CLEVELAND — Once out of the snow, the Cleveland Browns slid closer to a berth in the AFC playoffs.
Jamal Lewis plowed for 163 yards rushing and Phil Dawson somehow kicked two field goals through harsh, wintry winds as the surprising Browns improved their postseason chances with an 8-0 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
In blizzard-like conditions, the Browns (9-5), who never figured to be playing meaningful games in December when the season started, picked up one of their biggest wins since returning to the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1999. The Browns can clinch their first playoff appearance since 2002 with a victory at Cincinnati next week.
Buffalo rallied in the final minutes, driving the ball to Cleveland’s 10-yard line with 15 seconds left. But on fourth down and out of timeouts, rookie quarterback Trent Edwards threw underneath to running back Fred Jackson, who was wrapped up by several Cleveland defensive players.
The Bills (7-7) were all but eliminated from making the postseason.
