterback asked for some help from above.

This week, the Browns got it.

“There’s nothing wrong with praying,” McCoy said.

Jacksonville rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s pass into the end zone on the game’s last play was incomplete, allowing the Browns to escape with a 14-10 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.

As McCoy watched helplessly, Gabbert rifled a 3-yard pass high over the middle that was off the mark and caromed off wide receiver Mike Thomas’ outstretched hands, and the Browns (4-6) celebrated a win they nearly gave away.

“We deserved this one,” McCoy said. “Our team deserved this.”

Last week, the Browns lost 13-12 to the St. Louis Rams when Cleveland botched a snap and reliable kicker Phil Dawson missed a 22-yard field goal try. This one nearly ended under similar circumstances as Jacksonville’s final drive was set up by Dawson missing a 38-yarder that sailed over the top of the right post.

“Everybody played their hearts out and it’s about time it went our way,” said Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who covered Thomas tightly on the final play. “We knew it was up to us. Right there. We had to make the play and we did.”

McCoy shook off an apparent shoulder injury and threw a 3-yard TD pass to Josh Cribbs in the fourth to give Cleveland a 14-10 lead. But Dawson’s stunning miss with 2:49 left gave the Jaguars (3-7) a final chance and Gabbert, who had some good and bad moments, nearly pulled off the comeback.

“It’s not the ending we were looking for,” said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, who defended his use of the clock in the final minute. “It’s not the first time this year we’ve had the opportunity. We’re really looking for that breakout, game-winning drive. We had a chance for our quarterback to take us down. He took us down. We were knocking on the door. We just couldn’t close it out.”

Chris Ogbonnaya rushed for 115 yards and scored on a 1-yard run for Cleveland, ending a TD drought at home that lasted more than 158 minutes. The Browns had scoring drives of 87 and 85 yards, rarities in the offense’s first season under coach Pat Shurmur.

But Shurmur knows he can count on his defense, and the Browns’ didn’t disappoint.

“I did trust that we would get them stopped,” Shurmur said. “I trust our defense.”

The Browns appeared in control when Dawson booted his 38-yarder toward the goal post. However, the officials standing directly under the uprights ruled the high kick went wide right. Dawson argued that his kick should have counted, but referee Terry McAulay announced the attempt could not be reviewed because it sailed above the post.

“The way we saw it was part of the ball was outside of the outside edge of the upright,” said McAulay, whose crew had a few other tough calls to make.

Gabbert then drove the Jaguars down the field and Jacksonville caught a break when Browns cornerback Joe Haden was called for interference in the final minute on third down.

Maurice Jones-Drew was stopped twice inside the 5, and the Browns were fortunate when Gabbert’s pass on second-and-goal went off wide receiver Jason Hill’s chest in the back corner of the end zone with 3 seconds left. Haden believed he got a hand on Gabbert’s throw.

That set up a dramatic finale, and this one went Cleveland’s way, giving the Browns a much-needed win before their schedule gets rougher.

Jackson said he was ready for the pass.

“I anticipated the play and that’s a tough route to cover because he’s kind of going away,” Jackson said. “He came into my zone and I went with him. His arms went up, I saw that. I put my arms up. He didn’t catch it, that’s all I know and all that matters.”

Del Rio was asked why he didn’t hand the ball to Jones-Drew on the last play.

“You can make a case for doing that,” Del Rio said. “You can guess any number of plays when you don’t connect. We had two guys with the ball in the air in the vicinity – missed opportunities.”

McCoy completed 17 of 24 passes for 199 yards. And while his numbers were efficient, the second-year QB again showed he’s a gamer by staying in despite hurting his right shoulder. Afterward, McCoy said his shoulder was “OK” but didn’t know if he would need an MRI.

Shurmur doesn’t need any proof that McCoy, who was down on himself following a key interception near Jacksonville’s end zone in the third, can handle himself physically.

“Colt has taken some licks this year,” Shurmur said. “He bounced back well. He is learning to forget a bad play and move on.”

Gabbert was 22 of 41 for 210 yards, and Jones-Drew rushed for 87 yards on 21 carries.

Josh Scobee kicked a 42-yard field goal to bring the Jaguars within 14-10 with 5:39 left.

The Browns finally found their way into the end zone in the second quarter, when Ogbonnaya’s first career TD, a 1-yard run, tied it at 7.

It was Cleveland’s first touchdown at home since Oct. 2, a drought of 158 minutes, 15 seconds — or 2 hours, 38 minutes and 15 seconds, nearly the length of time it takes to play an entire NFL game.

“We’re starting to do things right,” McCoy said.

Jones-Drew powered up the middle for a 6-yard TD run, capping Jacksonville’s 92-yard scoring drive that devoured 9:32 off the clock. Jones-Drew dragged two defenders into the end zone and followed with a celebration designed to irk Cleveland fans by imitating the powder toss NBA superstar LeBron James started while he played for the Cavaliers.

Notes

• Browns rookie WR Greg Little had five catches for 59 yards.
• Browns WR Mohamed Massaquoi had two catches after missing the previous two games with a concussion.
• Jaguars LBs Clint Session, Matt Roth and RB Kevin Rutland left with head injuries. Del Rio provided no details on the injuries.

One measly yard proved to be too long for Jacksonville.
The Jaguars’ comeback came up short. They couldn’t take the final step.
Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert threw an incomplete pass into the end zone on the game’s last snap, capping a curious sequence of plays by Jacksonville in the closing seconds and giving the Cleveland Browns a 14-10 win Sunday over the Jaguars.
Gabbert, who had some good and bad moments, threw behind wide receiver Mike Thomas in the middle of the end zone with the ball bouncing off Thomas’s outstretched hands, denying the Jaguars (3-7) a victory that was within reach.
“Plain and simple, I have to make a play,” Gabbert said. “I have to find a way for us to score. That’s on me. I have to learn from that and get better. At the end of the day, it’s my job to score a touchdown.”
After Browns kicker Phil Dawson missed a 38-yard field goal with less than three minutes left, Gabbert drove Jacksonville from its own 29 to Cleveland’s 5, helped along by a pass interference call against the Browns. But with the end zone and a thrilling victory right in front of them, the Jaguars got bogged down when they couldn’t afford to.
On third down, Maurice Jones-Drew picked up 3 yards and a first at Cleveland’s 2 with 33 seconds left. Coach Jack Del Rio elected not to use his only timeout, and by the time the Jaguars snapped the ball again, 20 seconds had elapsed. Jones-Drew then picked up another yard and Del Rio called time with 8 seconds left.
Del Rio said the play took too long to run.
“We were way too deliberate,” Del Rio said. “You get lined up in that situation for sure. It wasn’t a matter of the timeout after that play, it was a matter of how long we sat there to get that (first down) play off. It was not what it needed to be.”
On second down, Gabbert’s pass to the back corner of the end zone bounced off wide receiver Jason Hill’s chest with 3 seconds left. Browns cornerback Joe Haden believed he got a hand on Gabbert’s throw.
Then, on the final play, Gabbert couldn’t connect with Thomas, allowing the Browns to escape.
Gabbert wasn’t going to second-guess anything that happened. He just wants to learn from the experience.
“Hindsight is 20-20,” said Gabbert, who went 22 of 41 for 210 yards. “Everyone is going to have their opinion and think they have the best play to call, but it’s our job to go out and execute. We’ve got to put the ball in the end zone.”
Jones-Drew rushed for 87 yards and a 6-yard TD.
Del Rio was asked why he didn’t give the ball to his best player on the last play.
“”You can make a case for doing that,” Del Rio said. “You can guess any number of plays when you don’t connect. We had two guys with the ball in the air in the vicinity — missed opportunities.”
Jones-Drew didn’t second-guess the late-game decisions. He reasoned that wouldn’t change the final score.
“It hurts every time you lose, especially when you have an opportunity to win,” he said. “We’ve just got to keep working. Somehow, some way, the locker room has to get tired of losing. That’s on the offensive side. Ten points is not going to win the game in this league at all. Our defense has been good week after week. We’ve got to make plays.
“If you can’t make plays, there’s no need to be playing football.”
When the Jaguars moved inside Cleveland’s 10, quarterback Colt McCoy took a knee on the sideline, closed his eyes and the young quarterback asked for some help from above.
This week, the Browns got it.
“There’s nothing wrong with praying,” McCoy said. “We deserved this one.”
Last week, the Browns lost 13-12 to the St. Louis Rams when Cleveland botched a snap and reliable kicker Phil Dawson missed a 22-yard field goal try. This one nearly ended under similar circumstances as Jacksonville’s final drive was set up by Dawson missing a 38-yarder that sailed over the top of the right post.
“Everybody played their hearts out and it’s about time it went our way,” said Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who covered Thomas tightly on the final play. “We knew it was up to us. Right there. We had to make the play and we did.”
McCoy shook off an apparent shoulder injury and threw a 3-yard TD pass to Josh Cribbs in the fourth to give Cleveland a 14-10 lead. But Dawson’s stunning miss with 2:49 left gave the Jaguars (3-7) a final chance and Gabbert, who had some good and bad moments, nearly pulled off the comeback.
Notes: Browns RB Chris Ogbonnaya rushed for 115 yards and scored on a 1-yard run … Jaguars LBs Clint Session, Matt Roth and CB Kevin Rutland left with head injuries. Del Rio provided no details. … Jaguars TE Mercedes Lewis had 7 catches for 64 yards. … Jaguars S Dawan Landry intercepted McCoy near the end zone in the third. … Jacksonville’s TD drive took 18 plays, covered 92 yards and ate up 9:53.

CLEVELAND (AP) —
Colt McCoy
took a knee on Cleveland’s sideline, closed his eyes and the young quarterback asked for some help from above.

This week, the Browns got it.

“There’s nothing wrong with praying,” McCoy said.

Jacksonville rookie quarterback
Blaine Gabbert
‘s pass into the end zone on the game’s last play was incomplete, allowing the Browns to escape with a 14-10 win over the
Jaguars on Sunday.

As McCoy watched helplessly, Gabbert rifled a 3-yard pass high over the middle that was off the mark and caromed off wide
receiver
Mike Thomas
‘ outstretched hands, and the Browns (4-6) celebrated a win they nearly gave away.

“We deserved this one,” McCoy said. “Our team deserved this.”

Last week, the Browns lost 13-12 to the St. Louis Rams when Cleveland botched a snap and reliable kicker
Phil Dawson
missed a 22-yard field goal try. This one nearly ended under similar circumstances as Jacksonville’s final drive was set up
by Dawson missing a 38-yarder that sailed over the top of the right post.

“Everybody played their hearts out and it’s about time it went our way,” said Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who covered
Thomas tightly on the final play. “We knew it was up to us. Right there. We had to make the play and we did.”

McCoy shook off an apparent shoulder injury and threw a 3-yard TD pass to Josh Cribbs in the fourth to give Cleveland a 14-10
lead. But Dawson’s stunning miss with 2:49 left gave the Jaguars (3-7) a final chance and Gabbert, who had some good and bad
moments, nearly pulled off the comeback.

“It’s not the ending we were looking for,” said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, who defended his use of the clock in the final
minute. “It’s not the first time this year we’ve had the opportunity. We’re really looking for that breakout, game-winning
drive. We had a chance for our quarterback to take us down. He took us down. We were knocking on the door. We just couldn’t
close it out.”

Chris Ogbonnaya
rushed for 115 yards and scored on a 1-yard run for Cleveland, ending a TD drought at home that lasted more than 158 minutes.
The Browns had scoring drives of 87 and 85 yards, rarities in the offense’s first season under coach Pat Shurmur.

But Shurmur knows he can count on his defense, and the Browns’ didn’t disappoint.

“I did trust that we would get them stopped,” Shurmur said. “I trust our defense.”

The Browns appeared in control when Dawson booted his 38-yarder toward the goal post. However, the officials standing directly
under the uprights ruled the high kick went wide right. Dawson argued that his kick should have counted, but referee Terry
McAulay announced the attempt could not be reviewed because it sailed above the post.

“The way we saw it was part of the ball was outside of the outside edge of the upright,” said McAulay, whose crew had a few
other tough calls to make.

Gabbert then drove the Jaguars down the field and Jacksonville caught a break when Browns cornerback
Joe Haden
was called for interference in the final minute on third down.

Maurice Jones-Drew was stopped twice inside the 5, and the Browns were fortunate when Gabbert’s pass on second-and-goal went
off wide receiver
Jason Hill
‘s chest in the back corner of the end zone with 3 seconds left. Haden believed he got a hand on Gabbert’s throw.

That set up a dramatic finale, and this one went Cleveland’s way, giving the Browns a much-needed win before their schedule
gets rougher.

Jackson said he was ready for the pass.

“I anticipated the play and that’s a tough route to cover because he’s kind of going away,” Jackson said. “He came into my
zone and I went with him. His arms went up, I saw that. I put my arms up. He didn’t catch it, that’s all I know and all that
matters.”

Del Rio was asked why he didn’t hand the ball to Jones-Drew on the last play.

“You can make a case for doing that,” Del Rio said. “You can guess any number of plays when you don’t connect. We had two
guys with the ball in the air in the vicinity – missed opportunities.”

McCoy completed 17 of 24 passes for 199 yards. And while his numbers were efficient, the second-year QB again showed he’s
a gamer by staying in despite hurting his right shoulder. Afterward, McCoy said his shoulder was “OK” but didn’t know if he
would need an MRI.

Shurmur doesn’t need any proof that McCoy, who was down on himself following a key interception near Jacksonville’s end zone
in the third, can handle himself physically.

“Colt has taken some licks this year,” Shurmur said. “He bounced back well. He is learning to forget a bad play and move on.”

Gabbert was 22 of 41 for 210 yards, and Jones-Drew rushed for 87 yards on 21 carries.

Josh Scobee
kicked a 42-yard field goal to bring the Jaguars within 14-10 with 5:39 left.

The Browns finally found their way into the end zone in the second quarter, when Ogbonnaya’s first career TD, a 1-yard run,
tied it at 7.

It was Cleveland’s first touchdown at home since Oct. 2, a drought of 158 minutes, 15 seconds – or 2 hours, 38 minutes and
15 seconds, nearly the length of time it takes to play an entire NFL game.

“We’re starting to do things right,” McCoy said.

Jones-Drew powered up the middle for a 6-yard TD run, capping Jacksonville’s 92-yard scoring drive that devoured 9:32 off
the clock. Jones-Drew dragged two defenders into the end zone and followed with a celebration designed to irk Cleveland fans
by imitating the powder toss NBA superstar LeBron James started while he played for the Cavaliers.

Notes: Browns rookie WR
Greg Little
had 5 catches for 59 yards. … Browns WR
Mohamed Massaquoi
had 2 catches after missing the previous two games with a concussion. … Jaguars LBs
Clint Session
,
Matt Roth
and RB
Kevin Rutland
left with head injuries. Del Rio provided no details on the injuries.

© 2011 STATS LLC

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Notes, observations and some facts on the fourth quarter …

• Browns enter red zone on Greg Little 11-yard catch. A touchdown here is imperative.

• Little throws good block on swing pass to Owen Marecic.

• Chris Ogbonnaya’s 6-yard run takes it to the 3. But Marecic is helped off the field with injury.

• On third down, Josh Cribbs scores TD by doing a quick 2-step hop to get both feet in just inside right pylon. Really good drive by McCoy to atone for his interception.

• Pumped up Phil Dawson drills ensuing kickoff out of the end zone for touchback.

• Sheldon Brown drops an interception. Joe Haden had one of those earlier.

• Great third-down throw by Blaine Gabbert. Twenty-eight yards on a line to Jason Hill to the Browns’ 37.

• Montell Owens bounces off Haden for 8 yards and first down at Browns 11.

• Gabbert misses Hill in end zone after Brown falls. Wide, wide open. Ball out of the end zone.

• Jags have third-and-8 at Browns 9. What to do? Gabbert desperately throws backwards out of bounds with Jabaal Sheard on his back. Josh Scobee’s 42-yard field goal makes it 14-10, Browns.

• The game could be iced by … Ogbonnaya? His 40-yard dash down the left sideline ends when he cramps up, but suddenly the Browns are in position to put the outcome out of doubt.

• Ogbonnaya sits out for a play, then returns to keep moving the pile. All those who thought he would outgain Jones-Drew and average nearly six yards a carry … yeah, sure.

• McCoy is sacked by Tyson Alualu and Russell Allen. Drive in trouble now.

• Jags are calling timeouts to try to force a field goal and a last-ditch chance to tie. They get their wish, and then some, when Phil Dawson is just wide right from 38 yards.

• Gabbert swings one to Drew Coleman for nine yards and Jones-Drew converts the first down as the two-minute warning arrives.

• Mercedes Lewis gathers in a 12-yard reception to get the Jags in Browns territory. Good pressure forces Gabbert to throw one away, but on second down he finds Lewis again on a crossing pattern to the 37. Third and four.

• Jarrett Dillard is stopped a yard short of first down, but Phil Taylor eases the pressure on the Jags by jumping offside on fourth down.

• From the 29, Browns blitz and Gabbert is short and inside to Lewis, who is be shadowed well by Scott Fujita. Third down with 57 seconds left.

• Jason Hill can’t make the grab over the middle, but Joe Haden is flagged for interference. There was a lot of contact on the play.

• Now at the 14, there’s plenty of time for Jacksonville. Pressure forces a throw out of bounds. Chastin West gets a square-out in front of Sheldon Brown at the five, and nearly breaks free for the score.

• Jones-Drew moves the entire pile three yards for first and goal at the 2.

• With clock running, Jones-Drew gets the ball again and this time the tackles form a wall he can’t break through. Last Jaguars timeout with eight seconds left. Do they dare run MJD again?

• Hill has Haden beat in the left corner, but Haden grabs his left hand and the ball comes free. Last play.

• Jones-Drew is the best option, right? But he’s in a wheel route and Mike Thomas is man-to-man on D’Qwell Jackson over the middle. The pass is a little behind and Jackson keeps pushing as the ball falls to the ground.

• Had them all the way.

HOUSTON — Notes, observations and some facts on the second quarter …

• So far, ironman Chris Ogbannaya has played every offensive snap for Browns.

• Emmanuel Stephens makes a tackle for Browns. He’s the backup left end.

• Matt Schaub hangs in vs. D’Qwell Jackson blitz and connects with Owen Daniels for 12 yards. Big-time QB play.

• Behind a monster block by Lawrence Vickers on Scott Fujita, Arian Foster runs 19 yards for a touchdown. Seven plays, 71 yards.

• Thomas Clayton relieves Ogbannaya and runs for 4. Colt McCoy is later hit as he throws on blitz by Quintin Demps. Painful to watch.

• Jacoby Jones breaks a punt return to the left for 50 yards.

• Finally, a Browns defensive turnover. Mike Adams’ big hit deflects Matt Schaub pass for Owen Daniels and D’Qwell Jackson intercepts. Browns take over at their 42.

• Facing fourth-and-2 at the 50, Browns call time after letting clock run down to 1:06. Then a first down on Evan Moore 6-yard catch.

• McCoy is intercepted by Demps. Looks like a Pick 6, but McCoy makes a TD-saving tackle at the Browns’ 23. Unnecessary roughness call on Shawn Lauvao moves ball to Browns 10 with :02 left. Texans kick field goal for 24-3 lead.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns haven’t played in any of the first 45 Super Bowls, including the three seasons (1996-98) during which Cleveland didn’t have an NFL franchise.

And, here’s a bulletin: The Browns won’t play in the 46th Super Bowl, either. Well, we’re pretty sure they won’t.

Thus, the 2011 season is, more than anything, about building for the future.

Mike Wilkening of ProFootballWeekly.com provides brief updates of how the Browns’ rookies are doing, referring to their performances in Cleveland’s 20-10 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday.

About the most visible Browns’ rookies, Wilkening writes:

DT Phil Taylor — Taylor recorded his third sack of the season and forced QB Alex Smith to fumble, but Smith was able to recover. In seven starts, Taylor has 25 tackles.

WR Greg Little — Targeted a game-high 11 times on Sunday, Little managed just four catches for 28 yards with a long catch of nine yards. On the season, he’s caught 29 passes for 260 yards (51 targets).

DE Jabaal Sheard — Sheard made his seventh start and recorded three tackles, with his biggest stop coming when he teamed with MLB D’Qwell Jackson to stop a 3rd-and-goal run by 49ers RB Frank Gore from the Cleveland two short of the goal line. Sheard has recorded 24 tackles and 2½ sacks on the season.

OLG Jason Pinkston — The 6-3, 305-pound Pinkston made his seventh start at left guard. The Browns rushed once off left guard for three yards. Pinkston was flagged for a facemask penalty, which San Francisco declined.

The Browns (3-4) visit the Houston Texans (5-3) on Sunday.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Tony Grossi’s story that the Browns waived wide receiver Brian Robiskie to make room on the roster for running back Thomas Clayton; Terry Pluto’s blog that the improvement of 49ers quarterback Alex Smith shows it’s too early to give up on Browns QB Colt McCoy; a Starting Blocks Browns-Texans poll; an interview with Mary Kay Cabot, talking about the Browns, on Starting Blocks TV; and, much more.

Goal to goal

A report on the Waiting For Next Year blog on the contract extension that has maybe been offered to running back Peyton Hillis.

The Browns’ third-down problems, by Dave Kolonich for Scout.com’s Orange and Brown Report.

Judge Dick Ambrose, the former Browns linebacker, spoke at the Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon on Monday. By Steve King for clevelandbrowns.com.

Comments on Brian Robiskie being waived by the Browns, by Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository.

Josh Cribbs should get some time at running back, with Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty hurting, writes Daniel Wolf for the National Football Authority.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur sees progress where maybe others don’t, Jeff Schudel writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

The Browns defense remains a bright spot, writes Vic Carucci for clevelandbrowns.com.

The Texans couldn’t beat Vince Young. Can they defeat another former University of Texas QB great, the Browns’ Colt McCoy? By John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

The Browns sign Thomas Clayton and waive Brian Robiskie, writes Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

The Browns offense falls in the AFC North Stock Watch. By Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Dismal as the offense was all day, ineffective at moving the ball into the end zone or even advancing to within 20 yards of the goal line, the Browns’ defense didn’t notice.

Why worry about something you can’t control? The philosophy of this young and rapidly improving unit is to single-mindedly focus on its own objective — prevent the opposition from scoring.

So the fact that the Browns couldn’t manage a touchdown in Sunday’s 6-3 victory over Seattle meant little. So, too, did the fact that the Seahawks were down to their backup quarterback and lost their starting running back to a pregame injury.

Three points is still just three points. A goal-line stand, as the Browns had in the third quarter when Seattle failed to score from the Cleveland 2 on three consecutive plays, are still the kind of plays that win games.

“If the offense scores 100 points, we want it to be 100 to zero,” safety T.J. Ward said. “Every time we go out there we’re looking for a shutout. Defensively, we want people to fear us and know it’s going to be tough against Cleveland. You’re not going to get no easy points. We’re one of a kind.”

Rookie receiver Greg Little called his defense the “best in the league,” after holding Seattle to 137 yards in total offense.

According to the raw numbers, the Browns were seventh in the NFL before Sunday, and they lowered their average for yards allowed to 308.3 after their stifling performance. It’s a defense littered with youth — rookies Jabaal Sheard and Phil Taylor are line mainstays, while second-year players Joe Haden and Ward anchor the secondary — that improves each week.

Against Seattle, the key goal-line stand came at the end of the third quarter when the Seahawks had a first down at the Cleveland 2. First, linebacker D’Qwell Jackson stuffed running back Justin Forsett. Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst failed to connect with Michael Robinson on second down, and with Ward broke up a third down attempt to tight end Cameron Morrah.

“As a defense, we really thought they couldn’t score on us,” Haden said. “No matter what the score was, as long as they were out of field-goal range, we felt they weren’t going to score on us.”

The Seahawks did have their chances. Leon Washington returned a punt 81 yards to the end zone, only to have an illegal block bring the ball back to the Seattle 45.

Two series later, Whitehurst finally connected on a big play, a 38-yarder to Sidney Rice along the right sideline. Rice had a wide-open field ahead of him, but lost his balance and stepped out of bounds at the Cleveland 9.

“I didn’t realize how close I was to the sideline,” Rice said. “I was trying to get some extra yards and I went out of bounds.”

Minus starting linebacker Scott Fujita (concussion) and with Haden playing for the first time in two weeks because of a knee injury, the Browns will take it.

“When you hold a team in the NFL to three points, that’s outstanding,” Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. “Outstanding.”

For more Cinesport video, go here.

 OAKLAND, Calif. — Notes, observations and some facts on the second quarter …

• Montario Hardesty relieves Peyton Hillis. Colt McCoy makes good pass to Josh Cribbs on third down. Cribbs makes good move on safety Tyvon Branch to extend play for 23 yards.

• From the Raiders’ 16, Browns line up Hillis as a fullback in front of Hardesty. Good McCoy play-fake. He’s got Hillis open underneath. McCoy hits Greg Little at right corner. Little slips at the 1.

• Another good McCoy play-fake results in 1-yard TD toss to Alex Smith. Very, very nice TD drive in 3 minutes, 10 seconds.

• Jacoby Ford does a tightrope run down the right sideline, evading last-gasp pushout attempts by Phil Dawson and Buster Skrine for 101-yard kickoff return. Play survives replay review.

• Quentin Groves devoured Josh Cribbs on a kickoff return of 20 yards. Wow, Raiders are fired up.

• Nice 20-yard gain on short pass to Hillis nullified when two Browns are in motion at same time. McCoy makes another good pass, perfectly leading Greg Little on a quick slant for 12 yards and a first down. Big play to get out of the shadow of the goalposts.

• Nice run by Hardesty for six yards. Browns now mixing up pass and run nicely.

• Raiders pass rush snuffs out Browns’ drive at the 47.

• Jason Campbell hurts shoulder or collarbone on 7-yard scramble. He leaves and Kyle Boller comes in to convert a fourth-and-1 sneak. Browns defense now inspired by presence of Boller. D’Qwell Jackson and Phil Taylor have tackles for losses. Raiders punt at two-minute warning.

• After punt, Browns take over at their 9 with 1:48 to go. McCoy’s second-down pass is dropped by Hardesty. McCoy’s third-down pass is almost intercepted. Should have just handed off three times. Geesh.

• Browns flagged for 12 men on defense after Ahtyba Rubin snuffs out screen pass to Darren McFadden.

• Boller’s passes are “just a bit outside.” Browns force punt with 42 seconds left when Jackson trips up McFadden on third-down run.

  Tennessean reporter Jim Wyatt writes how former Cleveland Browns coach Chris Palmer is the offensive coordinator for the Titans.

Palmer was the Browns’ head coach from 1999-2000 and that time as the team’s coach taught Palmer a few lessons.

“If I ever take an expansion job again,” he said, “shoot me.”

 Palmer was fired after going 5-27. In 2002 under Butch Davis, the Browns made the playoffs.

“It is really overrated starting a franchise up,” Palmer said.

“But people forget Cleveland was in the playoffs in its fourth year, so I think that was a tribute the players and the people that started the organization. Cleveland is a good football town.”

In the article, Palmer says he regrets he didn’t get more time as head coach, but he said he has no hard feelings.

“You always wish you had more time,” said Palmer, who is in his first year with the Titans. “I would like to live longer than I am going to, but that’s not going to happen.”

More Cleveland Browns

Running backs coach defends Peyton Hillis . . . Bob Finnan of The News-Herald writes about Hillis and his supporters.

The Browns wonder if they can keep Hillis and D’Qwell Jackson, writes CantonRep.com reporter Steve Doerschuk.

Previewing the Titans on Cleveland.com.

BEREA, Ohio – At one point, the Cleveland Browns weren’t sure D’Qwell Jackson would ever return.

He’s back. Better than ever.

Jackson, who missed 26 consecutive games the past two seasons after tearing chest muscles, is off to the best start of his NFL career. On Thursday, the likable linebacker was named the AFC’s defensive player of the month for September, an honour Browns co-ordinator Dick Jauron deemed “richly deserved.”

In Cleveland’s first three games, Jackson, a second-round pick in 2006, recorded 30 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks. He was also credited with defending a pass, forcing a fumble and recovering another while helping the Browns (2-1) get off to their best start since 2002.

As is his way, Jackson accepted the award with typical humility.

“It was very special,” he said. “I gotta take it in stride. A lot of guys told me congratulations. I mean I worked extremely hard, but this is the first step.”

Jackson’s comeback has been remarkable.

After leading the Browns with 188 tackles in 2008, Jackson tore his left pectoral muscle while making a tackle in a game against Pittsburgh. The injury was so severe that he ripped the muscle from the bone, leaving the Browns no choice but to place him on injured reserve for the final 10 games of the season.

Jackson dedicated himself and worked hard to get back into shape, and everything seemed in place when he arrived for training camp last summer. But Jackson’s world came crashing down when he tore the right pectoral muscle in practice and he wound up missing the entire 2010 season.

He was back at square one, his career hanging by a thread.

But while others had their doubts about his future, the 28-year-old always believed he would come back and play at a high level. He has embraced his new role as the middle or “Mike” linebacker in the Browns’ new 4-3 defence, a scheme perfectly suited to his ball-hawking talents.

Unlike in the 3-4, Jackson doesn’t have to fight off blocks from guards, allowing him to roam more freely and make tackles.

While others questioned if he could lead a defence again, Jackson’s belief never wavered.

“I never doubted it,” he said. “As long as I could get the opportunity and I was healthy, that’s all I could ask for. Right now, I’m playing well. I can always get better, but for me I’ve said more times than once, it’s more important for me to get wins. I’ve been around here, it’s been tough.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys and we want to keep the wins going to gain more confidence for my younger players. There’s going to be adversity at times, but we’re only going to be as good as the leaders on the team.”

Jackson is clearly one of them.

Browns first-year coach Pat Shurmur didn’t know much about Jackson when he got the job in January. All he knew of Jackson, the player, was that he had an injury-riddled past. He didn’t know anything about D’Qwell Jackson, the man, the community activist, who always seems to have time for anyone who asks.

Shurmur knows Jackson is special.

“Just being around him you see those things and you get a feel from a guy who gets things and he gets it,” he said. “The world makes sense to D’Qwell and he understands the process of being a pro and he’s a talented guy. When you tie all that together then I’m glad to see he’s having the success he is.”

During training camp, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita predicted big things from Jackson.

From afar, Fujita, who joined Cleveland last season, admired Jackson’s game. Now that he’s seen it up close, he’s even more impressed.

“I’ve respected him for a long time, watching him on film over the years and kind of respecting his style of play,” Fujita said. “I always saw that the systems that were here in the past just weren’t suited for his body type and his skill set. This was a good opportunity for him and it’s nice to see him shine at this point of his career.”

On top of his injuries, Jackson has had to deal with contract issues.

The Browns signed him to a one-year, $4.75 million deal loaded with incentives before the lockout. It was a business decision and the team’s way of saying, “Show us.”

Jackson’s doing just that and seems to be in line to receive one of the contract extensions the Browns are giving some of their young core players. The team has locked up Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas, defensive end Ahtyba Rubin, tight end Evan Moore and linebacker Chris Gocong to extensions in the past month.

The club may want to see more from Jackson, but it appears he has done enough.

He’s leading on and off the field, and doesn’t want to do it anywhere but in Cleveland.

“I don’t want to move,” he said. “I don’t want to pick up and leave and go somewhere else and start all over. This is where everything has happened. It’s where I’ve been hurt, I’ve been successful. So it would mean a lot to stay in Cleveland.”

At one point, the Cleveland Browns weren’t sure D’Qwell Jackson would ever return.

He’s back. Better than ever.

Jackson, who missed 26 consecutive games the past two seasons after tearing chest muscles, is off to the best start of his NFL career. On Thursday, the likable linebacker was named the AFC’s defensive player of the month for September, an honor Browns coordinator Dick Jauron deemed “richly deserved.”

In Cleveland’s first three games, Jackson, a second-round pick in 2006, recorded 30 tackles and 2½ sacks. He was also credited with defending a pass, forcing a fumble and recovering another while helping the Browns (2-1) get off to their best start since 2002.

As is his way, Jackson accepted the award with typical humility.

“It was very special,” he said. “I gotta take it in stride. A lot of guys told me congratulations. I mean I worked extremely hard, but this is the first step.

Jackson’s comeback has been remarkable.

After leading the Browns with 188 tackles in 2008, Jackson tore his left pectoral muscle while making a tackle in a game against Pittsburgh. The injury was so severe that he ripped the muscle from the bone, leaving the Browns no choice but to place him on injured reserve for the final 10 games of the season.

Jackson dedicated himself and worked hard to get back into shape, and everything seemed in place when he arrived for training camp last summer. But Jackson’s world came crashing down when he tore the right pectoral muscle in practice and he wound up missing the entire 2010 season.

He was back at square one, his career hanging by a thread.

But while others had their doubts about his future, the 28-year-old Jackson always believed he would come back and play at a high level. He has embraced his new role as the middle or “Mike” linebacker in the Browns’ new 4-3 defensive system, a scheme perfectly fitted for his ball-hawking talents.

Unlike in the 3-4, Jackson doesn’t have to fight off blocks from guards, allowing him to roam more freely and make tackles.

While others questioned if he could lead a defense again, Jackson’s belief never wavered.

“I never doubted it,” he said. “As long as I could get the opportunity and I was healthy, that’s all I could ask for. Right now, I’m playing well. I can always get better, but for me I’ve said more times than once, it’s more important for me to get wins. I’ve been around here, it’s been tough.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys and we want to keep the wins going to gain more confidence for my younger players. There’s going to be adversity at times, but we’re only going to be as good as the leaders on the team.”

Jackson is clearly one of them.

Browns first-year coach Pat Shurmur didn’t know much about Jackson when he got the job in January. All he knew of Jackson, the player, was that he had an injury-riddled past. He didn’t know anything about D’Qwell Jackson, the man, the community activist, who always seems to have time for anyone who asks.

Shurmur knows Jackson is special.

“Just being around him you see those things and you get a feel from a guy who gets things and he gets it,” he said. “The world makes sense to D’Qwell and he understands the process of being a pro and he’s a talented guy. When you tie all that together then I’m glad to see he’s having the success he is.”

During training camp, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita predicted big things from Jackson.

From afar, Fujita, who joined Cleveland last season, admired Jackson’s game. Now that he’s seen it up close, he’s even more impressed.

“I’ve respected him for a long time, watching him on film over the years and kind of respecting his style of play,” Fujita said. “I always saw that the systems that were here in the past just weren’t suited for his body type and his skill set. This was a good opportunity for him and it’s nice to see him shine at this point of his career.”

On top of his injuries, Jackson has had to deal with contract issues.

The Browns signed him to a one-year, $4.75 million deal loaded with incentives before the lockout. It was a business decision and the team’s way of saying, “Show us.”

Jackson’s doing just that and seems to be in line to receive one of the contract extensions the Browns are giving some of their young core players. The team has locked up Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas, defensive end Ahtyba Rubin, tight end Evan Moore and linebacker Chris Gocong to extensions in the past month.

The club may want to see more from Jackson, but it appears he has done enough.

He’s leading on and off the field, and Jackson doesn’t want to do it anywhere but Cleveland.

“I don’t want to move,” he said. “I don’t want to pick up and leave and go somewhere else and start all over. This is where everything has happened. It’s where I’ve been hurt, I’ve been successful. So it would mean a lot to stay in Cleveland.”

Notes: Browns RB Peyton Hillis said he lost “10 to 12″ pounds last week when he missed the Browns game against Miami with strep throat. Hillis said he didn’t have any energy when he arrived at the stadium, and after conferring with team doctors, chose not to play. Hillis said he slept through the “first three-and-a-half quarters. I was just in time for the last drive,” he said. “I guess that was the only part we needed to watch.” … RT Tony Pashos worked with Cleveland’s first-team offense in practice and could make his season debut Sunday against Tennessee.

Update at 12:17 p.m.

BEREA — Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was named AFC defensive player of the month.

He’s the first Browns player to win the awared since safety Eric Turner in December of 1994.

Jackson leads the Browns with 30 tackles and has added 2.5 sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one recovery.

Making his fast start more sweet is the fact that Jackson missed the previous 26 games because of almost identical injuries to two pectoral (chest) muscles.

Jackson was said to be a perfect fit in the center of the Browns’ new 4-3 defensive system, and he is living up to that. Teammate Scott Fujita, who predicted Jackson would have a great year, Tweeted congratulations to Jackson this morning with the hashtag ToldYaSo.