Patriots Finally Win a Close One : AFC: After losing eight games by six points or fewer, New England rallies for 20-17 victory over Cleveland.

Ever so slowly, the New England Patriots are learning to win close games.

Leonard Russell ended an 80-yard drive by running four yards up the middle with two minutes to play Sunday as the Patriots came from behind to beat Cleveland, 20-17, burying what was left of the Browns’ playoff hopes.

“We’ve been saying all year that we’re just a play or two away here or there,” New England Coach Bill Parcells said. “Unfortunately, the majority of the time these plays have gone against us. Today they didn’t.”

Cleveland (6-8) has lost six of seven to spoil a 5-2 start. The Browns will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

New England (3-11) won its second in a row, after it had lost seven in a row--six of them by less than a touchdown. Eight of the Patriots’ 11 losses this season have been by six points or fewer; two were in overtime.

Former Cleveland kicker Matt Bahr, signed by New England after being cut by Philadelphia last week, was perfect on field goals of 23 yards in the second quarter and 34 yards in the third. He replaced the erratic Scott Sisson, who was cut during the week. Matt Stover kicked a 23-yarder for Cleveland.

Vinny Testaverde was brilliant for the Browns most of the afternoon, but the game turned when he threw interceptions on his last two passes late in the fourth quarter.

Dion Lambert’s interception in the end zone killed a Cleveland threat with 4:50 to play and set up the Patriots’ winning drive. Kevin Turner took over from there, running 49 yards through the right side of the line and adding a nine-yard run that took the ball to the Cleveland 13.

The 49-yard run, on a first-and-15 draw play, was Turner’s longest since high school, and the longest by a Patriot this season.

A third-down defensive holding penalty against Cleveland’s Mike Johnson gave New England a first down at the four, and Russell took it the rest of the way for the winning points with 2:02 remaining.

Maurice Hurst then intercepted a pass by Testaverde near midfield on the Browns’ next play from scrimmage.

“The one play that really stands out in my mind is the interception in the end zone,” said Testaverde, who was playing in his third game since returning from a separated shoulder. “The arm is fine. I’m healthy. There’s no excuses for the balls I threw. They were just poor decisions.”

Testaverde completed 21 of 31 passes for 297 yards, including a pair of 10-yard touchdowns to Keenan McCardell. They were the first career touchdown catches for McCardell.

New England’s Drew Bledsoe completed 19 of 47 passes for 210 yards.