Houston Texans running back Arian Foster tosses the ball after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans running back Arian Foster tosses the ball after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) is grabbed by Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Scott Fujita (99) in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans running back Ben Tate (44) runs in for a touchdown as Cleveland Browns' Phillip Taylor (98) and Mike Adams pursue during the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy (12) sits on the bench after being sacked in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Houston. The Texans defeated the Browns 30-12. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy (12) is sacked by Houston Texans defenders in the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)
HOUSTON (AP) ? The Texans again turned to their potent running game and fast-improving defense to win another game without Andre Johnson.
Arian Foster rushed for 124 yards, Ben Tate ran for 115 and both scored touchdowns in the Texans' 30-12 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
The Texans (6-3) finished with a franchise-record 261 yards rushing and had a pair of 100-yard rushers for the second time in three games. They moved three games over .500 for the first time, and have won three in a row without Johnson, who's missed five games with a right hamstring injury.
The Browns (3-5) totaled 172 yards, the third straight opponent the Texans have held under 200.
Colt McCoy, making his first NFL start back in the state where he starred in college, was sacked four times and completed only 14 passes for 146 yards with an interception.
He got little support from former Texas teammate Chris Ogbonnaya, who started in place of injured running backs Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty sidelined. Ogbonnaya fumbled on his first carry, and finished with 28 yards on 13 carries.
The Texans scored on their opening series for the sixth time this season when Tate weaved his way through the Browns' defense for a 27-yard touchdown run.
The Browns' 25th-ranked offense was inept early, with Ogbonnaya losing the ball on Cleveland's first play from scrimmage. J.J. Watt recovered at the Browns 28, and Schaub scrambled for another score for a 14-0 lead less than 8 minutes into the game.
Joshua Cribbs delivered Cleveland's biggest play of the half, a 63-yard kickoff return. He was flagged for grabbing Brice McCain's facemask, though, and the Browns settled for Phil Dawson's 50-yard field goal.
The Browns have scored only six points in the first quarter this season.
Houston's final rushing total surpassed the team record, set in last year's opener against Indianapolis, when Foster rushed for 231 yards by himself.
Tate and Foster traded carries in this one, with each breaking his share of long runs.
Tate started a series with a 24-yard run into Cleveland territory. Tate had a 9-yard run before Foster stiff-armed cornerback Sheldon Brown on a 19-yard touchdown with 8:06 left in the first half.
Texans safety Quintin Demps intercepted McCoy on the second-to-last play of the half, setting up Neil Rackers' 28-yard field goal that made it 24-3.
McCoy was sacked twice and Cleveland's offense produced 70 yards in the first half. Rookie outside linebacker Brooks Reed, who's replaced the injured Mario Williams, sacked McCoy again early in the third quarter.
Foster started Houston's next drive with a 27-yard run to go over 100 yards for the 13th time in his career. The Texans used 7 minutes on the march, and Rackers kicked a 21-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 27-3.
Dawson and Rackers added field goals to make it 30-6, and McCoy finally got the Browns moving with a 20-yard pass to Cribbs in the fourth quarter.
McCoy took a hard hit from Reed after throwing a 24-yard pass to Greg Little to the Houston 5, and McCoy found Cribbs for a touchdown with 4:51 left. Nose tackle Shaun Cody intercepted McCoy on the 2-point conversion attempt.
The Browns finished with 10 first downs.
Associated Presscalvin johnson kenyon martin kenyon martin lizard lick towing jenny mccarthy megatron richard simmons
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