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Browns bog down Texans, win fifth straight at home

Nov 25, 2007 - 11:45 PM CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- D'Qwell Jackson and the Cleveland Browns' much-maligned defense delivered its best effort of the season.

Jackson recorded 12 tackles and an interception Sunday to lead the Browns to their fifth straight home victory, a 27-17 triumph over the Houston Texans.

Derek Anderson tossed a pair of first-half touchdowns and Jamal Lewis plowed for a 1-yard score in the second half for Cleveland (7-4), which is on its first five-game home winning since the 1994 season.

But the story Sunday was the Browns' defense, which entered ranked last in the NFL in both opponents' scoring and yardage.

"If we hadn't given up that last touchdown, I would have said it was a pretty good defensive performance," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said.

"Our defense helped to put us in a position to win. I think we're playing a complementary game (to our offense)," Cleveland outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley added. "We were getting pressure from different angles and different guys were stepping up. We're starting to put some separation between big plays."

Browns rookie defensive back Brandon McDonald enjoyed the finest game of his young career, recording his first career interception while deflecting four passes. The fifth-round draft selection also had three tackles, including two on special teams.

"I saw it as an opportunity to make a name for myself and to help this team win," said McDonald, who was covering Texans star wide receiver Andre Johnson for most of the contest. "I wasn't really focused on Johnson as much as I was set on what I was supposed to do."

Facing a 7-0 deficit in the second quarter, Cleveland captured momentum when Jackson intercepted Matt Schaub at the Browns' 30-yard line. Anderson found Braylon Edwards for a 19-yard touchdown six plays later to forge a 7-7 tie.

After Anderson was intercepted in Cleveland territory, the Browns' defense stood strong again, allowing only six yards on the next three plays. Houston failed to capitalize on a drive which started at the Cleveland 34, as Kris Brown missed a 46-yard field goal.

The Browns took the lead for good with 16 seconds left in the first half, when Anderson zipped a 7-yard TD to tight end Kellen Winslow to cap an 11-play drive and give Cleveland a 14-10 halftime cushion.

"We have a bunch of perfectionists on our team," Winslow said. "We still left a lot of points on the field. We can only get better."

Anderson completed 24-of-35 passes for 253 yards and was intercepted once. Winslow caught 10 passes for 107 yards while Lewis carried 29 times for 134 yards, including 91 in the second half.

"You are going to have two- and three-yard runs, but you make adjustments and those runs start to open up," Lewis said. "It's my time of year to run the football, in November and December."

Houston coach Gary Kubiak was frustrated his offense was unable to regain its rhythm after the opening possession.

"The bottom line was we turned the ball over," Kubiak said. "If you aren't making third downs in this league, you have to make big plays. We don't have anything to show (for) today."

Two of the Texans' turnovers came in Browns territory. The third miscue, McDonald's interception of Schaub, gave Cleveland a short field and resulted in Lewis' touchdown run, which made it 27-10 with 5:51 to play.

"It's the same old story (with turnovers)," said Schaub, who completed 22-of-36 passes for 256 yards and two TDs. "It hurt us today, especially with good field position."