Testaverde Impressive in First Browns’ Start : AFC: Cleveland quarterback matches his career high with three touchdown passes against winless Cincinnati.

Vinny Testaverde, making his first start for the Cleveland Browns, matched his career high with three touchdown passes in a 28-17 victory over the winless Cincinnati Bengals Sunday.

The Browns’ first victory at Riverfront Stadium in six years took a lot of heat off Coach Bill Belichick and established Bernie Kosar, one of the franchise’s most accomplished quarterbacks, as a backup for the time being.

Testaverde’s overall numbers weren’t great Sunday--11 of 24 for 127 yards. But that was mainly because the Browns could afford to turn conservative with the big early lead.

Doing all the things Kosar can’t, Testaverde scrambled, rolled out, faked one way then passed another and put the Browns (4-2) in control, 21-0, with three touchdown passes.

He led an 80-yard drive in eight plays after the kickoff, keeping the drive alive by connecting with Leroy Hoard on a 15-yard third-down pass on a roll-out. That alone was an achievement. The Browns came in having converted only 25% of their third downs, worst in the NFL.

Moments later, Testaverde was standing with arms above his head as Tommy Vardell turned a screen pass into a 28-yard touchdown, the first scoring catch of his two-year career.

Bengal quarterback David Klingler left the game in the second quarter suffering from a bruised lower back. Replacement Jay Schroeder completed 19 of 37 for 172 yards and two touchdowns.