By Tom Withers, AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns are finally streaking in a positive direction.
Rookie Travis Benjamin's electrifying 93-yard punt return touchdown gave Cleveland momentum and the Browns won their third straight game, 30-7 over the emotionally drained Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Benjamin's game-changing runback helped the Browns (5-8) continue their resurgence under second-year coach Pat Shurmur, whose future in Cleveland remains uncertain. The Browns, who opened this season with five consecutive losses, have one more win than last season, and their longest winning streak since 2009.
Rookie Trent Richardson had a pair of 1-yard TD runs for Cleveland.
Jamaal Charles ran for 165 yards, breaking off an 80-yard TD run on the game's first play for Kansas City.
It was the first road game for the Chiefs (2-11) following linebacker Jovan Belcher's suicide. The 25-year-old killed his girlfriend at their home before driving to the team's practice facility on Dec. 1 and shooting himself.
Richardson's second TD early in the fourth quarter gave the Browns a 27-7 lead and finally put away the Chiefs, who a week ago were able to pull together and win at home over Carolina, less than one day after Belcher's unspeakable act. On Saturday, Charles, several teammates and general manager Scott Pioli attended a memorial service in Texas for Kasandra Perkins, who was killed by Belcher.
Coach Romeo Crennel had rallied his team through the difficult ordeal, but it may have been too much to expect the Chiefs to repeat last week's effort.
Charles was able to return after sustaining a rib injury that knocked him out one series. Kansas City, though, lost leading receiver Dwayne Bowe, who injured his ribs in the first half and didn't return.
Without Bowe, quarterback Brady Quinn was without his top target. Quinn, who had his best game as a pro last week, finished 11 of 22 for 159 yards and one interception.
Phil Dawson kicked field goals of 23, 24 and 34 yards for the Browns. His first kick made him the 25th player in NFL history to make 300 field goals.