Recap: Cleveland vs. Green Bay

Sports Network | October 25, 2009

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Aaron Rodgers tossed three touchdowns as the Green Bay Packers had no problems in a 31-3 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Rodgers went 15-for-20 for 246 yards, while Ryan Grant had 27 carries for 148 yards and a score for the Packers (4-2), who have won two straight games after their bye week. Donald Driver, Spencer Havner and James Jones each caught a touchdown.

"We felt like it was a winning performance in all three phases of the game," said Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy. "Overall, in all three phases, I am really pleased with our work here."

Derek Anderson again struggled under center, as he went 12-for-29 for 99 yards and an interception for the Browns (1-6), who have dropped their past two games after a 6-3 win over Buffalo in Week 5. Jamal Lewis had 15 carries for 47 yards in the loss.

"They just beat us, we can't hang this loss on excuses," said Cleveland linebacker David Bowens. "When you suit up you should be ready to play, but we weren't ready today."

On their first possession, the Packers faced a 4th-and-1 at the Cleveland 32 and went for it, but the Browns defense held firm and got the ball back.

Cleveland then moved the ball 65 yards over 11 plays that ate up the rest of the first quarter, and on the first play of the second quarter, Billy Cundiff banked a 22-yard field goal off the left goalpost and in for a 3-0 lead.

However, it was a short-lived lead, as Green Bay needed less than three minutes to take a 7-3 advantage. On the sixth play of the drive, Rodgers rolled out to avoid pressure and hit Havner, who ran down the right sideline and stretched into the end zone on a 45-yard score.

After forcing the Browns to punt, Green Bay again struck quickly to make it a 14-3 game. On first down, Cleveland brought the blitz, but Rodgers hit Driver for a short pass, and the receiver took it down the right sideline, pushed off a potential tackler and raced into the end zone on a 71-yard score with 7:01 to play in the first half.

Anderson was picked off by Charles Woodson on the ensuing drive and he took it down to the Cleveland 15. It took seven plays, but Grant got Green Bay into the end zone with a one-yard push for a 21-3 lead heading into the break.

Crosby missed a 55-yard field goal early in the third quarter, but he was true from 18 yards out with 3 1/2 minutes to play in the third to give Green Bay a 24-3 lead.

On the following drive, the Browns put together an impressive string of plays and looked as though they were going to get into the end zone, as the team had a 1st-and-goal at the one-yard line. On the first play, Lewis was thrown back two yards, and Anderson's pass to Mohamed Massaquoi fell short on second down, Lewis got the ball back to the one on third down, but Anderson's fourth down pass to Massaquoi was again incomplete to give the ball back to Green Bay.

The Packers needed just eight plays to march the 99 yards, which was capped on a five-yard touchdown catch from Jones for a 31-3 lead with under 10 minutes to play.

The Packers host Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday. It will be Favre's first game in Green Bay as a visitor...The Browns play at Chicago next Sunday...Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson was out with a right calf injury, while tight ends Steve Heiden (knee) and Robert Royal (flu) also sat out...Green Bay has won three of the last four games.