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Browns edge Seahawks

Oct 24, 2011 - 12:06 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Phil Dawson kicked two field goals of over 50 yards, leading the Cleveland Browns to a 6-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks from Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Colt McCoy completed 20-of-35 passes for 178 yards and one interception for the Browns (3-3), who snapped a two-game losing skid.

Montario Hardesty had a fine day filling in for injured starter Peyton Hillis rushing for 95 yards on 33 carries.

Charlie Whitehurst struggled in his third career NFL start, completing 12-of- 30 passes for 97 yards and an interception for Seattle (2-4).

Leon Washington rushed seven times for 39 yards in place of Marshawn Lynch, who was injured during pregame warmups, and Sidney Rice caught two passes for 38 yards.

With the game deadlocked at three, the Browns broke the tie early in the fourth quarter when Dawson connected on a 53-yard field goal to cap an 11- play, 48-yard drive.

"When you hold a team in the NFL to three points, that's outstanding," Browns head coach Pat Shurmur said. "I think that's a credit to the players and coaches."

Cleveland had a chance to make it a six-point game on its next possession, but Dawson had his 24-yard attempt blocked, leaving Seattle with a chance to tie or win the game with just over three minutes to go.

But the Seahawks were unable to move the ball, as Whitehurst's pass on 4th- and-15 fell incomplete, and Cleveland ran out the last 2:22 to seal the win.

Cleveland opened the scoring midway through the second quarter thanks excellent field position. Following a sack/fumble on 3rd-and-7, the Browns offense took over at their own 47.

McCoy moved the offense down to the Seahawks 35 with a seven-play, 18-yard drive, which was helped by a neutral zone infraction on fourth down, before Dawson finished off the drive with a 52-yard field goal.

Midway through the third quarter, Washington fielded a punt from his own 19- yard line and raced 81 yards to paydirt. The play was negated, however, thanks to an illegal block in the back, leaving Seattle with the ball at its own 45.

On the first play of the drive following the penalty, Whitehurst was picked off by Sheldon Brown.

Seattle was finally able to break the shutout when Whitehurst led a nine-play, 60-yard drive -- sparked by a 38-yard completion to a wide open Sidney Rice. Steven Hauschka was then true on a 20-yard field goal to tie the game, 3-3, in the closing minutes of the third quarter.

"The margin of error became a factor because the game was so close," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said. "Unfortunately, we just couldn't get enough done to get a win."

Game Notes

Seattle owns an 11-6 advantage in its overall regular-season series with Cleveland...Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is 1-2 lifetime against Cleveland...Hills was inactive due to a hamstring injury...It was the first time Dawson kicked two 50-plus yard field goals in one game in his career...Seattle was just 2-of-12 on third down, while Cleveland converted 12 of its 24 third down opportunities.