Browns Didn’t Check Calendar : Pro football: They lose, 27-11, to Vikings, who have an 11-4 record in the month of December under Green’s coaching.

December belongs to the Minnesota Vikings, and the Cleveland Browns couldn’t do anything about it Saturday.

Backup running back Charles Evans scored the first two touchdowns of his NFL career and rookie Orlando Thomas led a swarming defense with two interceptions in Minnesota’s 27-11 victory, its fifth in six games.

“That’s what they remember, how you do in December,” said running back Scottie Graham, another Viking backup, who gained 77 yards in 18 carries. “That’s how teams get to the playoffs.”

That’s how the Vikings (8-6) have reached the playoffs each of the last three years, and that’s how they’ll have to do it again this year.

With Coach Dennis Green emphasizing the late-season push, Minnesota is 11-4 in the final month of the regular season during Green’s four seasons. Only San Francisco has a better December record during that time (10-3), and those two teams play Dec. 18 at Candlestick Park.

With a 3-5 record in their division, the Vikings probably cannot afford to lose to San Francisco or at Cincinnati if they hope to make Green the fifth coach in NFL history to reach the playoffs each of his first four seasons.

“When you’re playing well, you don’t really care who you play,” said quarterback Warren Moon, moving gingerly because of bruised ribs after the game. “The 49ers are so good that you don’t want to play them at this time of year, but we’re playing well enough right now that I think we can play with them.”

Thoughts of big games and the playoffs faded long ago for the Browns (4-10), seemingly demoralized by owner Art Modell’s intention to move the franchise to Baltimore. Cleveland lost its sixth consecutive game and its ninth in the last 10.

“It’s a shame, with everything that’s happened to them mentally and psychologically, it’s kind of destroyed them,” said Moon, who completed 20 of 29 passes for 267 yards, with one touchdown and an interception.

“They really bring it out there, and they played hard for a while. But you could just see, after a certain point when they felt like they didn’t have a chance to win, it just wasn’t there anymore.”

The Browns also lost quarterback Vinny Testaverde because of a pulled groin and bruised hip at the end of the first quarter, and rookie Eric Zeier played poorly in his place.

The Vikings had five sacks, giving them 13 in the last two weeks, and intercepted Zeier four times.

“They just beat us up,” said Cleveland offensive tackle Tony Jones.

“Playoff teams rise in December,” said Viking guard John Gerak. “If you can play your best football going into the playoffs, it bodes well as far as continuing on in the playoffs. Denny Green prepares this team. He knows that December’s the time to elevate your game.”