Stallworth was headed toward the beach when he hit a 49-year-old man around 7 a.m., said Miami Beach police spokesman Juan Sanchez. The unidentified pedestrian was taken to a nearby trauma center, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later. He was near a crosswalk but it’s not clear if he was crossing legally.

Stallworth, 28, was cooperating and no charges have been filed, Sanchez said. Officers drew blood to test for drugs or alcohol, which is routine, but police said it was too early to tell if Stallworth was impaired or violating traffic laws. Police would not say where he was coming from or where he was headed.

Miami-Dade County property records show Stallworth owns two condos in a building on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami not far from the causeway and another condo in a different building in Miami.

A message seeking comment was left on the voicemail of his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

The Browns said in a statement they were aware of what happened.

“We understand the seriousness of this situation, but will not have any further comment at this time as this is an ongoing investigation,” the team said.

Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns as a free agent before last season but hardly played because he was hurt. He was due a $4.75 million signing bonus Friday.

Stallworth, who previously played for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans, finished last season with just 17 catches for 170 yards. He was slowed all season by a nagging hamstring injury and made just seven starts for the Browns.

Stallworth had his best season with the Saints in 2005, when he made a career-high 70 receptions for 945 yards and seven touchdowns. He was drafted in the first round (No. 13 overall) by the Saints in 2002. Stallworth played his college ball at Tennessee.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

The Steelers limited the depleted Bengals to six first downs following an early touchdown drive and found just enough offense themselves amid the snow flurries to control the clock behind Ben Roethlisberger to beat Cincinnati 27-10 on Thursday night.

Pittsburgh (8-3) wasn’t dominating — except defensively — in winning its fifth in a row over Cincinnati (1-9-1), its longest streak since an eight-game run in the early 1990s. The Steelers trailed 7-0 until Roethlisberger threw a 3-yard pass to tight end Heath Miller, their first touchdown in more than seven quarters, and didn’t take control until backup running backs Mewelde Moore and Gary Russell led a third-quarter drive that made it 20-7.

“It just felt good to score,” Roethlisberger said.

For the Steelers defense, it felt good to throttle Cincinnati following an early TD drive.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, under constant pressure from a Pittsburgh defense that leads the NFL in almost every major statistical category, was below 100 yards passing until a short drive in the fourth quarter ended with Shayne Graham’s 26-yard field goal. Fitzpatrick finished 20-of-37 for 168 yards, but the Bengals were outgained 364-208.

“It’s definitely a big honor for him,” linebacker LaMarr Woodley said of LeBeau, one of the league’s top defensive minds and a former Bengals head coach. “You honor him and you want to go out there and win that game for him.”

Not having wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, the former Chad Johnson, made it a lot harder for the Bengals. He was deactivated for violating team rules following an apparent flare-up at a team meeting, though coach Marvin Lewis wouldn’t explain what Ocho Cinco did.

“It’s a curveball for us, but we had guys who stepped in and knew the game plan and knew how to execute it,” Fitzpatrick said. “Nothing changed. It was more of a curveball.”

Roethlisberger kept with the baseball analogy, saying the wind and swirling snow on a 32-degree night made it tough to throw, even though he was 17-of-30 for 243 yards and was turnover-free for a second game in a row.

“It was a blizzard out there, the wind was coming from the side and a lot of balls were going sideways. I threw a lot of sliders out there,” Roethlisberger said. “It was hard to see.”

Roethlisberger himself scored from the 8 late in the game as Pittsburgh held a more than 10-minute edge in time of possession.

Before that, Russell ran 2 yards for his first NFL touchdown with 16 seconds left in the third after Moore, benched four days before after being stopped at the goal line by San Diego on fourth-and-inches, ran four times for 21 yards and made a 22-yard reception during a 64-yard drive. Starting running back Willie Parker was on the sideline with an aggravated knee injury after being held to 37 yards on 14 carries.

Jeff Reed also kicked field goals of 37 and 38 yards that weren’t sure things given the slippery field conditions that helped slow a Bengals offense that was loaded with backups due to injuries — reserves played most of the game at nine positions.

The 20-degree wind chill didn’t prevent Pittsburgh’s defensive starters from playing in short sleeves — much like the late Mike Webster, the Hall of Fame center, once did in miserably cold games during the 1970s.

Ocho Cinco’s absence allowed the Steelers to double cover T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was coming off eight consecutive games with six or more catches but found little open space downfield and ended with four catches for 20 yards.

“They did what they felt was best and whether I agree with it or disagree with it, it doesn’t matter,” Houshmandzadeh said of Ocho Cinco’s absence. “He (Lewis) is the head coach and Mike Brown owns the team and they are going to do what they want. I’m sure he would have helped, but we’ve lost eight games with him.”

The Steelers, held without a touchdown during the first 11-10 victory in NFL history against San Diego, got off to another slow start offensively before scoring on Miller’s catch in traffic in the end zone, but not until Cincinnati scored first on Fitzpatrick’s 10-yard pass to Glenn Holt on third-and-6 late in the first.

Pittsburgh, getting good field position because of Kyle Larson’s 30-yard punt in a game in which both punters were miserable, tied it two plays after coach Mike Tomlin went for it on fourth-and-1 from the 4, with Russell barely getting the yard to keep the drive going. Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward for 37 yards earlier in the drive.

Reed’s 37-yarder with 1:52 left before halftime put Pittsburgh ahead 10-7. Cincinnati had a chance to tie it or go ahead but couldn’t take advantage after Pittsburgh wide receiver Limas Sweed, covering a punt, accidentally allowed the ball to strike his left hand and the Bengals recovered at the Steelers’ 39.

“It’s been the tale of our season,” Houshmandzadeh said. “The defense plays great, the offense is bad, basically.”

Hookscenter.com wire report.

With a confident nod to coach Romeo Crennel, Dawson went out and calmly hit a career-long 56-yard field goal with 1:39 left that sent Cleveland to a 29-27 win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday night

Dawson’s fifth field goal of the game capped a wild finish. The teams traded leads during a 46-second span in the final 2½ minutes — after the Browns appeared ready to squander a 13-point lead for the third straight week. And the game wasn’t decided until Buffalo’s Rian Lindell missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt wide right with 38 seconds remaining, allowing Cleveland to run out the clock.

Suddenly, the Browns (4-6) have something to feel good about after they were on the verge of unraveling. Running back Jamal Lewis even questioned whether his teammates had quit 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. We came together when we were supposed to and made the plays necessary to win.”

Brady Quinn earned his first win in the second career start for the 2007 first-round draft pick. And the Browns’ once porous defense — which allowed 993 yards of offense in its previous two games combined — held the Bills to 334 yards while generating four turnovers.

“You can’t say enough,” Crennel said. “The guys hung in there. They played as a team, and it was good enough on this night.”

Give Crennel credit, too. Without hesitation, he made the decision to send Dawson out after the Browns’ seven-play, 28-yard drive stalled at the Bills 39 after Edwards couldn’t hold onto Quinn’s pass at the right sideline on third-and-10.

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

It was a better ending for Dawson, too. He missed a potential game-tying 54-yard field goal in the final minute of a 14-11 loss at Washington on Oct. 19.

It’s the Bills (5-5) who now face questions about unraveling. They’ve lost four straight – their longest skid since 2005 – and five of six, looking nothing like the upstart team that opened the season 4-0.

Much of the blame for this loss falls on the shoulders of quarterback Trent Edwards, who threw three interceptions on his first four possessions, putting the Bills in a deep hole.

“It’s frustrating right now. I don’t really have any good answers,” he said. “I’m frustrated with myself and the way I performed.”

The miscues — two poor reads and a pass tipped by defensive tackle Shaun Rodgers at the line of scrimmage — were an extension of the troubles Edwards had in his previous three games. Over a 10-quarter span, including the first quarter against Cleveland, he threw eight interceptions, lost two fumbles and gave up a safety.

Lindell took the loss much harder. He was emotionally upset and dejected as he spoke with reporters.

“Yeah, you have to make it. It’s ridiculous,” said Lindell, who was good from 26 and 31 yards. “I missed my line. You have to make those.”

Suddenly, the Bills’ chances of ending their eight-year playoff drought are in jeopardy. The team has fallen from first in the AFC East to last in the span of a month. And so much for the poise and confidence the team showed in securing three consecutive fourth-quarter comebacks earlier this season.

“It’s not where we want to be, obviously,” coach Dick Jauron said. “It doesn’t feel like a free-fall, at least not to me. I can tell you, being around them, they hurt.”

The loss spoiled a breakout game for running back Marshawn Lynch, who had a season-best 119 yards rushing and added a team-leading 58 yards receiving, including an 18-yard touchdown. Rookie Leodis McKelvin also scored on a 98-yard kickoff return, one play after Cleveland’s Jerome Harrison scored on a 72-yard run that put the Browns up 23-13 to open the fourth quarter.

Joshua Cribbs also scored on a 2-yard run for the Browns, and Braylon Edwards had 104 yards receiving.

“I can’t say enough for this being a big win for our team,” Quinn said. “We ended up winning in the end. It wasn’t the way we wanted to, but a win is a win.”

Hookscenter.com wire report.

Jay Cutler pulled off this fourth-quarter comeback, turning Brady Quinn’s big night into his own prime-time showcase.

Cutler passed for a career-high 447 yards and threw three touchdown passes in the final 15 minutes Thursday night — the last an 11-yarder to Brandon Marshall with 1:14 remaining — to rally the broken Broncos to a 34-30 win over the Browns, spoiling Quinn’s highly hyped debut as an NFL starter.

The Broncos (5-4) entered the fourth quarter trailing 23-13, but Cutler, borrowing a page out of Elway’s comeback playbook, brought Denver back. He recorded his fifth career fourth-quarter comeback victory despite losing two more running backs to injuries and only having his fullback to carry the ball.

“It was a big, big win for us,” Cutler said. “To be down 13 and have an empty backfield and to come back like this, it means a lot.”

Cutler threw a 93-yard TD pass to rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal, a 28-yarder to tight end Daniel Graham and then finished off the Browns like so many Denver teams have done in the past with his toss to Marshall in the corner of the end zone.

The Broncos have beaten Cleveland eight consecutive times and been the Browns’ longtime nemesis, with Elway beating them three times in AFC title games.

Cutler finished 24-of-42 with three TDs and one interception. He piled up 204 yards passing in the fourth quarter alone.

Quinn threw two TD passes to Kellen Winslow and went 23-of-35 for 239 yards, but thought he could have done more.

“I told everyone, this one is flat on me,” Quinn said. “I know I am good enough that I can make a play at the end and win. I felt comfortable out there, it’s my home away from home.”

After hauling in Cutler’s final TD pass, Marshall, who spent the week exchanging barbs with Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, was about to pull something out of his pants when teammate Brandon Stokley ran over and stopped him from getting a possible personal foul.

After the game, Marshall said he had a black-and-white glove designed to honor President-elect Barack Obama and former Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who made controversial black power salutes at the 1968 Games in Mexico City.

Quinn had one last chance, getting the ball back with 1:10 remaining. The former Notre Dame star, who waited 25 games to take over Cleveland’s offense, completed a 9-yard pass to Winslow on first down before two incompletions gave him no margin for error. On fourth down, Quinn whipped a high pass to Winslow that sailed through the hands of the Pro Bowl tight end.

“I just can’t get that last play out of my head,” Winslow said. “The great ones, the legends make those plays. That’s where I want to be and I’m going to take it as a lesson.”

Denver’s bench burst into celebration while the Browns sustained another gut-wrenching loss after blowing a 14-point lead in the second half Sunday against Baltimore.

That loss cost Derek Anderson his starting job. He was benched by coach Romeo Crennel in favor of fan favorite Quinn, who made plays and was efficient moving the ball by throwing mostly underneath. Quinn completed passes to eight different receivers with Winslow catching 10 passes for 111 yards.

Quinn had the Browns (3-6) in position to win, but once again Cleveland’s defense couldn’t come up with a stop as Denver racked up 564 total yards.

“We let them throw the ball over our head, couldn’t tackle and let the game get away,” Crennel said. “It’s disappointing that your defense can’t do some simple things and does some other things poorly. A 93-yard touchdown pass should never happen — ever.”

Royal had six catches for 164 yards and Marshall caught six passes for 89 yards.

Cutler was playing at a huge disadvantage with Denver’s running game going backward because of injuries. It hardly mattered.

With starter Michael Pittman and backup Andre Hall already out with season-ending injuries, rookie Ryan Torain made his first start with third-year pro Selvin Young as his backup.

Torain scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter but sprained his left knee midway through the second when he got bent backward underneath a pile of players. He was replaced by Young, who gained 2 yards on his first carry but left a few plays later with a groin injury and didn’t return.

Those losses forced the Broncos to use fullback Peyton Hillis as their primary ball carrier, and the rookie from Arkansas came through on Denver’s final scoring drive by blasting his way through the line for a crucial first down on 4th-and-1 at the Cleveland 45.

From there, Cutler completed a 14-yard pass to Graham before catching the Browns off guard with a quarterback draw for 18 yards. After missing Marshall in the end zone on first down, Cutler had his wideout run the same route against cornerback Brandon McDonald for the game winner.

Earlier, McDonald was burned by Royal for the 93-yard TD, the fourth-longest in Denver history.

The Browns played up Quinn’s pregame introduction, saving him to be the last player to run from the smoke-filled tunnel. He received a huge ovation from Cleveland fans, who despite having a Pro Bowl QB in Anderson, have spent many Sunday afternoons chanting “Bra-dy, Bra-dy” for most of the past two seasons.

Quinn didn’t disappoint, throwing two TD passes to Winslow in the first half to help the Browns open a 20-10 lead.

It was a night the 25-year-old Quinn had dreamed of since he was a little kid in Dublin, Ohio. He grew up in the Columbus suburb cheering for the Browns and he still has a picture of himself wearing a No. 19 Bernie Kosar jersey.

Quinn’s No. 10 jersey dotted every corner of Browns Stadium and a white bed sheet with “Save Us Brady” hung from the second deck.

But in the end, there was nothing he or anyone else in orange helmets could do to stop Cutler.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

Brady Quinn will make his much-anticipated debut as a starter when Cleveland hosts the Denver Broncos on Thursday night, with the Browns fighting to maintain their playoff hopes and the Broncos clinging to a slim lead atop the AFC West.

Crennel said after Sunday’s 37-27 loss to Baltimore that he wasn’t planning on demoting Derek Anderson, but the team announced the switch Monday, setting up Quinn’s long-awaited chance to prove himself in the NFL.

“I just felt like it was time,” Crennel told the team’s official website. “We’re an inconsistent football team.”

Having completed less than 50 percent of his passes, Anderson hasn’t played well this season after throwing 29 touchdown passes and leading the Browns (3-5) to a 10-6 record last year. After he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown late in Sunday’s defeat — his first after 132 attempts without being picked off — Cleveland fans chanted Quinn’s name.

Crennel insisted Tuesday that he didn’t make the change based on fan backlash.

“We’re not throwing in the towel. We’re not giving up on the season,” Crennel told the team’s website. “I think Quinn will represent himself and represent the Browns very well. This is a lifetime opportunity for Brady to be the quarterback of the Browns.”

The coach said he took into account “our record, offensive ranking, offensive production.” The Browns rank 28th in total offense at the midway point of the season.

Quinn threw for more than 11,000 yards and 95 touchdowns at Notre Dame, but his pro career got off to a rocky start when he slipped down the board on draft day in 2007, falling from the top five – where many observers had projected he’d go – to No. 22, with Cleveland trading up to take him.

Then, the Dublin, Ohio native had to watch and wait last season as Anderson emerged and nearly led Cleveland into the playoffs.

“Maybe they feel like (Quinn) will bring a spark,” Browns center Hank Fraley said. “It’s tough because Derek is a great guy, a team leader and a captain. We just haven’t been playing well around him. It’s a shock to everybody on this team. It’s their decision and we’re going to have to live with it.”

Quinn hasn’t thrown a pass this year and threw just eight last season, completing three for 45 yards without a touchdown or an interception.

“He’s young, so you don’t know what to expect but he has worked hard and he’ll be ready,” Fraley said.

After starting 0-3, the Browns rebounded with three wins in four games, including a 35-14 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Oct. 13.

However, they struggled again at home Sunday, blowing a 14-point lead in the second half and allowing 429 total yards to a Baltimore offense that came in ranked 23rd in the NFL. While the Ravens scored 24 unanswered points, the Browns went three-and-out four straight times before Anderson’s interception, and embattled receiver Braylon Edwards dropped his league-leading 13th pass on what could have been a go-ahead touchdown.

“It’s always deflating when you don’t make a play because we needed plays,” said Crennel, whose team fell to 1-3 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. “It’s deflating when they run the ball in for a touchdown. It’s deflating when they throw the ball over your head. It’s deflating when you don’t make a catch in the open. It’s deflating when you lose a game.”

The Broncos (4-4) know the feeling. With a struggling young quarterback, an ineffective defense and a growing list of injuries, they’re searching for answers amidst a three-game losing streak.

Quarterback Jay Cutler and the offense averaged 38.0 points during a 3-0 start, but Denver has failed to score 20 in any of its last five games, losing four. The Broncos, however, have managed to remain in first place in the weak AFC West, a half-game up on San Diego.

In Sunday’s 26-17 home loss to Miami, Cutler threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns, but also had three interceptions – one of which was returned for a TD. He’s had five passes picked off in his last two games, doubling his season total.

Top receiver Brandon Marshall had only two catches for 27 yards and has gone four straight games without a touchdown. He didn’t hold back criticism of his teammates after the loss, taking issue with the team’s defense as well as Cutler’s reads.

“When the quarterback sees 1-high or cover-1 (coverage), he’s got to be on the same page as me and get the ball to me,” Marshall said. “But it’s a team game, and oh, well.”

The Broncos also have injury problems, as running backs Michael Pittman and Andre Hall were placed on injured reserve after Sunday’s game. Fellow back Selvin Young hasn’t played since Oct. 5 due to a groin problem, which could leave rookies Ryan Torain and Peyton Hillis to carry the load. The Broncos ran for 14 yards on 12 carries against the Dolphins.

The defense, in the bottom five in the league in points and yards allowed, is also banged up. Cornerback Champ Bailey is out with a groin injury and linebacker and leading tackler D.J. Williams went down with a knee injury versus Miami.

“We’re very concerned,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “Guys need to step up and fill in.”

The Broncos can at least take solace in their long history of beating the Browns. Including playoffs, they’ve won 18 of their last 20 against Cleveland.

Denver has won four in a row and eight of nine at Cleveland, with a 17-7 victory on Oct. 22, 2006 being the only road matchup with the Browns since 1993.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

Crennel made the switch on Monday, one day after Anderson threw a costly interception in Cleveland’s 37-27 loss to Baltimore. Crennel cited Cleveland’s poor offensive production, the club’s 3-5 record and Anderson’s inconsistency as his reasons for starting Quinn on Thursday night against Denver.

Crennel said the change was not based on backlash from Cleveland fans.

Quinn will have just one full day of practice before his first NFL start. Anderson expressed disappointment at his demotion but pledged to help Quinn, the former Notre Dame star who has attempted just eight passes as a pro.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

The team suspended their talented, emotional tight end for one game without pay for critical comments Winslow made following Sunday’s loss at Washington.

Winslow, who spent three days at the Cleveland Clinic earlier this month with an undisclosed illness, revealed he had a staph infection — for the second time — before lashing out at Browns general manager Phil Savage as the Pro Bowler’s teammates dressed after their 14-11 loss to the Redskins.

Winslow complained that the team, which has had at least six cases of staph in the past three years, asked him to conceal his illness. He also vented at Savage for not checking on him while he was in the hospital, said he felt the Browns were treating him like a “piece of meat,” and said he considered requesting a trade.

Savage shot back with a 352-word statement on Tuesday, suspending Winslow and calling his comments and behavior “unwarranted, inappropriate, and unnecessarily disparaging to our organization.

“His statements brought unjustified negative attention to our organization, and violated the team-first concept of our football squad,” said Savage, who had not suspended a player since taking over the Browns in 2005.

Winslow will miss Sunday’s game at Jacksonville and it will cost him $235,294 — his one-game paycheck. He will not be allowed to practice or attend meetings at the team’s facility this week and cannot return until Monday.

Winslow can appeal his suspension through the NFL Players Association. His agent Drew Rosenhaus did not immediately return phone messages or an e-mail seeking comment.

In a statement released through his publicist, Winslow said he tried to reveal his condition but was discouraged by the team.

“Regardless of how this was released the information would still remain the same,” he said. “I contracted staph, again. I spoke out on this because I felt it was the right thing to do and that is why I was so passionate about it. This has nothing to do with football and this has nothing to with my current contract situation. This is a health concern.

“I care deeply for my organization, my teammates, and the Browns fans. At no time was I ever trying to cause distress for the team or be a distraction but the fact remains there is a health issue that needs to be addressed further.”

Winslow’s suspension culminates a two-week mystery that began with him being admitted to the hospital on Oct. 9 with an undisclosed illness.

The Browns, citing privacy laws and Winslow’s wishes, declined to identify his medical condition. Winslow returned to practice last week and on Friday he said he agreed with the team’s decision and argued that “just because I catch a football doesn’t mean I should tell what’s wrong with me or what happened.”

However, after catching just two passes for 19 yards in Sunday’s game, Winslow went public with his illness.

On Monday, coach Romeo Crennel said he was disappointed by Winslow’s decision to take his problems to the media and said he would consult with Savage before levying any punishment.

Savage maintains the decision to keep the illness a secret was made with the player’s blessing and he defended the Browns’ handling of Winslow’s hospital stay.

“The Cleveland Browns are committed to winning and taking care of our players,” he said. “We are also committed to protecting the privacy of our players, particularly with regard to medical issues. To that end, following discussions with Kellen Winslow and his representation, the Browns agreed to make every effort to maintain the confidentiality of his recent medical condition.”

The Browns have had an alarming number of staph cases, and Savage said the team is doing all it can to protect the health of its players and personnel at the club’s training facility in Berea and downtown stadium.

Savage said the players have been educated on the risks of staph, and that during training camp the entire team took part in an extensive presentation by infectious disease experts.

Winslow’s suspension could further damage his already shaky relationship with Savage and the Browns, who moved up in the 2004 draft to select him No. 6 overall.

He has been upset with the team for not giving him a contract extension. After catching 82 passes for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns last season and making his first Pro Bowl team, Winslow hired Rosenhaus, who used the week in Hawaii to make it known that he intended to get his client a new deal.

Winslow has three years remaining on his deal, which was reworked in 2006. He’s making $4 million this season and has base salaries of $4.5 million in 2009 and $4.75 million in 2010.

Winslow broke his right leg during his second game as a rookie and missed the remainder of the season. While he was recovering, he sustained life-threatening injuries when he crashed his motorcycle doing stunts in a parking lot. The Browns paid him more than $11 million for his first two seasons.

Winslow got a staph infection following surgery on his right knee, but before missing the Browns’ Oct. 13 game against the New York Giants, he had made 36 consecutive starts and developed into one of the NFL’s premier tight ends.

Despite being double-teamed at times, he has a team-high 21 receptions for 187 yards this season.

The 25-year-old Winslow, who has had to endure grueling rehab sessions and constant pain just to play the past three seasons, had seemingly matured before Sunday’s unexpected outburst.

“He has made progress from the time that I have been here,” Crennel said. “The thing that we sometimes don’t understand is the pressure that a young man like that has on him when he gets injured or is not able to play or what he thinks about his future and there are a lot of things going through his mind.”

Hookscenter.com wire report.

Led by tumbling wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who announced his team’s return to Monday night after five years by sticking an Olympic-caliber cartwheel and back flip during pregame introductions, Cleveland ended the Giants’ 11-game road winning streak with a 35-14 win over the defending Super Bowl champions.

Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson, whose job was in serious jeopardy just a few weeks ago, threw one of his two touchdown passes to Edwards, cornerback Eric Wright intercepted Eli Manning and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown and the Browns (2-3) finally looked worthy of a prime-time TV slot.

Anderson finished 18-for-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 won a Monday night game for the first time since 1993 and handed the Giants (4-1) their first loss, leaving the Tennessee Titans as the NFL’s only unbeaten team.

Manning was picked off three times and the Giants, so dominant through their first four games, were roughed up by a Cleveland team running out of time to make good on lofty preseason expectations.

In the closing minutes, Browns fans chanted “Over-rated” at the New Yorkers.

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 since Week 1 last season. 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.

Edwards’ 11-yard TD reception on the first play of the fourth quarter gave the Browns a 27-14 lead, and he punctuated it with a reverse dunk over the goal post. The score capped an 87-yard drive which was bogged down by five Cleveland penalties.

The Giants then drove to the Cleveland 9, but on second-and-4, Manning locked onto wide receiver Amani Toomer, allowing Wright time to dart in front, make the interception and tiptoe down the sideline to the end zone. It was a satisfying turn for Wright, who was burned twice by the Giants during the Aug. 18 matchup between the teams.

While Browns fans danced in the aisles, Anderson hit Edwards for the 2-point conversion to put the Browns ahead by 21.

Cleveland had its best game this season despite playing without Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow, who was hospitalized last week with an undisclosed illness.

Manning went 18-of-28 for 196 yards and threw a 22-yard TD pass to Plaxico Burress, who was back after serving a one-game suspension for violating team rules.

Moments after New York went up 7-3 on Brandon Jacobs’ 7-yard run, Edwards turned cornerback Aaron Ross around with a nice outside fake and hauled in a 70-yard pass from Anderson to set up Cleveland’s first TD, a 4-yard run by Lewis.

On the Browns’ next possession, Anderson put together his best-looking drive of the season. Given time to throw, he made all the correct reads and went 5-for-5 for 74 yards, threading a 22-yard TD pass over the middle to backup tight end Darnell Dinkins to give Cleveland a 17-7 halftime lead.

Manning countered with an 80-yard scoring drive – helped by a critical Cleveland penalty — to pull the Giants within 17-14. From the 3, he lofted a perfect 3-yard TD pass to Burress, who easily ran past defensive back Terry Cousin. Three plays earlier, Manning had been sacked and fumbled on third down, but Browns safety Mike Adams was called for illegal contact, giving New York a first down.

Browns defensive end Corey Williams had provided the Giants with some bulletin-board material leading into the game. Williams, who was with Green Bay last season and lost to New York in the NFC title game, had said Cleveland’s defense planned to “hit him (Jacobs) in the mouth” and that “their ain’t nothing physical” about the Giants’ offensive line.

Williams also said he was going to try to knock Jacobs’ head off, remarks that were prominently displayed on the back pages of New York’s tabloid newspapers.

After Jacobs barreled through several Cleveland defenders for his TD early in the second quarter, he jawed with Williams.

It was the Browns, though, who got the last word.

Hookscenter.com wire report.

The Browns on Sunday downgraded the Pro Bowl tight end from questionable to doubtful for Monday night’s game against the New York Giants, meaning there’s about a 25 percent chance he’ll play.

If Winslow is out, Steve Heiden most likely would start and backup Darnell Dinkins would get more playing time.

Winslow was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic on Thursday after feeling ill for several days.

His illness is not believed to be related to any of his previous injuries. He has undergone four knee surgeries and has had to play through pain throughout most of his four-year NFL career.

Hookscenter.com wire report.