Dawson capped a five field-goal outing by hitting a career-long 56-yarder with 1:39 left to secure the Browns' 29-27 win over the reeling Buffalo Bills on Monday night. Cleveland snapped a two-game skid and rallied to avoid wasting a 13-point lead for a third straight time.

The Bills (5-5) had a chance to win with a clutch kick of their own, but Rian Lindell missed a 47-yard attempt with 38 seconds left.

"We got tired of what happened the previous two weeks, getting a lead and losing it in the fourth quarter," receiver Braylon Edwards said. "As a team, we rallied."

Buffalo has lost four straight and five of six, looking nothing like the team that got off to a 4-0 start. Trent Edwards endured another sloppy effort, tossing three interceptions in the first four possessions.

Edwards' 1-yard sneak gave the Bills a 27-26 lead with 2:35 left in the fourth, but Cleveland (4-6) responded with a six-play, 28-yard drive that stalled on the Bills 39 when Braylon Edwards couldn't hold on to a Brady Quinn pass.

Without hesitation, Browns coach Romeo Crennel sent out Dawson.

"On the spur of the moment, you've got to be confident. So as soon as we threw the incomplete pass, I was ready to go," Dawson said. "I gave Romeo a nod, and he had the confidence to send me out there."

Extra points: Earnest Graham injured his right ankle on his only carry in Sunday's 19-13 win over the Vikings, and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said the running back's season "could be in jeopardy." ... Giants running back Brandon Jacobs was having a precautionary MRI on his knee, although coach Tom Coughlin said he didn't think it was serious injury. Asked which knee it was, Coughlin replied: "If you don't know, I'm not telling you." ... Nine-time Pro Bowl safety John Lynch retired Monday, saying it was time to begin a new phase of life after 15 NFL seasons. Now, he's preparing for his broadcasting debut with Fox for Sunday's Jaguars-Vikings game.

Compiled by Ed Cavanaugh from Tribune news services.