The Sports Xchange

CLEVELAND — The top-ranked defense in the NFL was at its best when it had to be on Sunday to keep the Denver Broncos undefeated with a hard-earned 26-23 overtime victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Brandon McManus booted a 35-yard field goal with 4:56 remaining in overtime after the Broncos defense sacked quarterback Josh McCown twice on the Browns’ only possession of overtime. McManus also kicked a game-winner for the Broncos in a 23-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4.

“It’s extremely disappointing to be on the brink of a heck of a win and not be able to finish it,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said. “It’s a tough deal.”

The lead changed hands twice in the fourth quarter before a 26-yard field goal by Browns kicker Travis Coons with 1:30 to play tied the score, 23-23.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders midway through the fourth quarter one play after the Browns took the lead for the first time after being down 10-0 at halftime.

The Browns scored three touchdowns in the second half and took a 20-16 lead with 8:07 to play on a 35-yard interception return by linebacker Karlos Dansby. Dansby thought his pick would be enough to hold off the Broncos the rest of the day.

The interception was the second of the game thrown by Manning, but just when it seemed all the momentum was with the Browns, the Broncos’ 39-year-old quarterback hooked up with Sanders to temporarily regain the lead for Denver at 23-20. It was the first touchdown by the offense in 26 possessions.

“We’re not playing as well as we’d like, but we’re playing well enough,” Manning said.

What we learned about the Browns:

1. Coaches always say it doesn’t matter where a player is drafted; the best will play. Browns coach Mike Pettine proved the vow is more than just talk when he started 2014 fourth-round pick Pierre Desir at left cornerback over 2014 eighth overall pick Justin Gilbert at left cornerback in place of injured Joe Haden (concussion). Desir led the Browns with 12 tackles.

2. The Browns were happy with Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson at running back, but now their run offense is stronger than ever. Robert Turbin played for the first time after missing the first five games with an ankle injury. He rushed for 27 yards on 10 carries. The average wasn’t great, but Turbin showed he can be a short-yardage specialist.

3. The pass rush has to improve. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw the ball 48 times and wasn’t sacked once. The Browns have to find a way to get linebacker Paul Kruger more involved. He had 11 sacks last season but has only half a sack this year. Lack of a pass rush has been a problem all season and is one reason the Browns are 2-4.

Etc.:

–LB Karlos Dansby intercepted two passes and returned one 35 yards for a touchdown to give the Browns a 20-16 lead in the fourth quarter. The Browns had only one interception in the first five games.

–TE Gary Barnidge continues to have an excellent season. He caught only three passes against the Broncos but two of them were for touchdowns. He now has five touchdown catches on the season and at least one in each of his last four games.

–K Travis Coons made his only field goal attempt, a 26-yarder, to tie the score for the Browns 23-23 in the fourth quarter. Coons, a rookie, hasn’t missed. He is 12-for-12 and is the first Browns kicker in franchise history to make his first 12 field-goal attempts.