CLEVELAND — Brian Hoyer threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Gabriel early in the fourth quarter Sunday to give the Cleveland Browns the lead for good in a 22-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The game came down to the wire, with the Browns having to stop a drive by Tampa Bay in the last two minutes to put it away.

The Browns (5-3) came out of the locker room in the second half and put together a touchdown drive on the opening possession of the third quarter. Hoyer fired completions to wide receivers Andrew Hawkins and Gabriel on back-to-back plays for a combined 31 yards. The 11-play drive ended with Hoyer throwing a two-yard touchdown pass to running back Terrance West for a 16-10 lead.

Two possessions later, the Buccaneers (1-7) moved back in front, 17-16, on a three-play drive that started on the Browns 45 after a short punt. Quarterback Mike Glennon finished it off with a 24-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mike Evans to the right side of the end zone.

Tampa Bay led 10-9 at halftime and could have easily had at least 10 more points.

The Bucs took the opening drive to the Browns 13 but came up empty when a 31-yard field goal try by kicker Patrick Murray was blocked by Billy Winn.

The Browns scored first on a 49-yard field goal by kicker Billy Cundiff off the blocked field goal and then the Buccaneers missed another chance to get on the board when Murray’s 55-yard field goal attempt was short.

Another mistake by Tampa Bay led to Cundiff’s second field goal and a 6-0 Browns lead. Evans was wide open deep down the middle, but Glennon underthrew the pass. Cornerback Joe Haden tipped it and safety Donte Whitner intercepted. Whitner returned the ball 54 yards to the Tampa 21. The Browns could not penetrate the end zone and settled for a 29-yard field goal.

The Buccaneers finally scored by capping an 80-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Glennon to Evans for a 7-6 lead. Hoyer threw an interception on the next play and the Bucs were in business at the Browns 10.

Glennon gave the ball back to the Browns when a pass was picked off by safety Tashaun Gipson in the end zone. The two teams traded field goals before halftime.

NOTES: Former Browns OL O’Neil Cousins started at left tackle for the Buccaneers in place of Anthony Collins. Collins was inactive with a foot injury. … Bucs WR Trindon Holliday, who had been bothered by a hamstring injury, was waived. … WR Marcus Thigpen was activated from the practice squad. … TE Jim Dray started for the Browns because Jordan Cameron was inactive with a concussion.