Bengals 30, Browns 0

CLEVELAND (AP) Cincinnati's defense finally found someone it could stop. Carson Palmer and the Bengals' offense was simply unstoppable.<br/><br/>Picking off Cleveland quarterback Charlie Frye 4

Sunday, November 26th 2006, 3:02 pm

By: News On 6

CLEVELAND (AP) Cincinnati's defense finally found someone it could stop. Carson Palmer and the Bengals' offense was simply unstoppable.

Picking off Cleveland quarterback Charlie Frye 4 times, Cincinnati got its first shutout since 1989 and Palmer threw 3 touchdown passes as the Bengals embarrassed the Browns 30-0 on Sunday.

Palmer finished 25-32 for 275 yards and connected with Chris Henry for 2 TD passes as the Bengals (6-5) stayed firmly in the AFC playoff race by beating Cleveland for the fifth straight time.

Cincinnati came in with the NFL's lowest-ranked defense, allowing 378 yards per game. You'd have never known it.

Before piling up yardage during extended garbage time in the 4th quarter, the Browns (3-8) had only 167 yards, 21 rushing, after 3 quarters. By then, they were down 30-0 and on their way to dropping to 1-5 at home.

The shutout was the Bengals' first since December 3, 1989, a span of 269 games. That one also came against the Browns, who capped an unusual week with a troubling loss that included a sideline confrontation between Frye and wide receiver Braylon Edwards.

Following an interception, Edwards and Frye angrily exchanged words and had to be separated. Earlier this week, Edwards criticized Cleveland's conservative play calling and then blasted teammate Brian Russell for his hard hit on Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson when Cincinnati beat Cleveland 34-17 on September 17th.

Edwards didn't make any friends with his comments, and he may no longer have an ally in Frye, who was sacked 4 times and roughed up all afternoon.

Frye went 18-29 for 186 yards. Edwards had 2 catches for 29 yards.