Threat of run opens passing game for Browns in win

The Browns had to go without "J-Lew" on Sunday, but with no shortage of "J-Men," they tried to jam the ball down the Dolphins' throats regardless.

Jamal Lewis sat out with the foot injury he suffered the previous Sunday at New England. Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison helped the Browns to their second-best rushing total of the season at 140 yards.

"They have Pro Bowlers, so we knew it would be a grind," said Wright, who rushed 20 times for 59 yards and caught three passes for 39 yards. "Eventually, things started to pop."

The threat of the run opened up the passing game in a 41-31 win.

Harrison had a breakout game with 57 yards on eight carries in his first 2007 action aside from special teams duty in the season opener. He rushed for 60 yards in the entire 2006 season as a rookie.

"I don't know how many yards we ran for, but we were running it effectively," Browns quarterback Derek Anderson said. "We were getting into manageable downs."

After Miami closed to within 27-24 in the third quarter, Wright ground out 4 yards to set up a second-and 6. A short while later, he ran 8 yards to set up second-and-2.

Wright scored the first touchdown of the game from a yard out with good second effort. It was just the second NFL touchdown for the fourth-year pro.

"Braylon Edwards joked with me," Wright said. "He said, 'If you can get in the end zone, I've got to get in a couple times.' "

Edwards went on to catch three touchdown passes.

Another wideout, Joe Jurevicius said, "Jason and Jerome running the ball the way they did made our job a lot easier."

Lewis is expected to return Oct. 28 at St. Louis.

Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com