CLEVELAND – The Cincinnati Bengals spoiled the debut of Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel with a smothering defense and a strong running game to cruise to a 30-0 victory over their Ohio rival on Sunday afternoon.

Cincinnati piled up 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Bengals rookie running back Jeremy Hill scored two rushing touchdowns in the first half and running back Rex Burkhead scored on a 10-yard run with 23 seconds to play.

The Bengals (9-4-1) remain in front of the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. The Browns (7-7) have lost three straight and four of their last five games to fall off the pace in the conference playoff race.

While the Browns managed 107 total yards, the Bengals played like a first-place team from start to finish. Manziel had a 27.3 passer rating, completing 10 of 18 passes for 80 yards. Manziel was picked off twice in the first half. An interception in the end zone by Bengals cornerback Adam Jones with 1:07 left in the second quarter preserved a 20-0 lead for Cincinnati.

The Browns won the coin toss, but instead of taking the ball to ride the fan enthusiasm of Manziel, they deferred and counted on the defense to be as stingy as it was last month when they beat the Bengals, 24-3, in Cincinnati.

It took the Bengals just one drive to surpass their scoring total of the Nov. 6 game. They moved 81 yards on 14 plays and took a 7-0 lead on a two-yard touchdown run by Hill.

Manziel handed off to Terrance West for eight yards on the first two plays after the Browns got the ball and then he scrambled for one yard on third down. That one drive typified the way the inspired Bengals played defense for the entire game.

Before the first half ended, the Browns lost cornerback Joe Haden to a shoulder injury and cornerback Justin Gilbert to a head injury. That made it easier for Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton to pick the Browns apart, but Dalton rarely was forced to throw the ball.

Bengals kicker Mike Nugent made a 44-yard field goal before the first quarter ended and he kicked another 44-yarder with 10:20 left in the second quarter on a drive that netted just seven yards. It was set up by an interception by cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. In between Hill broke off a 16-yard touchdown run and then jumped into the stands when he spotted a Bengals fan in the front row.

Nugent added a 34-yard field goal in the third quarter.

NOTES: Bengals CB Terence Newman was inactive with an ankle injury. Adam Jones replaced him in the starting lineup and had one tackle and one pass breakup. … Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham was inactive with a toe injury. Kevin Brock made the start and caught one pass for two yards. … Browns starting ILB Karlos Dansby missed his fourth straight game with an ankle injury. … The Browns waived PK Billy Cundiff on Saturday and replaced him with Garrett Hartley.