Byner, Browns Run Redskins All but Out of the Playoffs, 17-13

Ernest Byner ran 27 yards for a touchdown with 1:27 left Sunday to give the Cleveland Browns a 17-13 victory that all but ended the playoff chances of the defending Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins.

“I had a dream last night that we would be running well,” Byner said. “We resolved to run the ball today. It takes the pressure off Bernie Kosar.”

The Browns’ powerful ground game was held to fewer than 100 yards in 4 straight games, but Kevin Mack gained 116 against the Redskins, and Byner, held in check until his game-winner, added 44.

“Kevin Mack’s performance speaks more eloquently than anything I can add,” Cleveland Coach Marty Schottenheimer said.

An interception by Cleveland cornerback Mark Harper with 41 seconds remaining sealed the victory for the Browns (8-5) who remain in the thick of the playoff picture in the AFC.

Washington (6-7) suffered its third straight loss for the first time since 1981.

“Mathematically, we’re not out of it,” Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs said. “We’ll just play it one at a time and see what happens.”

The Redskins took a 13-10 lead on Chip Lohmiller’s 40-yard field goal with 6:27 left, but couldn’t hold on in the closing minutes.

Cleveland fought back, with Kosar getting a crucial 21-yard completion to Brian Brennan on third and 10 from the Cleveland 47.

Playing in a steady rain, Kosar shrugged off 6 sacks to complete 23 of 36 passes for 219 yards.

“With the rain, it was excellent condition for runners,” Kosar said.

Three plays later, Byner took off on his game-winning run on third and 5, blowing past a furious pass rush and breaking tackles by Ravin Caldwell and Todd Bowles on his way to the end zone.

The Browns trailed, 10-3, late in the third quarter before mounting a 16-play, 76-yard drive that consumed nearly 11 minutes. Mack scored on a 1-yard run to even the score with 9:41 left.

Cleveland dominated the first half, but could manage only a 37-yard field goal by Matt Bahr with 27 seconds left in the second quarter, but the Redskins took a 7-3 lead on Mark Rypien’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Gary Clark.

Lohmiller added a 21-yard field goal to make it 10-3 later in the quarter.